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La Casa del Alfarero, pastored by Faustino “Tino” Treviño, is a church that can testify to God’s faithfulness.
The church has existed for approximately 20 years and draws between 60-70 people each week. Its services reflect the diversity of this hard-working East Texas community: They are bilingual, with worship and preaching in English and Spanish. On Sunday mornings, the congregation offers Bible study for adults, women, youth, and children, while on Wednesday evenings, Bible studies are held in Spanish.
Treviño’s mission is to reach those in his city with the same saving message that rescued him decades ago, when God’s restorative grace sent his life on a path he never considered.
Transformed by the gospel
Although he heard the gospel as a child, Treviño’s life took a difficult turn when he was a teenager. For many years, he struggled with addictions and destructive habits.
“On the outside, it seemed like everything was fine, but there were many things people didn’t know,” he said.
In 1996, after years of living that lifestyle, he reached what he describes as rock bottom. On Jan. 28, 1997, he gave his life to Christ and, shortly afterward, entered a rehabilitation center with the support of his employer, who was a Christian.
Treviño began to get involved in a Baptist church in Mississippi, where he was baptized and discipled. In 1998, he was invited to serve as a translator on a church mission trip to Mexico. That experience opened up new opportunities for service.
The following year, Treviño began sharing brief reflections at a different church where some Hispanic members wanted to hold meetings in Spanish. What began as a monthly gathering soon became a weekly meeting. The mother church eventually ordained him for ministry, and that group became a new Hispanic church.
For more than two decades, Treviño was involved in the development of several Hispanic congregations in Mississippi, including Nueva Vida Esperanza and La Primera Misión Bautista in Batesville. Many of those churches continue to serve today.
In 2000, he married María Virginia “Vicky” Treviño, whom he had the blessing of leading to Christ and baptizing before their marriage. The Treviños have been married for 25 years, and together they have six children—four daughters and two sons—nine grandchildren, and three great-granddaughters.
“In life and in ministry, there are difficult moments. but when we look at all that God has done, we see His faithfulness.”
An unexpected call to the pastorate
In October 2020, a church in Texas invited him to preach while they were searching for a new pastor following the retirement of their previous leader. Treviño was not looking for a change in ministry and accepted the invitation without imagining he would eventually be considered for the pastorate.
After several interviews and a process of prayer, church leaders visited Mississippi to get a closer look at Treviño’s ministry and finally invited him to move to Texas. He arrived in Lufkin in May 2021.
“It was something we didn’t expect, especially at this stage of life,” says Treviño, who recently turned 66.
Before his arrival, the church had been going through a significant period of transition. For years, the congregation met in various spaces loaned by local churches while searching for a suitable place to grow. Over time, attendance swelled and the space became insufficient.
At that time, Redland Baptist Church, a local Anglo church, invited Treviño’s church to use its facilities and share the expenses. Over time, attendance at Redland continued to decline, and maintaining the building became difficult.
Finally, the congregation made the decision to give its building to La Casa del Alfarero, allowing the Hispanic church to continue its ministry in those facilities. The building has a capacity for 400-500 people and also includes a gym.
A heart for missions
Throughout his ministry, Treviño has maintained a strong passion for missions.
In 2012, he participated in a mission trip to Indonesia, where a relationship subsequently developed with the Manggarai people on the island of Flores. For years, teams have traveled there to visit homes, share the gospel, and conduct Bible studies. On one of those trips, they even had the opportunity to baptize a handful of new believers in a river.
Treviño has also participated in ministries in Honduras and Nicaragua, where teams visited communities and shared the gospel.
Meanwhile, La Casa del Alfarero continues to seek ways to serve its own community in Lufkin.
Among its outreach activities are vacation Bible school, back-to-school events where church members distribute backpacks and school supplies, and home Bible studies. Treviño also encourages members to view their daily conversations as opportunities to share hope.
“At any moment of the day, we may encounter someone who needs prayer or to hear from the Lord,” he said.
A ministry marked by restoration
The difficult experiences Treviño went through before knowing Christ are now part of his pastoral ministry.
He frequently counsels people struggling with addiction, marriages in crisis, and family wounds. He also dedicates time to helping couples going through difficulties, reminding them restoration is possible.
“I know what it’s like to be lost, desperate, and tired of living that way,” he says. “That’s why I know God can restore any life.”
In addition to his pastoral work, Treviño continues his academic studies. In 2025, he earned his bachelor’s degree in biblical studies, and he is pursuing a master’s degree in Christian counseling, which he hopes to complete this spring.
In the meantime, his desire is to continue guiding La Casa del Alfarero toward a deeper faith and a greater commitment to the gospel.
“In life and in ministry, there are difficult moments,” he said, “but when we look at all that God has done, we see His faithfulness.”
