Lorena Gonzales says, ‘Goodbye, Texas. Hello, Oregon'

BY JACOB BACK

Contributing Writer

Lorena Gonzales, a wildlife sustainability and ecosystems science major, has always been drawn to wildlife and creation itself, making her choices at Tarleton State University feel like second nature.

“In the book of Genesis, God gives us a command to have dominion over all the animals,” Gonzales said. “Knowing that I can be a good steward of God’s creation, and being able to shepherd them in the way Jesus shepherds me.”

Gonzales said that her faith has impacted not only her career choices but also her everyday choices.

“I know that the Lord provides for his creation,” Gonzales said. “So being able to serve these animals, to go into rehabilitation and rewilding, it allows me to see a glimpse of how his creation worships Him better than we do sometimes.”

During Gonzales’ freshman year of college, she joined Tarleton's chapter of the Wildlife Society. 

Tarleton’s chapter is part of a larger national society, founded in 1965, that prioritizes research in wildlife management and conservation.

Through her experience in the Wildlife Society, she has participated in many events, including mentored deer hunts. 

But her love for wildlife didn't come to her during college; it’s been instilled in her since the beginning. Growing up in Hondo, Texas, just south of San Antonio, she was provided with numerous opportunities to get involved in the wildlife and agriculture industries. 

“[Hondo] had all of our sunflower, cotton and cabbage fields. As well as the 777 Ranch. Which is a big deal globally,” Gonzales said. 

Growing up around these industries provided her with opportunities to grow her interests before college. She also said how much her dad played a role in shaping her out who she is and what she is interested in today.

“I have a really great relationship with my dad,” Gonzales said. “Growing up, we were always hunting, fishing, making mud pies and being outside.”

Gonzales recalls hunting as the fondest memory with her father, instilling in her what it truly means to honor wildlife in a faithful way.

“Being able to pray over any kill that we got that would provide Christmas dinner was really cool,” Gonzales said.

When Gonzales hit the third grade, her eyes were opened to the conservation and preservation of wildlife.

“I did a Google Slides project on the Ocelot. It showed me what the word nocturnal meant," Gonzales said. “It was a very pivotal moment.”

Years later, Gonzales joined FFA and 4-H organizations. Both of those organizations also sparked another interest in agricultural mechanics. In her freshman year, she joined Tarleton's Ag Mech Club, initially being what she wanted to pursue in higher education during high school. 

Since then, a lot has changed for Gonzales. During her freshman year, she found Tarleton’s Baptist Student Ministry (BSM).

The BSM is an on-campus student organization that serves as an extension of local churches, associations, individuals and Texas Baptists.

“Late September [2023], when I saw a post of BSM’s Freshman Journey, my dorm neighbor and I had nothing going on, so we went,” Gonzales said.

She got plugged into Marion Barrett’s, a fall 2023 Freshman Journey leader’s, Bible study.

“She ended up discipling me my first semester, and that was super influential,” Gonzales said.

Tarleton’s BSM had played a major role in Gonzales’ college freshman journey and identity in Christ. During that year, she got plugged into Timber Ridge Church as well, and has been attending for three years.

At the end of that year, she was asked to be on the Leadership Team at the BSM. The Leadership Team consists of becoming passionate followers of Jesus, sharing the love and truth of Christ with Tarleton students and connecting Tarleton students to local churches.

It is a very honorable position that Gonzales was quick to jump into. She was placed on the 402 Crew, which helps set up and take down the BSM’s weekly 402 gatherings.

402 is the BSM’s Thursday night worship service held for all Tarleton students and community members.

“I was welcomed as if I had been there the whole time,” Gonzales said.

Through her time at the BSM, Gonzales has had the opportunity to grow her faith through many things, like GoNow Missions and Beach Reach South Padre Island.

Gonzales’ faith and perspective on being a servant changed when she was sent to Athens, Greece, with Texas BSM through GoNow Missions. 

“We went to serve refugees, and we met so many people who were already followers of Christ, or they weren't,” Gonzales said. “But we also met people who were in different stages of life.”

Gonzales said she met a girl who was a digital media major from a university in her country. She said it was a hard transition for her, having to flee her country and get her bearings on her life. 

“Being compassionate and more servant-hearted, then coming back and being really grateful, changed my perspective on having no complaints,” Gonzales said. “I met people who had no idea where their family was.” 

