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Uvalde pastor receives theology degree


Lane Riggs

Staff Writer

Jose Rene Martinez, who recently received a degree in theology, is pastoring at La Divina Trinidad Methodist Church in Uvalde.

Although Martinez previously had a degree in dentistry and orthodontics, he realized he found theology too interesting to not pursue.

Martinez received his theology degree from the John Wesley Seminary in Monterrey, Mexico, in June. He said he has always wanted to learn more about God and the church, so he decided to return to school to study God and religious beliefs.

“I’ve always wanted to learn more about God, because sometimes when I see things, I think they are God inspired,” Martinez said.

Martinez has served as a pastor for five years, with a year and a half of service at the La Divina Trinidad Methodist Church in Uvalde.

He was also recently nominated as a board member of the Methodist Border Friendship Commission.

“The group meets twice a year and decided on what projects to fund,” he said. “I was nominated about two months ago.”

Before his recent work, Martinez was previously the district director of a missions group, where he coordinated mission groups for different churches. These mission trips included travel to Cambodia, Central America and Mexico.

“I’ve done mission work as a dentist in those areas,” he said. “Usually it’s a two-week stay, but I was in Cambodia for two months.”

During these mission trips, volunteers help build churches or remodel crumbling churches. Previous mission groups have also helped to build an orphanage.

“My job was to coordinate things for groups, be their translator or get them through customs,” he said. “You need to get lodging in order and you need to make contact with other churches and other groups.”

Because of the work that goes into conducting mission work, Martinez said the planning starts one year in advance.

The mission group members in Mexio, while volunteering, have also had the opportunity to talk to Indian tribes from the area.

“You need a translator then,” he said. “Most of the tribes don’t speak Spanish.”

Martinez said mission groups are usually conducted during vacation times – like summer – as many members are students.

“Usually that’s the only time they can donate their time,” he said.

He said most groups have 30-40 members and the construction of a church can take anywhere from three days to three months. If it takes several months, five to six groups will come in every week to continue the work of previous groups.

Because Martinez loves mission work, he said he would like to incorporate the program into Uvalde’s churches.

“I’d like to continue traveling places and do mission work,” he said. “Another goal is to bring mission work into my church here in Uvalde.”

Services at Martinez’s church are Sunday from 11 a.m. to noon.

Martinez is the son of Eva and Faustino Martinez of Uvalde. He graduated from Uvalde High School in 1973.

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