About 600 people from 20 churches — stretching from Enterprise to Russellville — attended the 13th annual meeting of the Hispanic Music Festival at Dawson Memorial Baptist Church, Birmingham, on Oct. 20.
The Alabama Hispanic Baptist Fellowship, which is the organization of all Hispanic Baptist churches in Alabama, comes together once a year at the music festival for a time of fellowship and worship and to hear how God has been moving in the lives of Hispanic Baptists.
Carlos Lemus, the Hispanic minister for Autauga and Elmore counties and the president of the Alabama Hispanic Baptist Fellowship, said Alabama Hispanic churches have been growing over the last few years.
“We’ve been not only reaching out to Hispanic communities, but also in other communities, even Anglos, as well. The church is in the process of transforming from a first-generation church to a second-generation and third-generation church,” Lemus said.
Dawson Memorial Baptist Pastor Gary Fenton welcomed the congregation after a time of singing and Bible reading. He noted that while they may not speak the same language, they have unity in Christ.
“I regret that I cannot speak your language, but I can worship the Lord with you,” Fenton said, drawing the congregation’s applause.
The event was filled with singing from several congregations, including Dawson; The Church at Brook Hills, Birmingham; and First Baptist Church, Pelham.
In previous years, every attending church has participated in some way, and the event would last several hours. This year, due to growth in the fellowship, only a few churches provided the singing.
“We’ve been growing and multiplying,” Lemus said.
He led the congregation in hymns, which included “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms” and “Onward, Christian Soldiers.”
After the singing, Joshua Del Risco, Hispanic evangelism director for the North American Mission Board, brought the message. He spoke from Mark 6:34 where Jesus fed the 5,000, focusing on the need for the church to reach out to the lost in their community.
Lemus noted that the event is a “great way to have intentional evangelism.”
After the congregation gave an offering, a worship team from Dawson led the congregation in a time of worship, leading songs in both English and Spanish.
Lemus said the time of singing together as a congregation is his favorite part of the event.
In addition to the festival, the Hispanic Baptist Fellowship offers pastoral training during the year.
They also will hold a Hispanic Pastors Conference on Nov. 11 at 9 a.m. at Whitesburg Baptist Church, Huntsville.
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Hispanic Pastors Conference
The Alabama Hispanic Baptist Fellowship will hold the Hispanic Pastors Conference on Nov. 11 at 9 a.m. at Whitesburg Baptist Church, Huntsville. For details, contact Carlos Lemus at 334-365-7802.
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