Ministering To Hispanics.

[Scott Hutchinson]

I live in a small town in South,Alabama.
We have pretty much been black and white as far as race go.
But we have been getting more Hispanic people in our town.
I understand alot of our Hispanic friends are Catholic but many of them are unchurched.
I attend a small church we run about 40 on Sunday morning.
We have had a Hispanic woman attending our services, but none of us can speak Spanish.
We have ordered some PPH Sunday School books in Spanish.
How can we minister to our Hispanic neighbors ? We would like to reach them for Jesus Christ.
What some things we can do to reach our Hispanic neighbors most of us at the church know very little of their culture ?
Our pastor is praying that we can run across someone who is Bi-lingual who can help interpret services and help us interpret home Bible studies.
Does anyone have ideas or suggestions for us to help us reach them dear souls with New Testament truth ?

[Jack Shephard]

Originally Posted by Scott Hutchinson

I live in a small town in South,Alabama.
We have pretty much been black and white as far as race go.
But we have been getting more Hispanic people in our town.
I understand alot of our Hispanic friends are Catholic but many of them are unchurched.
I attend a small church we run about 40 on Sunday morning.
We have had a Hispanic woman attending our services, but none of us can speak Spanish.
We have ordered some PPH Sunday School books in Spanish.
How can we minister to our Hispanic neighbors ? We would like to reach them for Jesus Christ.
What some things we can do to reach our Hispanic neighbors most of us at the church know very little of their culture ?
Our pastor is praying that we can run across someone who is Bi-lingual who can help interpret services and help us interpret home Bible studies.
Does anyone have ideas or suggestions for us to help us reach them dear souls with New Testament truth ?

Many ways to reach them. One thing that may help is go looking for someone to help start the ministry. At my old church we found a bi-lingual person and won them to the Lord and now she has been reaching tons of hispanics. One thing that my help as well is starting a spanish speaking class or a class to learn spanish. There are many computer programs that work. Rosetta Stone is the best one it could be done as a class or instead of maybe a Wednesday night service.

[Scott Hutchinson]

Thank you as this might sound strange ,to alot of you big city folks but many of us in Mayberry,US feel somewhat alienated from the Hispanic culture.

[ChicagoPastor]

Originally Posted by Scott Hutchinson

I live in a small town in South,Alabama.
We have pretty much been black and white as far as race go.
But we have been getting more Hispanic people in our town.
I understand alot of our Hispanic friends are Catholic but many of them are unchurched.
I attend a small church we run about 40 on Sunday morning.
We have had a Hispanic woman attending our services, but none of us can speak Spanish.
We have ordered some PPH Sunday School books in Spanish.
How can we minister to our Hispanic neighbors ? We would like to reach them for Jesus Christ.
What some things we can do to reach our Hispanic neighbors most of us at the church know very little of their culture ?
Our pastor is praying that we can run across someone who is Bi-lingual who can help interpret services and help us interpret home Bible studies.
Does anyone have ideas or suggestions for us to help us reach them dear souls with New Testament truth ?

I hope Cooper doesn't visit your Church. He'll want to check the lady's green card.

[James Griffin]

Originally Posted by Scott Hutchinson

I live in a small town in South,Alabama.
We have pretty much been black and white as far as race go.
But we have been getting more Hispanic people in our town.
I understand alot of our Hispanic friends are Catholic but many of them are unchurched.
I attend a small church we run about 40 on Sunday morning.
We have had a Hispanic woman attending our services, but none of us can speak Spanish.
We have ordered some PPH Sunday School books in Spanish.
How can we minister to our Hispanic neighbors ? We would like to reach them for Jesus Christ.
What some things we can do to reach our Hispanic neighbors most of us at the church know very little of their culture ?
Our pastor is praying that we can run across someone who is Bi-lingual who can help interpret services and help us interpret home Bible studies.
Does anyone have ideas or suggestions for us to help us reach them dear souls with New Testament truth ?

Originally Posted by Scott Hutchinson

Thank you as this might sound strange ,to alot of you big city folks but many of us in Mayberry,US feel somewhat alienated from the Hispanic culture.

Sounds like you are doing all you can until you can locate someone bilingual. I have read on another thread though that PPH was going to discontinue selling Spanish language material and what they have in stock is not of the best quality.

One thing that may still be a challenge though. As far as "Hispanic Culture" the US has Spanish speaking immigrants from dozens of countries and each will have its own variations of culture and background. Do you know the main country of origin of most Hispanics in your area?

Regardless as soon as you have an interpreter, you will do fine. Love is a universal language/culture it will be felt.

[ChicagoPastor]

There is a Pastor friend of mine in California.
The man does NOT speak Spanish but had a burden for Spanish people. He took a failing 30 member Spanish Church as an interm Pastor, he fell in love with the people, they fell in love with him. Today he still doesn't speak spanish but Pastors a 500 plus member Spanish Church (UPC)

[pelathais]

Originally Posted by Scott Hutchinson

Thank you as this might sound strange ,to alot of you big city folks but many of us in Mayberry,US feel somewhat alienated from the Hispanic culture.

