by Javier Márquez
Editor’s Note: Iglesia Menonita del Cordero was approved by Mosaic Conference’s board as a member congregation and will be welcomed at Mosaic’s 2025 Fall Delegate Assembly.
Iglesia Menonita del Cordero (Mennonite Church of the Lamb) is a faith community with deep roots in Christian witness and service in the city of Brownsville, Texas. It is the oldest Mennonite church in South Texas.
It was established in 1974 by Brother Conrado Hinojosa, his wife Ester, and their family, who, after experiencing a conversion in Ohio, returned to Brownsville with a desire to share the gospel. With support from Mennonite churches in the northern United States, the young congregation acquired their current property and built their own facilities—marking the beginning of a communal life committed to faith, work, and service.

From the beginning, the church has been made up of hardworking Hispanic families and has maintained a strong connection with the local community. Most of its members are Texans of Mexican descent. Over the years, the church has actively participated in housing construction and improvement projects, as well as various community support initiatives.
Currently, Iglesia Menonita del Cordero is composed primarily of second-generation Christians, with some founding members still present as a living testimony of the church’s legacy. Although its identity is Hispanic, the congregation carries out a bilingual ministry, especially directed toward the younger generations, reflecting the cultural and linguistic reality of a city where more than 65% of the population is Hispanic.

After the pandemic, the church renewed its commitment to worship, teaching, and community service. Its congregational life includes:
- Sundays: Sunday School and Worship Service
- Tuesdays: Online Bible Study
- Wednesdays: Children’s Ministry, focused on the community and as a continuation of Vacation Bible School
- Thursdays: Prayer Service
- Fridays: Youth gathering with their sponsors
The women of the church are organized into an active group that supports congregational activities and promotes spaces for spiritual formation and service. In addition, the church maintains connections with other faith communities through the Evangelical Ministerial Alliance of Brownsville, strengthening collaboration and Christian witness.

The mission of Iglesia Menonita del Cordero is: “To live in such a way that we impact the Brownsville community so that the Lord adds to those who are being saved.”
Pastor Rigoberto and his wife Sonia were invited to pastor the church when it was seeking new leadership. They are from Puerto Rico and come from the Puerto Rican Mennonite Church. They have served this congregation for approximately 20 years. During this time, they have developed a significant ministry, sharing the principles of peace, justice, community service, and accompaniment of immigrants.
The pastor’s vision is for the church to clearly reflect the message of peace, justice, and love of Jesus Christ.
As a congregation, they are inspired by Philippians 2:3–8, seeking to follow Christ’s example of humility and service as the foundation of their unity, testimony, and hope.
The church previously belonged to the South Central Conference. During a time of change and division within that conference, Iglesia del Cordero decided to apply for affiliation with Mosaic Conference, along with two other churches. Since 2023 or 2024, Mosaic has welcomed them, and Pastor Rigoberto is currently in the process of transferring his ministerial credentials. The church is expected to be officially received as a Mosaic member at the November assembly.

Rigoberto and Sonia have expressed that they feel comfortable, blessed, and supported by Mosaic. They believe it was the best choice for their church at this time and wish to maintain a long-term relationship with the conference. They have also taken seriously their responsibility to participate actively, understanding their connection with Mosaic as a mutually beneficial relationship.

Javier Márquez
Javier Márquez is Associate for Communication and Community Engagement for Colombia. He is an Anabaptist Colombian pacifist and poet. He is based in Bogota, Colombia.
Mosaic values two-way communication and encourages our constituents to respond with feedback, questions, or encouragement. To contact Javier Márquez, please email jmarquez@mosaicmennonites.org.





















