Hispanic Outreach

Posted: 2009-09-11 by Sirpa Quinn

“The growth of the Hispanic (Latino) population in the United States is one of the most dramatic demographics in the history of the United States. The number of Latino people is increasing four times as fast as the rest of the population. At the present time it is estimated that 40 million Hispanics live in the United States--making Spanish-speaking people the largest minority in the United States. By 2040, one of every four Americans will be a Hispanic. This presents a great opportunity to the church to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ to this growing segment of the population.” LCMS World Mission.

The US Census identifies almost 2 million Spanish-speaking people within the Southeastern District. Outreach Mission efforts are gathering communities for worship and Bible study. Congregations and mission societies are offering English as a Second Language (ESL) classes, or serving meals, or operating Thrift Stores, food banks, clothes closets to meet needs of people.

This Mission Update features four Spanish-speaking ministries supported by the prayers and gifts of the people of the Southeastern District. Continue to remember in prayer this important work of sharing the Gospel with all people.

Ascension Lutheran Church, Landover Hills, MD

Ascension Lutheran Church is starting their second year of ESL to the Spanish speaking community.  “Typically, we have more students than we can accommodate,” says Pastor Fred.  “When we reach the 100 student goal, I have to stand on the church steps and, sadly, turn people away who want to learn English.”  
     Program Highlights
•    Students range in age from 12 – 75
•    From Honduras, Guatemala, Mexico, and El Salvador
•    Fall classes include a nursery with language activities for the children..
•    Sessions begin with devotion, Bible Study, and discussion in Spanish

Ascension members of all ages – college students, working professionals and retired seniors – serve as greeters and teachers under the direction of Mrs. Mara Jeffries, Ascension’s Pastoral Assistant for Hispanic Outreach. Ascension’s goal is “to build bridges between our congregation and the immediate Spanish speaking community with the ultimate goal of establishing a worshipping community, and to equip Ascension members to be a part of this outreach.”  

The ESL students and Ascension volunteers celebrate together by enjoying an awards ceremony for those completing the classes and by taking trips to DC to see the monuments and learn American history. The spokesperson for the students shared their appreciation at an awards’ ceremony:

• "I am thankful that I could attend the English classes in a safe place that welcomed me and my family. Speaking for all of us, there were three things we learned most of all."

• "The caring of the church to open doors for us."

• "The love for God and the inspiration that we have every time we come in"

Welcome Rev. Pedro Lopez, Northern Virginia Hispanic Missionary
A call for a Hispanic missionary was issued and accepted by the Rev. Pedro Lopez of Racine, Wis. He will be installed on October 4 at 4 p.m. at St. John's Lutheran Church as an associate pastor with particular focus on Spanish Language Mission in Circuit 9. His wife, Francisca, daughter Jacqueline, sons Edward and Mark will be joining him in December. The Rev. John Meehan will serve as ecclesiastical supervisor.
 
In 2008, Grace, Woodbridge; Prince of Peace, Springfield; and St. John's, Alexandria agreed to a covenant relationship to establish and support mission outreach with Latinos in Northern Virginia. The Spanish Language Mission Development Board is a group of individuals selected by three covenant congregations to be a resource and a tool for combining efforts in reaching 1 million Spanish-speaking people with the Good News of salvation in Jesus Christ.

The Bridge Hispanic Mission

“Is that a Bible?” 8-year-old Edwin asked with interest.
 “Yes, and this semester we get to learn what it says,” replied Karen, his small group leader. “The Bible is God’s message for everyone!”
 
Karen’s small group of second and third grade Hispanic students responded with surprise and interest.  Many kids, as Edwin, do not attend church and rarely hear Bible stories.  Yet beginning this month, 40 elementary students will gather weekly to hear God’s Word through the Kids Connect program of The Bridge Hispanic Mission. 
 
At the same time, their parents attend a basic English conversation class coordinated by The Bridge.  30 adults are currently studying in two levels.  The highlight of the classes, every student agrees, are the volunteers who attend the class to offer one-on-one practice.  Yes, every student has their own conversation partner!  41 volunteers from eight congregations make this outreach possible – serving the needs of our Hispanic neighbors, building relationships in the process, and sharing the gospel through these friendships.

The Bridge Hispanic Mission is an outreach of circuits 16 and 17 in Catawba County, North Carolina and is coordinated by Rev. Brandon Martin.

Cristo Senor de la Vida, Rockville MD
Celebrating 15 years of ministry, this mission is reaching into the Rockville-Silver Spring communities with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Rev. Aurelio Magarino, Executive Director of the Hispanic Lutheran Mission Society of Metropolitan Washington, D.C., was called to the Metro area to assist in the development of a mission to the Spanish speaking community in 1994. Today, members represent more than 15 nationalities including people from Uruguay, Guatemala, Venezuela, Mexico, Columbia, Ecuador, Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Argentina, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Cuba, El Salvador and the United States.  The cultural and political backgrounds represented must be considered as the congregation comes together as a group.  As Pastor Margarino says, “Everyone has a story to tell”