Cultural Engagement: Understanding the Diversity of the Hispanic Community

Dr. Bock has earned recognition as a Humboldt Scholar (Tübingen University in Germany), is the author of over 40 books, including well-regarded commentaries on Luke and Acts and studies of the historical Jesus, and work in cultural engagement as host of the seminary’s Table Podcasts. He was president of the Evangelical Theological Society (ETS) from 2000–2001, served as a consulting editor for Christianity Today, and serves on the boards of Wheaton College and Chosen People Ministries. His articles appear in leading publications. He is often an expert for the media on NT issues. Dr. Bock has been a New York Times best-selling author in nonfiction and is elder emeritus at Trinity Fellowship Church in Dallas. When traveling overseas, he will tune into the current game involving his favorite teams from Houston—live—even in the wee hours of the morning. Married for over 40 years to Sally, he is a proud father of two daughters and a son and is also a grandfather.

Marlon Iván Ríos was born in Reynosa Tamaulipas México. His parents immigrated to the United States when he was 7 years of age and lived in Hidalgo TX. He is married to Carolina and they have been married for 16 years, and have three children: Joshua Daniel (15), Joel David (12), and Rebekah Carolina (7). Marlon serves in the office of Hispanic Ministries at the cultural engagement department at the Baptist General Convention of Texas. He teaches Basic Theology and Historical Theology at the Spanish Lay Institute for SETECA at the DTS extension. The ministry that God has entrusted he and his family has been in the U.S. but also in Latin America, particularly in México teaching others the importance of evangelism and discipleship. He served in the United States ARMY for six years and deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iran in the 82 Airborne division and a Special Operations unit. His passions are: God, family, tacos, coffee, reading, and working-out.

Dr. Ortiz was born in New York City to Cuban immigrants. After receiving a law degree from SMU in 1988 and developing his practice in Florida, he submitted his life to Christ. Dr. Ortiz developed a hunger for biblical and theological studies. In 2015 he received his PhD from Seminario Teológico Centroamericano (SETECA) following his ThM from DTS in 2008. Most of his ministry prior to DTS involved theological education leadership and teaching in Spanish-speaking countries, especially Cuba. Since being at DTS, Dr. Ortiz served as the initial director of DTS en Español, a department developed to offer master’s-level programs to the Spanish world. His primary academic interests relate to global theological education and contextualization and often speaks at conferences on these topics as well as others. He currently serves as International Director of the International Council for Evangelical Theological Education which further positions him as a key leader in global theological education. Dr. Ortiz has been married to Kathy for over thirty years, and they have two adult children. He still maintains his Florida Bar license.

Nancy P. Reyes Frazier (ThM 2017) is currently pursuing a PhD in Systematic Theology from Dallas Theological Seminary. Her interests include the intersection of theology and culture, the nature of revelation, and the role of theology in communal ethics and spiritual formation. You can connect with Nancy on Twitter @npfrazier.