Hispanic church in Tuscaloosa finds location, ministry partner

Hispanic church in Tuscaloosa finds location, ministry partner

Eric Boykin said in his mind both congregations needed a win.

Misión Monte Sinaí, a small Hispanic congregation, was a “sweet, sweet church” that “had a terrible go of it,” he said.

With the help of Hispanic catalyst Benjamin Galindo, Tuscaloosa Baptist Association started the church five years ago in Green Village mobile home park in Northport, but it had never quite found a place to call home.

“They met in a gas station at one point, then in another place and it fell through, and then in a church but it closed,” said Boykin, who serves as the association’s missional strategist.

‘Unanimous support’

Later they tried meeting at a location in Vance — 30 minutes away from the mobile home park — and started dropping off in attendance because of the distance.

“But then along comes Cottondale Baptist Church and they’ve got a second sanctuary just sitting there basically empty,” Boykin said.

In recent years, Cottondale Baptist has experienced a lot of challenges, said Pastor David Bailey. Its old sanctuary was only used for some children’s programming.

“Eric mentioned that there was a mission church that really needed a permanent place to meet,” Bailey said. “He asked if we would be willing to sponsor them through the process of joining the association and state convention, or if at the very least we would consider letting them use some of our space.”

The people of Cottondale Baptist were up for all of it. 

“The church was unanimous,” Bailey said. “We thought this would be a great opportunity to help reach Hispanics in the Cottondale community.”

Already they’re seeing that happen. On Nov. 30 — the day before Misión Monte Sinaí held its first service at Cottondale — the two congregations held a joint block party.

“We had a good turnout,” Bailey said.

And at the very first service, the church had two new families visit.

Boykin called it a partnership “that has already had a huge impact on both congregations.”

Cottondale Baptist gave Misión Monte Sinaí some funds to get projection monitors and other items they needed set up, and Tuscaloosa Association provided some money to purchase a sign and complete some renovations.

Then Misión Monte Sinaí painted new lines on the entire church parking lot.

“They’re sharing ministry, sharing vision and sharing fellowship,” Boykin said. “It’s just a beautiful story and it highlights the servant heart of the churches.”

Bailey said they are giving God the glory.

“It’s a very good thing,” he said. “It was totally unexpected but very much a blessing.” (Grace Thornton)