Non-Hispanic Churches Doing Hispanic Ministry
by Marigene Chamberlain, leadership development director, Office of Hispanic Ministries, General Board of Discipleship

During the 1997-2000 quadrennium, significant progress was made in equipping non-Hispanic churches to be in ministry with Hispanics. One such story comes from the California Pacific Conference.

Two years ago, Dr. Brandon I. Cho, a Korean, was appointed to the Simi Valley United Methodist Church, an Anglo church located about 45 miles from downtown Los Angeles. Simi Valley UMC has 700 members and averages about 435 at worship. The previous pastor who was retiring prepared the congregation for his departure and for receiving Dr. Cho, an outgoing district superintendent.

In January 1999, the church opened its doors to share its facility with a nondenominational Hispanic group led by María Hamilton. Through the guidance of Pastor Cho, the relationship between this Hispanic group and the Anglo church grew from a simple sharing of a building to a meaningful interaction.

When the Anglo church decided to buy three acres to expand its educational building, the Hispanic congregation asked for the opportunity to contribute to the building fund through a series of fund raisers. In the meantime, Dr. Cho continued to talk with Ms. Hamilton. He convinced her to become a candidate for the ordained ministry in The United Methodist Church. She is now a local pastor within the California-Pacific Conference, serving the Hispanic congregation.

When the Hispanic group first came to Simi Valley UMC, the average attendance was 30. At the insistence of Dr. Cho, the Hispanic group started meeting in the church's sanctuary instead of the chapel. Today the average attendance is about 100. From 30 to 100 in one year! The two congregations have grown in their relationship and have worked out misunderstandings that emerged.

Bishop Roy Sano, bishop of the Los Angeles Area, explained that both the Anglo and the Hispanic congregations have grown in numbers and spiritually.