Providence Baptist Church of Hendersonville, NC
ordained Francisco Gonzalez to the Gospel Ministry
on February 15, 2026.
These are the documents associated with the ordination.
The Inclusion Policy of Providence Baptist Church, Hendersonville NC
The Ordination Sermon for Francisco Gonzalez, preached by Dwight A. Moody
The Testimony of Call to Gospel Work, by Francisco Gonzalez
The Benediction of the Ordination Service, by Francisco Gonzalez.
The Inclusion Policy of Providence Baptist Church
Providence Baptist Church is a congregation open to the imagination of the Holy Spirit which relationally affirms God’s love within the complex mosaic of all human diversity. In all facets of the life and ministry of our church, including but not limited to membership, baptism, ordination, marriage, teaching, and committee/organizational leadership, Providence Baptist Church will not discriminate based on race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, ethnicity, marital status, age, physical or mental ability, economic circumstance or place of origin.”
The Ordination Sermon, By Rev. Dr. Dwight A. Moody
But God also lifted up Jesus! Lifted him from death and despair, lifted him from the cross and from grave,
And all the people said, Amen.
The Testimony of Call by Francisco Gonzalez
Good morning, everyone,
Before I begin, I just want to take one moment to breathe in this sacred gift — because standing here today is truly a grace I never take for granted. Today my heart is full — full of gratitude, humility, and awe. If you had told me years ago that I would be standing here being ordained, I honestly would not have believed you. My journey to this moment has not been straight or easy. It has been filled with questions, struggles, healing, and many moments where all I could do was trust God one step at a time.
One of the clearest moments of my calling happened when I was in the Middle East. One night, I went out alone into the desert. It was completely still — just the vast sky, the sand beneath my feet, and the weight I was carrying in my heart. At that time, I had been hearing so many painful messages about the LGBTQ community — messages that made salvation sound narrow, conditional, and painfully out of reach for people like me. That night, I cried out to God. I asked, “Why does salvation have to feel so hard? Why does it feel like some of us have to fight just to belong?”
And in that deep silence, I experienced something I will never forget. In the quiet of that desert, I felt Jesus meet me — not with judgment, but with peace. Deep in my spirit, I heard these words: You are enough. You are already in. You belong to me. And then came the calling: But you must help others know this too — and the road will not always be easy. It will be rough and stormy at times. That moment changed everything. I realized my calling was not just to
preach, but to help create spaces where people who feel pushed out can finally breathe… where they can hear the truth that God’s love is wider thanwe imagine, and Christ’s table is bigger than we were taught.
I stand here today because of mentors who guided me, teachers who challenged me, friends who encouraged me, and a congregation that believed in me — even when I struggled to believe in myself. You have prayed for me, shaped me, and trusted me to grow alongside you.
Ordination is not the end of a journey — it is a promise. A promise to keep listening for God’s voice, to keep loving boldly, and to keep working for a church and a world that reflect the heart of Jesus. If there is one thing I know for certain today, it is this: There are still so many people sitting in their own deserts — feeling alone, wondering if they belong, wondering if God could ever love them too.
My calling is simple. To walk into those deserts, stand beside them, and tell them the words Jesus once spoke to my heart: You are not outside. You are not forgotten. You are not too much. You are already loved — and you already belong. Amen.
The Ordination Benediction
Go now into a world that is hurting and divided,
and do not be afraid to carry the fierce love of Christ with you.
Go to the places where voices are silenced,
where dignity is denied, and where people are told they do not belong —
and be a living witness that God’s table is wide and God’s mercy has no borders.
Walk with courage. Stand with the marginalized,
and speak truth with compassion.
And may the God of justice guide your steps,
the Christ of radical love guard your heart,
and the Spirit of holy courage give you strength
to keep widening the circle — until all are welcomed home.
Go now — not just to keep the faith, but to live it boldly by
making room, breaking barriers, and reminding the world
that God’s love leaves no one outside.
Go in peace to love, to serve, and to set the table.
