Longtime Texas Pastor Felipe García Dies at 79

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Felipe García, a longtime Baptist pastor in Texas who served congregations across the state for over 50 years, died on January 28 at the age of 79. García was born in Mexico and attended the Mexican Baptist Bible Institute in San Antonio before beginning his pastoral career in Kansas and Texas, leading churches in towns like Liberal, San Benito, Taylor, Eagle Pass, Austin, and Jarrell. Beyond his work in the pulpit, García was also active in his local communities, working as a school bus driver, at a bedding company, and as a chaplain.

Why it matters

García's long career and deep ties to the Texas Baptist community made him a prominent figure, and his passing marks the end of an era for several congregations he helped lead over the decades. His life and work highlight the important role that Hispanic Baptist churches and leaders have played in communities across the state.

The details

Felipe García was born in 1946 in Tamazunchale, Mexico to Francisco A. García Lazaro and Juana Lovaton Villedas. He attended the Mexican Baptist Bible Institute in San Antonio, graduating in 1974, and later received a Pastoral Ministries Diploma from the Rio Grande Baptist Association in 1979. García's first pastorate was at Iglesia Bautista Nueva Vida in Liberal, Kansas from 1974 to 1977, before he went on to lead churches in Texas, including Iglesia Bautista La Nueva Jerusalem in San Benito, Buckner Baptist Benevolence in Brownsville and Donna, Primera Iglesia Bautista Mexicana in Taylor, Iglesia Bautista Peniel in Eagle Pass, Iglesia Bautista Vida Nueva in Austin, and Iglesia Bautista Jarrell in Jarrell, where he served until 2026. Beyond his pastoral work, García also drove a school bus for the Taylor Independent School District, worked at Taylor Bedding Company, and served as a chaplain.

• García was born on August 23, 1946.
• He graduated from the Mexican Baptist Bible Institute in San Antonio in 1974.
• He received his Pastoral Ministries Diploma from the Rio Grande Baptist Association in 1979.
• García's first pastorate was at Iglesia Bautista Nueva Vida in Liberal, Kansas from 1974 to 1977.
• He passed away on January 28, 2026 at the age of 79.