After taking foreign language classes in high school, most people forget most of what they learn, but not Jerry Gay.
Remarkably, after only four years of learning Spanish more than 37 years ago, he recalls enough of the language to teach it to others interested in starting Hispanic ministries.
Last year to help expand outreach to Hispanics in the state, he taught conversational Spanish to about 25 Birmingham and Shelby Baptist church members ranging from children in the fifth grade to grandparents in retirement.
“There is a tremendous burden on the hearts of Baptist people in the central Alabama area to reach Hispanics,” said Gay, former administrator of Clearview Baptist Church, Pinson.
“This speaks volumes to me as a citizen of Alabama and tells me that our citizenry really do care about people regardless of their race.”
Through a partnership with the Birmingham Baptist Association, Gay’s 12-week class focuses on Christian words and phrases that would allow students to share the plan of salvation with Hispanic nonbelievers.
Currently held at Vestavia Hills Baptist Church, and meeting once a week, students practice speaking in small groups, complete weekly assignments from literature developed by Gay and turn in questions that he then translates into Spanish.
For the final exam, Gay takes his students to a Mexican restaurant where the staff is instructed to only speak Spanish to the group.
Gay’s students come from Vestavia Hills Baptist, as well as a variety of Southern Baptist churches, including Smoke Rise Baptist Church, Valleydale Baptist Church and Deerfoot Baptist Church.
In the beginning of his ministry, Gay wanted to accomplish two goals in his ministry — reach Hispanic people for Jesus Christ and combat racism before it had a chance to develop.
Over the years, he has worked hard to bridge the gap between Hispanics and their new English-speaking neighbors.
About five years ago before moving to Alabama from Arkansas, Gay worked with the North American Mission Board to instruct his church members on how to teach English to Hispanics.
During the Sunday School hour, instructors would teach an English class and then Gay would preach a sermon in Spanish.
Gay has also translated business transactions, house closings, legal documents and proceedings for both Hispanics and the legal community.
“God blessed that work in a mighty way,” he said.
“In September, I was invited to go to Mexico as a translator and I have preached at a Mexican church.”
According to Gay, feedback from the classes has been very good and encouraging.
Students from his first classes are already using the knowledge that they acquired in class to communicate with Hispanic people on missions trips and to minister to Hispanics they see within their communities.
Former student Janet Dickey and her family have already approached Hispanics while shopping and referred them to the Hispanic ministry at First Baptist Church, Pelham.
“We have a lot of Spanish-speaking people in the Alabaster area and we wanted to be able to converse if we had an opportunity or if someone had a need,” said Dickey, publications ministry assistant at Westwood Baptist Church, Alabaster.
As an approved NAMB missionary, Gay realizes the great need for Spanish-speaking Alabamians and hopes that interest in Hispanic work will continue to grow in the future.
“Having the ability to speak their language and teach them our language is what I call the hook,” he said.
“We have something that they want which is English, but we also have something that they need and that’s Jesus Christ.”
In the future, he would like to see “churches spring up and grow so that more people can be reached for Jesus Christ.”
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