Latino Ministry Leaders Meet

Latino ministry leaders from across the continent recently came together at the 2016 Conferencia Ministerio Latino (Latino Ministry Conference) in Jersey City, New Jersey for fellowship, learning, worship, and encouragement.

About 65 leaders and pastors came from as far as New Jersey, California, Texas, New Brunswick, and Michigan for the March 10-12 event. They joined in worship and prayer; listened to speakers on topics such as leadership formation, emotional health, and the development of healthy denominational relations; and spent time in discussion and fellowship.

Three sessions were led by Rev. Pedro Avilés, pastor of Ebenezer CRC in Berwyn, IL and member of the Consejo Latino; Dr. Felipe Cortes, elder of Bridgeway Community Church in Haledon, NJ and Director of Programs at New Hope Community Ministries; and Rev. Alejandro Pimentel, member of Emanuel Hispanic in Wyoming, MI, and editor of Libros Desafío. After the sessions, participants met in small groups by region.

“Many young people from Hispanic CRC churches around the country were active participants in the conference, in music, Bible reading, interpreting,” said Socorro Woodbury. “You could observe many leaders at work using the gifts God has given them.”

According to Viviana Cornejo, an advocate with the CRCNA office of Race Relations and a member of the Consejo Latino who organizes the event each year, “our annual goal is to encourage and equip Latino leaders and members of their congregations to advance the kingdom of God in their location communities.”

The theme this year was “Healthy Leaders. Healthy Congregations.” One focus was mental and emotional health. Cornejo noted that at times, Latino leaders feel isolated and disconnected from one another. “There are some churches and leaders who are discouraged and a few are in crisis. This conference provides the opportunity to reconnect and to provide a time of mutual support and encouragement.”

Participant Rev. Ramón Orostizaga, a chaplain at a hospital in Somerset, New Brunswick, would say the conference achieved that goal. “[It] was a great opportunity for fellowship. I had the opportunity to speak with colleagues and friends I have not seen for a while. It also gave me the blessing to meet new leaders, brothers and sisters committed to serve the Lord and the Church.”

The conference has its roots in the Conference of Hispanic Ministry, which was held annually from around 1998 to 2006. The gathering was renewed in 2012 as Rencuentro (Reencounter). The Consejo Latino was created at a similar event in 2014, and works to help connect Latino ministry leaders in a variety of ways.

Cornejo describes the Consejo Latino as “a body formed by volunteers, pastors, and leaders (men and women) that come from different regions to lead the Latino Ministry.” It is not under the oversight of a denominational agency, but works in collaboration and partnership with all agencies and classes.

“A great population wave of Latinos has come to the USA and Canadian shores,” said Avilés. “The future of the churches…must include Latinos not only as a targeted people group for evangelism, but all denominations and all churches must embrace Latinos into authentic leadership roles to direct the next movement of growth that God is bringing to the USA.”