If education is meant to expand one鈥檚 horizons听and launch听a person into his calling, then time at Houston Baptist University did just that for Brandon Baca.听He serves as the senior director of operations for Attack Poverty,听a Christian community development organization听based in Richmond, Texas.听Attack Poverty听was founded in 2011 and听serves听communities in听the Houston area听as well as听in Uganda and India.听听
鈥淥ne of the most听important things for me is that I get to be part of what God is doing. I鈥檓 just a Texas kid听who God invited into His Kingdom work,鈥� Baca said. 鈥淚鈥檓 really grateful for that. I just wanted to give my life away.听HBU听was the starting place for听me.鈥�听
Growing up in Fort Bend County, Baca had basic听ideas听of听what he听thought听his future听would听look like. 鈥淚 was on a trajectory of going to junior college and just getting a job, but going to HBU opened my eyes,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 learned that God has a plan for you. He wants you to be involved in something bigger than yourself. You can give your life away.鈥�听
In the 鈥�90s, Baca was a member of the youth group of First Baptist Church of Rosenberg.听Although he had heard of HBU, he assumed it would听not be an option. 鈥淥ne day I was at church and still trying to figure out what I was going to do for school,鈥� he said. 鈥淢y pastor came up to me and said, 鈥業f you could go to HBU, would you go?鈥� He听said, 鈥榃ell, someone in our church wants to help you go.鈥欌��听
That benefactor was the late Honorable Judge Clyde Brown Kennelly, a founding trustee of HBU.听鈥淛udge Kennelly听wanted to invest in young people,听and saw an opportunity to care about one of the kids in his church. I couldn鈥檛 have gone without that,鈥� Baca said. 鈥淚t was a new start for me.鈥�听
Baca entered HBU in 1995 and majored in Christianity and Communications.听The听entire听University student population was听smaller than his public听high school.听鈥淚 was able to get involved right away in campus life,鈥� Baca said.听听
He helped serve on a听student听recruitment team, joined a fraternity, participated in the HBU听REC听team,听was a member of a ministry leadership team, served as a resident assistant, and more听during his years at HBU.听鈥淚t was听a听great opportunity for me to honor the gift that Judge Kennelly gave me to go to school.鈥� Baca said.听听
Baca made the most of each opportunity at HBU, and relished the chance to learn from people he admired. 鈥淭he professors were open, not only听just听in听teaching classes, but听to听really mentoring you,鈥� Baca said. 鈥淭here were times where I would be able to sit down over lunch and ask questions about faith and future and life. That was meaningful,听and I needed that at that time. You don鈥檛听always听get that at larger schools.鈥�听
In his communications classes, Baca gained additional confidence to speak with and work with people.听Through听his Christianity courses, he听grew听in听a deeper understanding of his faith.听
鈥淢y time in听college was听a huge growth opportunity for me,鈥� Baca said. 鈥淚 was really challenged. It was听a season听when I realized that this isn鈥檛 my parents鈥� faith or my church鈥檚 faith; it is mine.鈥澨�听
During his听years听at HBU, Baca met his wife,听fellow student听Sarah Beth (Wiles).听The two wed in August of 2000,听turning听the Hinton Center听into听a wedding听reception听space, complete听with a jazz band on the balcony. 鈥淗BU was so meaningful to us, and it was an awesome celebration,鈥澨齢e said.听
The two each worked for HBU for a time 鈥� Brandon for the听Spiritual Life department, and Sarah Beth in the Office of Career and Calling. Brandon went on to serve as a youth pastor before serving in听Christian community development work.听听
He and Sarah Beth听now have three children.听Working听at听Attack Poverty听is a family affair听for the听Bacas. Sarah Beth听is听a volunteer coordinator, and听their听children participate in projects as well.听听
鈥淥ur model for Attack Poverty is that we offer a hand up and not a hand out,鈥� Baca said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e awakening potential and听provoking听transformation. The vision is to empower people to attack poverty in their own lives and communities.听We do that through partnerships with schools, churches, families and individuals.鈥�听
Across the three continents in which they minister, Attack Poverty staff members and volunteers share the听same听vision. 鈥淲e see people come听to听Jesus through this work; we see lives transformed and families restored,鈥� Baca said.听鈥淲e say that there are three ways that people can participate: give, volunteer and pray for us.鈥�听
Baca has听maintained the lifelong relationships he听formed听at HBU, and听has听given听back听to his alma mater by co-chairing the HBU Alumni Board of Directors for a time.听He and his wife remain strong proponents听of听the school.听
鈥淲e love HBU,鈥� Baca said. 鈥淲e want our kids to go there.听听HBU is听a place that calls people to action,听and to live lives that are fueled by the Gospel for the Kingdom of God.鈥�听
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