Those wishing to reach Hispanics may have to learn another language besides Spanish.
It is the language of taking time. It means taking time to learn a few phrases of Spanish, taking time to build relationships and taking time for conversations more lengthy than the ones after a knock on the door and a quick evangelistic presentation.
“To the Anglos [Americans], time is money, but to the Hispanics, time is friendships,” said Carlos Gomez, volunteer pastor of the Hispanic church at First Baptist Church, Center Point.
And those friendships and relationships have built a solid foundation for Alabama Baptists’ Hispanic ministries.
Richard Alford, an associate who works with language missions in the office of associational/cooperative missions at the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions, said the number of Hispanic missions in Alabama has increased fivefold, from four in 1991 to 22 in 2003. As the work has increased, so has the need for trained leaders to serve as pastors of the mission churches. And as the Hispanic population has increased to more than 2 percent of Alabama’s overall population, so has the need for people to lead outreach and church planting efforts, as well as maintaining those missions already under way.
In order to keep up with the growing Hispanic population, some associations are forming coalitions to hire catalytic missionaries, commissioned by the North American Mission Board (NAMB).
The North Alabama Baptist Hispanic Ministry Coalition encompasses the 11 associations of Cherokee, DeKalb, East Cullman, West Cullman, Etowah, Limestone, Madison, Marshall, Morgan, St. Clair and Tennessee River. NAMB recently appointed Ed and Linda Ables to serve as catalytic missionaries there.
Alford said another coalition is in the process of being created by many of the associations along the U.S. Interstate 20 corridor.
Alford said he likes the title catalytic for the coalition missionaries because they will do more than simply plant churches. In the case of the north Alabama coalition, Ed Ables will also be responsible for the North Alabama Hispanic Bible Institute in Albertville, as well as acting as an Hispanic consultant to the associations.
“A catalytic missionary acts like a catalyst in chemistry,” Alford said. “It brings two elements together and then fades out of the picture. A catalytic missionary connects the churches with ethnic groups, and once they’re established, [the missionary] moves on to another area.”
Ben Chandler, director of missions for Tennessee River Baptist Association and former coalition president, said the coalitions allow associations to do much more than they could by themselves. “Each association does its own ministries, but by working together we have an institute that we could not have possibly supported by ourselves.”
He added that the coalition strengthens and encourages the members while providing a sense of fellowship and a place for gaining new ideas and insight into problems.
Variety of partnerships
Other individual churches and associations are beginning their own Hispanic ministries while some team up to hire missionaries to Hispanics in the area.
Jim and Jani McDonald, who work in West Cullman Baptist Association, said reaching out to Alabama’s Hispanics was a natural extension of the work they did as International Mission Board missionaries in Venezuela. “We just have a heart for Hispanic ministries,” Jani said. “The work [in Cullman] had died out, so it was exciting to come into a brand new work.”
Funded by a partnership between the association and First Baptist Church, Cullman, the McDonalds have seen their ministry slowly grow in the year they have been in Cullman. They have in-home Bible classes, a furniture ministry, English As a Second Language classes, worship services and a children’s ministry.
Jim said the programs help them enter into Hispanics’ lives to begin building trust through relationships. “It takes time to make friends with people,” he said. “You have to first make relationships.”
Although building relationships can be slow work, it is essential in reaching Hispanics. Besides programs, a starting point for relationships can be learning each other’s language.
“It shows that you care enough about them that you’re willing to do that,” Alford said, adding that even knowing a few simple phrases can be enough for a starting point.
Carlos Ramos, newly hired Hispanic missionary to Chilton and Autauga Associations, agreed with Alford, saying a level of trust is established by speaking the same language.
“When an American talks to them in Spanish, they are friendly and listen more,” Ramos said.
Along with helping English-speakers communicate with the Hispanic population, those leading Hispanic ministry efforts are teaching Spanish-speakers to reach their own communities.
Hispanic missionary Alejandro Pejaro leads a training school in Elmore Association, which is affiliated with the Samford extension of Beeson Divinity School in Birmingham. Ramón Rivas, a Hispanic missionary to Franklin, Winston and Marion associations, leads a school for those in the northwestern part of the state.
“My goal is to pastor in this area and to prepare the people to serve in the area the Lord has called them to,” Rivas said.
According to Marion Association Director of Missions Daniel Knight, the school has been vital in helping Rivas attain that goal. “It is very important in establishing Hispanic work in the area. Ramón tries to cover three counties, and that is an impossible task, so he needs some help.”
Affiliated with the Hispanic Baptist Theological School in San Antonio, Texas, the school trains Hispanics in theological classes that will lead them to diplomas in general ministries. Although taught in Spanish, students are required to learn English as well. “The students are excited about what they are doing,” Rivas said.
Ongoing benefits
Knight added that even though the students may move away from the area, the school still reaps the benefits of their training. “Even if some do not stay in the area or they return to [their native countries], they go back as missionaries and continue to train and teach others.”
A third school, the Bible institute that was begun by the north Alabama Hispanic coalition, is looking to become more firmly established in the fall. It is currently not affiliated with any seminary.
Although the schools are not accredited, Alford said they are important because they provide quality education to those who are willing to fill a need. “We continually have young Hispanic men surrendering to the call to ministry,” Alford said. “If we had today a half dozen Hispanic pastors, trained and called, those six would all be in pulpits on Sunday, and we’d still need more.”
Some Hispanics, like Carlos Gomez at First Baptist Church, Center Point, are volunteering their time to the ministry efforts.
The Puerto Rican native has been in the United States for more than 30 years, and is instrumental in helping the church’s Hispanics adjust to life in America.
“When I came to First Baptist, there was a need, and I was the one available,” he said.
He added that for some Hispanics, the mission church of First, Center Point, is their first exposure to Americans. He said he tries to help them understand the American culture.
Besides the mission’s influence on the Hispanic population, it has influenced the Anglo church members. The two congregations mix at churchwide picnics, choir practices and through the children, which participate in Sunday School and other activities together.
First, Center Point, Administrative Pastor Steve Parr said, “It has broken down stereotypes and the compassion level for the Hispanic community has risen because church members know names and faces. It is bringing a lot of life to the congregation.”
Share with others: