Carlos Lemus knows what it takes to bring Hispanics together — family activities and music.
As much as they love those things though, he is convinced their love for worshiping the Lord is even greater.
That’s why Lemus, Hispanic missionary for Autauga and Chilton Baptist associations, believes Spanish Day continues to be a success with members of Hispanic ministries affiliated with Alabama Baptist churches.
About 750 adults and children from 21 churches turned out for the seventh annual Spanish Day, held Oct. 21 at First Baptist Church, Albertville.
“What we’re trying to do is get together for communion among all the Baptist Hispanics,” Lemus said. “It’s also a way to reach out to others who don’t come to church.”
But why would someone not already involved with a church consider attending something like Spanish Day?
Lemus believes it is the emphasis on something everyone loves — music.
“There’s something about our culture that we really like music,” he said. “That is a tool that we use to reach out to other Hispanics that ordinarily wouldn’t come.”
And those in attendance enjoyed music ranging from that performed by choirs and soloists to that included in musical dramas.
The day also included a sermon and meal. Children attended a separate program that featured puppets and other Christian-themed entertainment.
In its first five years, Spanish Day was held at Dawson Memorial Baptist Church, Birmingham, before moving to Vaughn Forest Baptist Church, Montgomery, in 2006. Attendance last year and in 2005 was about 600 and 800, respectively, compared to roughly 200 the first year.
“This has been growing and we have more each year,” said Byron Mosquera, Hispanic pastor of Dawson Memorial Baptist.
Mosquera, who participated in this year’s event with 63 members of his congregation, believes Spanish Day is important because Hispanics do not have organized entities like conventions or associations to bring them together as a body of believers.
The absence of any large Hispanic churches in the state is a factor that Omar Hernandez, Hispanic pastor of Vaughn Forest Baptist, also believes makes the event important.
“Our churches are either medium sized or small. When we go there, we’re over 600 (or) 700 people getting together,” said Hernandez, who accompanied 50 members of his congregation to Spanish Day.
“When you see that, when you feel it, that makes our local churches understand we need to keep doing the work in reaching people for Christ,” he added.
Lemus said Spanish Day also highlights the need for more ministries to Alabama’s growing Hispanic population. In his opinion, there is still more work to be done because not enough Baptist churches are ministering to Hispanics. “There are a few churches that are working with Hispanics, but as the community grows, more response may be needed,” he said.
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