She said even though she's four hours away from home and her family, at least she could call or FaceTime them. This changed the way she appreciated those opportunities that not everyone has.

She also said it changed how she sees overconsumption. She met people who were wearing the same clothes every day and had keepsakes. It showed her how they have to live life day by day, and they don't plan it. 

Arriving back in Texas, she reflected on a scripture in the Bible from the book of Psalms. 

"Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be,” (Psalm 139:16). 

Along with serving in Athens, she also served at Beach Reach SPI for the first time. 

“That opportunity really allowed me to plant really deep roots in some friendships I had and build new ones,” Gonzales said. “That was super life-changing.”

Gonzales said that at Beach Reach, she was able to serve people from various age groups who were on the island doing various activities, through offering free van rides, free pancakes and sharing the love of Jesus Christ.

“I was one of those high school and college students who did [various activities]. And so being able to go with a different life, as a new creation in Christ, was really impactful for me,” Gonzales said, “as well as getting to see where God has taken me into a full circle moment.”

Gonzales said she was re-baptized that year during Beach Reach SPI, making the trip all the more impactful for her.

Since then, Gonzales has now switched roles on the BSM’s leadership team. She now leads a co-ed upperclassmen journey Bible study. Through that, she continues to share the love of Jesus Christ back at Tarleton. 

Gonzales is also the lead career coach at Career Services on campus. She supervises a team of three coaches. They assist with anything in the career and employment process for current and previous students.

“It is super beneficial,” Gonzales said.

Not only has Gonzales been impacted by her various involvements at Tarleton, but she has also made a massive impact on her peers around her.

Isaac Taylor, a campus missionary at the BSM and Tarleton alumnus, reflected on a time when he and Gonzales had to go pick flowers on the side of the highway for a class assignment. He reminisced about bailing out of the truck to pick Bluebonnets in “Lorena’s dope truck.”

“Picking up Bluebonnets is actually not illegal,” both Gonzales and Taylor said with a shared laugh.

Bonnie Reese, a Tarleton freshman and BSM member, said how much Gonzales had impacted her freshman year of college.

“Some of my favorite things about Lorena are how welcoming and kind she is,” Reese said. “I have always appreciated her being there for me at church and the BSM, as well as how she’s helped guide me through my freshman year.”

Brynnen Heep, another Tarleton freshman and BSM member, shared how special her first time meeting Gonzales was.

“She invited me to her Bible study for wildlife majors, and she was my first wildlife friend,” Heep said.

Even though Gonzales’ time with Tarleton BSM is over, and she may not have the opportunity to impact new students at Tarleton, she has huge plans to continue sharing the love of Jesus Christ elsewhere.

In August, Gonzales plans to pack her things and move across the country to Corvallis, Oregon. She will be a campus missionary at Oregon State University for 10 months. That includes doing outreach events, evangelism on campus and other events. 

In May of 2025, Gonzales served on a mission trip to Oregon with Tarleton BSM to help serve with Mosaic Ministry at Oregon State University.

“That’s when I considered going into full-time ministry,” Gonzales said. “I didn't know if that's where God was leading me. So, going there, my life kind of flashed before my eyes; God is moving over there.”

Fast forward to August of 2025, when Gonzales was offered an opportunity from the Mosaic Ministries assistant director to serve as a full-time campus missionary at Oregon State University.

After many days of back and forth between a career in wildlife or full-time ministry, Gonzales decided to go with the latter. In fact, she said it was one of the hardest things she has ever decided.

“I had to count the costs of uprooting my life in Stephenville, all while trying to stay connected to friends I have here and family I've made here, also staying connected with my family back home,” Gonzales said. 

She also reflected on the other costs of doing ministry.

“I thought about other opportunities to do ministry, but everything always led back to Oregon,” Gonzales said. “My parents and I are going to road trip up there as a last final journey until I see them for the holidays, so that will be fun.”

Ultimately, Gonzales is bittersweet to leave the place she has called home for the past three years, but she’s thankful for the people and the organizations who have positively influenced her.

“Those conversations and people really helped push me; they were catalysts for me to now go into this place I never would have gone if it wasn't for God placing them in my life,” Gonzales said.

Gonzales walked the stage and received her degree in wildlife sustainability and ecosystem sciences on May 8, 2026, at 8 p.m. in Tarleton’s EECU Center.