One pastor of a multi-ethnic congregation offers some “first steps” for effective ministry

For 10 years, Aldersgate UMC in College Station, Texas has had an outreach ministry to the Hispanics of its community. It started, says senior pastor, the Rev. Bruce Wood, when an Hispanic gang member, J.J. Ramirez (now a member of Aldersgate) committed his life to Christ at an Aldersgate city-wide outreach. Afterward, he felt called to return to Bryan (the city in which he had been active in gang activity) and minister to others involved in that lifestyle. This was the beginning of the para-church group called SOS (Save Our Streets). SOS conducts Bible studies, recovery ministry, and holds worship services on Friday evenings. About 200-300 Hispanic people participate in SOS. Many of the SOS attendees began attending Aldersgate UMC on Sunday mornings. “Most SOS participants are second and third-generation Hispanics,” says Wood, “meaning they speak English but still live in the Hispanic culture at home with their families.”

About four years ago, Albert Contreras, an Hispanic member of Aldersgate UMC, became a lay minister and felt called to focus on the growing number of Hispanics within the church and community. Today, 30-40 people attend Aldergate’s Spanish-speaking service, which meets during the regular, larger church service. Says Wood, “Our congregation is truly multi-ethnic. We have 500 church members; 50 percent are white and the other 50 percent are Hispanic or African-American. We really seek to integrate the Spanish-speaking attendees into the life of the church by including them in leadership positions, fellowship, and worship (we often include worship songs in Spanish on Sunday mornings).”

Wood continues, “If a pastor is feeling called to start a ministry to Hispanics in his/her church, I would tell that pastor that the most important thing is to find an Hispanic person who feels called to minister. Then encourage and empower this person to be a leader in the church. Leadership in the Hispanic community is premium. Hispanic people are empowered by their leaders and respond to other Hispanics in a leadership position. I would also tell interested pastors to be sure to integrate first-generation Hispanics (these are immigrants who may know little English) with second and third-generation Hispanics. Because children of the first-generation Hispanics often quickly learn English, they are so helpful in acquainting Spanish-speaking adults with information and ministry resources available to them.”