Highlights of the Southeastern Jurisdiction Convocation for Non-Hispanic/Latino Churches Involved in Hispanic/Latino Ministries, February 15-18, 2006, Simpsonwood Retreat Center, Georgia

by the Rev. Nora Colmenares Martínez, Director, Hispanic/Latino Ministries, North Georgia Conference

Christ is mysteriously present in the hungry, the thirsty, the naked, the prisoner, the stranger. During Christ's absence from this earth, he has left his disciples — the church — in charge of the kingdom, in charge of multiplying what the master left. But Christ is not really absent, since he is present in the needy. And at the end of the days, the church will be examined for how Christ's disciples recognized his presence in the "least of these."

This poignant lesson, shared by Dr. Justo González, helped set the tone during the opening worship of the Southeastern Jurisdictional Convocation for Non-Hispanic/Latino Churches Involved in Hispanic/Latino Ministries. More than sixty non-Latino participants came to the Simpsonwood Retreat Center to explore ways to effectively reach their Latino neighbors with the transforming message of the gospel.

The event's keynote speaker, Dr. Edwin David Aponte of Perkins School of Theology, examined with the participants the wonderful opportunities that cultural competence within the Latino culture can present. He challenged the participants to increase their cultural awareness and sensitivity toward the Hispanic/Latino community as well as to pursue additional knowledge about the Hispanic/Latino multiethnic nature. The participants received useful information about strategies, resources, and models that have proven effective in developing ministries among Latinos in the Southeast.

The Rev. Frank Ramos, Western North Carolina Conference, and Cookie Santiago, North Carolina Conference, led the component on models. They stressed the importance of empowering the local church to embrace Latino brothers and sisters as part of the church family. To achieve this, the local church needs to have a missionary heart that compels its members to invite the stranger into the congregation, with hearts full of love and anticipation of the great blessings and miracles that are in store for the obedient church.

The Rev. Ivelisse Quiñones, South Georgia Conference, and the Rev. Nora Martinez, North Georgia Conference, led the component on strategies. They said that continuing to build faith communities in homes has proven to be an effective way to reach Latinos "where they are." Performing ministry in people's homes provides a safe place for people to study Scripture, build community, and pray.

The Rev. Sonia Brum Ortigoza of the South Georgia Conference educated participants about the resources available for those who wish to reach out to the Latino community. One such highlighted resource was the clergy and laity training offered through The National Plan for Hispanic/Latino Ministry. This highly effective training, offered in English as well as in Spanish and Portuguese, offers useful information that prepares church leaders to work with the Latino community.

Participants also had the opportunity to discuss the issue of immigration. The Rev. Gene Langford of the North Alabama Conference led a component where he shared the myths and misinformation surrounding current immigration policy. Content of proposed legislation allowing low-skilled workers to achieve legal status and permit them to work in the U.S. was also discussed.

The convocation was also a time of sharing and celebration. All worship services were conducted in both English and Spanish and were planned as models for the participants to see how different perspectives and different ways to worship can be incorporated into existing worship services.

The event concluded with a worship service in which the Rev. Jeremy Troxler of the Western North Carolina Conference invited the group to think about "the immigrant" in a different way. He suggested that immigrants not only need the church, but that the church also needs immigrants. He added that the church desperately needs the immigrants' voices, perspectives, faiths, and rhythms for the church to be complete and to reflect God's inclusive image.

The Pew Hispanic Center in its article titled "The New Latino South" concluded that the Hispanic population is growing faster in much of the South than anywhere else in the U.S. There is an urgent need for the church to take this change in the population seriously; to carefully develop, implement, and evaluate strategies to provide ministries that expand the message of the gospel in relevant ways to these new neighbors. This is the time to aim for excellence as we fulfill the Great Commission entrusted to us, because the church will be sharing God's love and kindness, not only with the needy and the stranger, but also with Christ, who is present in them.


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