I can fix that for you - bro, if YOU GET UP OFF THE COUCH!

Do this, buy 2 tickets to the World Series. There's a lot of Hispanics in Major League baseball and I know a couple (sort of). Meet me in front of the La Poplar Mexican bakery just 1 block from one of the World Series venues. You buy the tickets (cheapest are starting ~ $350 each in "the Rock Pile") and I'll buy the tamales. They don't let you sit in the rock pile unless you have a bag of tamales. Don't show up without the tickets!

After the game we'll hit Las Delicias down the street for their world famous huevos rancheros. Green chili! You can have my flour tortillas, I can't have those- the waitresses there know that. I'll introduce you to Hispanic culture as only another white guy can.

Then we'll go out into the streets and turn cars over. That has nothing to do with Hispanic culture - that's just what everybody around here does -WHEN WE'RE IN THE FREAKING WORLD SERIES BABY!!

Seventh inning stretch right now- woo-hoo!!! 6 to 1

Sha-na-na-na, Sha-na-na-na - Hey-Hey-Hey GOOD-BYE!!!

Down 1-0 until a 6 run 4th!!!

ADMINS-STOP ME!!!

[seguidordejesus]

that's a little weird, p.

[pelathais]

Originally Posted by seguidordejesus

that's a little weird, p.

Sorry. I'm composed now. To "experience Hispanic culture" you really should keep in mind (I'm not saying this to you SDJ, just in general) you have to keep in mind that you're really talking about a culture that spans the globe. Every locality will be different, same way with any other broad cultural category. I can't say that I really know anything of China just because I read the news, know a few Chinese folks and have enjoyed the cuisine. Drop me in the middle of Beijing and I'm lost.

It's the same thing with Hispanic culture. Even growing up in the US Southwest it took me years to really understand the differences between the "Spanish" Hispanics of the region and the "Mexican" and other cultures. You can't really just lump whole peoples together without loosing a lot of important understandings.

What follows isn’t just “Hispanic culture.” This is something everybody contributes to. But some of the best parts are Hispanic.

The La Poplar tamales are a tradition around here. Best tamales, period. If I brought you one you'd probably argue with me.

But if I could take you into the bakery and we could smell everything baking. The breads, the cakes, the pork, chicken and beef on the grill. It’s an amazing aroma. Outside there's a crowd of people, young and old, all generally wandering toward the stadium. The regulars all stop at their favorite haunts, I see many familiar faces of strangers in La Poplar. Finding our seats at the ball park we sit back and enjoy one of the finest sights in Creation.

During the summer around about the 5th inning or so (nobody’s counting) the sun is setting behind the mountains. The sky is on fire with purple and pink flames. You can make out the canyons in the foothills in stark blue and purple relief. Two huge Mesas, Tabletop Mtn North and South, stand out like violet guardians of our treasure.

And the boys on the field give it their best shot. Some days they win, most days they loose. But we're here for something more important than a scorecard. We're here with family. Sometimes we get relegated to the "rock pile" ($1 and $2 seats, many with obstructed views), but all you have to do is look out over your right shoulder and you're in a million dollar seat.

By now the tamales are gone (you buy them by the dozen, but there's never enough). The kids were getting sleepy when they were younger, now they pay more attention than I do. Suddenly you look up and it’s August and the boys on the fields are still winning.

The summer passes and fall begins. The nightly fire show is now over before the first pitch. And the boys on the field are still winning. People are bundled up. The stands are cold. You stomp your feet more for circulation so that you're even able to walk out of the stadium. And the boys on the field won again! You pass the huge crazy animated neon sign of the runner sliding into home - this is your landmark in case you get separated from the kids. When you're ready you cross Blake Street with a horde of your neighbors. The crowd thins out as you continue walking farther out to the cheap lots. You find your car. Stop for ice cream in the summer- drive straight home this time of year.

And those crazy boys on the field have won again. Boys with names like Manny Corpas, Brian Fuentes, Matt Herges, Ubaldo Jimenez, Yorvit Torrealba, and Kaz Matsui (well, maybe not Kaz, no... wait a minute, Kaz too). The guys are living every young ball players dream and you get to look them in the eye. They are full of life. You want to hug them, but the ushers have their orders. Looking into the eyes of these young men you see the same purple fire that lit the sky last summer.

[SDG]

Originally Posted by ChicagoPastor

There is a Pastor friend of mine in California.
The man does NOT speak Spanish but had a burden for Spanish people. He took a failing 30 member Spanish Church as an interm Pastor, he fell in love with the people, they fell in love with him. Today he still doesn't speak spanish but Pastors a 500 plus member Spanish Church (UPC)

I know who you speak of ... all it takes is anointing and volition for the commission.