F E L L O W S H IP
Interview with Herb Dominguez by Ann Smith
Rev. Herb Dominguez was born in Wesley Memorial Hospital in Chicago. He lived there until he was 5; then his family moved to Houston, Texas where they stayed until he was 13. Then WWII came along and his father joined the Navy, moving the family to Oxnard, California. Herb graduated from Oxnard Union High School in 1948. One of Herb’s earliest memories was of his mother praying over him and his brother before they left for school, from kindergarten through the 12th grade. Her prayer was: “Lord, be with my boys as they go to school and may they they learn one good truth today.” He started college and then was drafted into the armed services. He served as a chaplain’s assistant from 19511953 in Stuttgart, Germany. When he returned from the service he entered California Baptist Theological College and Seminary in Covina, CA where he met his lovely wife Dori. Herb accepted Jesus as Lord at the age of 10 and was baptized at Magnolia Baptist Church in Houston. He was most influenced by his parents’ example and by his Sunday School teachers there. He began to understand Christ’s care for him when the family moved to Oxnard. The First Baptist Church (ABC). The church was most helpful in finding a house for the family when rental houses were difficult to find during the war. Some of its members were also on hand to greet the family with groceries when they arrived. He felt the call to the ministry there and has never wavered from it. Herb met Dori when he returned to seminary. They were married at the FBC of Redondo Beach by her high school pastor, Dr. C. G. Emanuel and Herb’s pastor, Dr. Ernest Main, 1955. They served in several churches in So. Cal. Prior to retirement, he was on the Regional Staff of the ABC of Pacific Southwest for 19 years. After retirement in 1993, he served as Interim Executive Minister of the Pittsburg, Pennsylvania region. After several interim pastorates they retired and came to Redlands to be close to their
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children; Plymouth Village became a natural choice in 2010. They immediately joined the First Baptist Church of Redlands. He has become more and more aware that we live in a world of pain and suffering where no one is immune and that it is futile to blame God for suffering and pain. Here he quotes the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:18 where he asked the Lord to remove his “thorn in the flesh” and, the Lord’s response was “My grace is sufficient for you.” His favorite Bible story is the narrative of Jesus’ death, burial, resurrection and return. He places full confidence in Jesus’ promise of eternal glory in His Presence. Herb’s favorite hymn is How Can I Say Thanks to God otherwise known as My Tribute. They have been blessed with 3 adult children, 8 grandchildren, and 2 greatgrand daughters. Herb and Dori have indeed been a team in their family life and in their ministry.
