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Rev. Mario Medrano Hernandez was born July 10, 1931 in San Antonio, TX. He was the youngest of 12 brothers and sisters. As a Baptist Minister, he established and pastored numerous churches around Texas and Southeastern New Mexico. One of his most favorite church events was Vacation Bible School (VBS) because this is how he first came to know the Lord. Out of numerous children that attended, he was the only one that accepted Christ. Many thought that this particular VBS was unsuccessful because only one soul was won for the Lord. Little did they know this one soul would go on to help save countless others. At the young age of 14, Mario began preaching. He and his wife served the Lord and followed wherever they were called. For 7 years in a row, he spent time in Yucatan, Mexico, ministering to thousands of people at a time as he established a church there. There were often so many people in attendance that people often had to stand outside the building just to hear the word of God.
For the past several years, He was pastor at Parkway Hispanic Baptist Mission; a church he often said ministered to the forgotten side of Lubbock. In addition to his church, he also served as a chaplain at O'Hair Shutters in Lubbock. He was recently honored for having ministered for 71 years and continued to pastor up until the night before he entered the hospital. Even while he was in the hospital, he witnessed to those around him. He led thousands of people to the Lord and touched many lives. He was humble in his work and encouraged others to work on their own walk with God by often saying "Read your bible, don't just believe the preacher." If he met you, he treated you as family; giving the shirt off his back if he had to. He is loved and respected by many.
During his past time, his favorite activity was bowling. To his family, he was a pro. He was an excellent cook and his family often joked of opening up a restaurant called "Super Mario's". His delicious spaghetti, hamburgers and guacamole would be listed as the favorites. He rooted for the Dallas Cowboys and the San Antonio Spurs and was able to achieve a dream and attend a Dallas Cowboys home game last year. He loved spending time with his family and loved each of his grandchildren, including his granddogs.
Eneida (Neida) Maria Hernandez was born on August 27th,1934 in San Antonio Texas to Juan and Maria Faz Hernandez. She met and married the love of her life Rev. Mario Hernandez on August 31st, 1952 in San Antonio, TX allowing her to achieve her dream of becoming a Pastor’s wife. She and Rev. Mario spent many years building church congregation after congregation and leaving their legacy for future generations to continue to serve the Lord. They began their ministry in San Antonio, Texas at El Jordan Templo Bautista and soon moved to Woodsboro, Texas in 1956. In 1964, the Lord called them to Rosenberg, Texas where they ministered at Primera Iglesia Bautista of Rosenberg until 1966. They made their first move to Roswell, NM to pastor at Iglesia Bautista El Calvario until 1974 where they were called to Odessa, Texas to serve at Cresent Park South Baptist Church. In August of 1979, the Lord called them to Bryan College Station to minister to that community at Primera Iglesia Bautista. In December 1983, they returned to Roswell again at Iglesia Bautista El Calvario. In 1995, they began their ministry in Lubbock, Texas first at Primera Iglesia Bautista and then finally at Iglesia Bautista Parkway Hispana until Rev. Mario passed away in 2016. Between years they traveled to Panama and Mérida, Yucatan on mission trips helping to rebuild broken cities and leading others to Christ. She was a devout Baptist and was heavily involved in her church organizations no matter where she was. She often led many woman devotional groups through church and worked tirelessly supporting her husband in the ministry. She held many office positions in the Women’s Missionary Union (WMU) and in Girls in Action (GA). She, like her husband, was a strong believer in Vacation Bible School and could often be found in the kitchen helping prepare snacks for the attending children. She participated in the church choirs.She also devoted her time to caring for her grandchildren and created lasting memories of a home away from home. Many of her grandchildren spent more time at “Nana’s” than they did at home. She also really enjoyed it when her granddogs would come to visit.She had an affinity for angels and windmills and covered her home with many figurines and pictures of them.She never met a stranger. When she met you, she made you feel like she knew you and would leave the conversation saying, “you need to go to church”.
They are survived by their son Mario Hernandez Jr. and his wife Patti of Broken Arrow, OK, their daughter Mary Gonzalez (late husband David of Roswell, NM), their daughter Debbie Yarbrough and her husband Sam of Lubbock, TX and their daughter Denise Hernandez of Lubbock, TX. They have nine grandchildren Robert of Broken Arrow, Ok, Tiffany Medlock of Broken Arrow, OK, Omar Gonzalez of Roswell, NM, his "Chief" Angelica Rodriguez of Roswell, NM, Ralph Yarbrough of Lubbock,TX, Melissa Morin-Zuniga of Lubbock,TX, Hope Herrera of Roswell, NM, Clarissa Salazar of Lubbock, TX and Norma Salazar of Lubbock, TX. They also have multiple great, great-great grandchildren and granddogs.
"Heavenly Father, we thank you for your many blessings, your gift of time, and your love. Please guide and direct us. Forgive us where we have failed you, help us where we need you. We ask this all in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior, Amen."
Rev. Mario Medrano Hernandez was born July 10, 1931 in San Antonio, TX. He was the youngest of 12 brothers and sisters. As a Baptist Minister, he established and pastored numerous churches around Texas and Southeastern New Mexico. One of his most favorite church events was Vacation Bible School (VBS) because this is how he first came to know the Lord. Out of numerous children that attended, he was the only one that accepted Christ. Many thought that this particular VBS was unsuccessful because only one soul was won for the Lord. Little did they know this one soul would go on to help save countless others. At the young age of 14, Mario began preaching. He and his wife served the Lord and followed wherever they were called. For 7 years in a row, he spent time in Yucatan, Mexico, ministering to thousands of people at a time as he established a church there. There were often so many people in attendance that people often had to stand outside the building just to hear the word of God.
For the past several years, He was pastor at Parkway Hispanic Baptist Mission; a church he often said ministered to the forgotten side of Lubbock. In addition to his church, he also served as a chaplain at O'Hair Shutters in Lubbock. He was recently honored for having ministered for 71 years and continued to pastor up until the night before he entered the hospital. Even while he was in the hospital, he witnessed to those around him. He led thousands of people to the Lord and touched many lives. He was humble in his work and encouraged others to work on their own walk with God by often saying "Read your bible, don't just believe the preacher." If he met you, he treated you as family; giving the shirt off his back if he had to. He is loved and respected by many.
During his past time, his favorite activity was bowling. To his family, he was a pro. He was an excellent cook and his family often joked of opening up a restaurant called "Super Mario's". His delicious spaghetti, hamburgers and guacamole would be listed as the favorites. He rooted for the Dallas Cowboys and the San Antonio Spurs and was able to achieve a dream and attend a Dallas Cowboys home game last year. He loved spending time with his family and loved each of his grandchildren, including his granddogs.
Eneida (Neida) Maria Hernandez was born on August 27th,1934 in San Antonio Texas to Juan and Maria Faz Hernandez. She met and married the love of her life Rev. Mario Hernandez on August 31st, 1952 in San Antonio, TX allowing her to achieve her dream of becoming a Pastor’s wife. She and Rev. Mario spent many years building church congregation after congregation and leaving their legacy for future generations to continue to serve the Lord. They began their ministry in San Antonio, Texas at El Jordan Templo Bautista and soon moved to Woodsboro, Texas in 1956. In 1964, the Lord called them to Rosenberg, Texas where they ministered at Primera Iglesia Bautista of Rosenberg until 1966. They made their first move to Roswell, NM to pastor at Iglesia Bautista El Calvario until 1974 where they were called to Odessa, Texas to serve at Cresent Park South Baptist Church. In August of 1979, the Lord called them to Bryan College Station to minister to that community at Primera Iglesia Bautista. In December 1983, they returned to Roswell again at Iglesia Bautista El Calvario. In 1995, they began their ministry in Lubbock, Texas first at Primera Iglesia Bautista and then finally at Iglesia Bautista Parkway Hispana until Rev. Mario passed away in 2016. Between years they traveled to Panama and Mérida, Yucatan on mission trips helping to rebuild broken cities and leading others to Christ. She was a devout Baptist and was heavily involved in her church organizations no matter where she was. She often led many woman devotional groups through church and worked tirelessly supporting her husband in the ministry. She held many office positions in the Women’s Missionary Union (WMU) and in Girls in Action (GA). She, like her husband, was a strong believer in Vacation Bible School and could often be found in the kitchen helping prepare snacks for the attending children. She participated in the church choirs.She also devoted her time to caring for her grandchildren and created lasting memories of a home away from home. Many of her grandchildren spent more time at “Nana’s” than they did at home. She also really enjoyed it when her granddogs would come to visit.She had an affinity for angels and windmills and covered her home with many figurines and pictures of them.She never met a stranger. When she met you, she made you feel like she knew you and would leave the conversation saying, “you need to go to church”.
They are survived by their son Mario Hernandez Jr. and his wife Patti of Broken Arrow, OK, their daughter Mary Gonzalez (late husband David of Roswell, NM), their daughter Debbie Yarbrough and her husband Sam of Lubbock, TX and their daughter Denise Hernandez of Lubbock, TX. They have nine grandchildren Robert of Broken Arrow, Ok, Tiffany Medlock of Broken Arrow, OK, Omar Gonzalez of Roswell, NM, his "Chief" Angelica Rodriguez of Roswell, NM, Ralph Yarbrough of Lubbock,TX, Melissa Morin-Zuniga of Lubbock,TX, Hope Herrera of Roswell, NM, Clarissa Salazar of Lubbock, TX and Norma Salazar of Lubbock, TX. They also have multiple great, great-great grandchildren and granddogs.
"Heavenly Father, we thank you for your many blessings, your gift of time, and your love. Please guide and direct us. Forgive us where we have failed you, help us where we need you. We ask this all in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior, Amen."
Tributes are short messages commemorating Rev. Mario and Neida, or an expression of support to his closest family and friends. Leave your first tribute here, and others will follow.
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Gallery
Chillaxin'
Family
Serving God
Cheese
VBS
Singing praises
Just like the one he drove back in the day
Back in church
Raise your light when you feel the spirit
