News Articles by David Raul Lema Jr.

BALTIMORE (BP) -- Several Hispanic groups, in an example of Southern Baptist cooperation with a Latin twist, joined in meetings, fellowship and worship prior to the SBC annual meeting at the Baltimore Convention Center. The June 8 event, which began with dinner at 5 p.m., included four workshops and a celebration service that concluded with a concert at 11 p.m.

BALTIMORE (BP) -- Primera Iglesia Bautista in Laurel, Md., with its retiring pastor Segundo Mir and incoming pastor Gustavo Suarez, welcomed Hispanics from across the country during a special service and luncheon prior to the Southern Baptist Convention's annual meeting in Baltimore.

HOUSTON (BP) –- A 45-minute season of prayer for the U.S. highlighted the annual convocation of the Hispanic National Fellowship of Southern Baptist Churches in Houston.

HOUSTON (BP) -- About 400 Hispanic leaders and church members gathered for the Spanish "Revive Us," or "Avívanos," worship celebration in conjunction with this year's Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting in Houston

HOUSTON (BP) -- Hispanics not only belong in the Southern Baptist Convention but "they are here to stay," SBC President Fred Luter said at "Avance Hispano 2013" held in conjunction with the SBC annual meeting in Houston. LifeWay Christian Resources, the International Mission Board, GuideStone Financial Resources and the North American Mission Board hosted the missional advance dinner June 9 at the George R. Brown Convention Center. "The Hispanic fellowship is critical, and our [Hispanic] churches are critical, to what we are doing in the life of the Southern Baptist Convention," said Luter, who was translated by Joshua del Risco, the North American Mission Board's director for Hispanic evangelism. [QUOTE@right@180=Hispanic churches are crucial "in the life of the Southern Baptist Convention."
-- Fred Luter, SBC president]Luter declared that "our Hispanic churches are the churches that are growing the most in the Southern Baptist Convention." He also thanked attendees "for the impact that you are making on the Kingdom of God." Stating that the Southern Baptist Convention needs a revival, Luter said he wanted to use the Hispanic churches as an example for other churches to model. "All of us go through difficult times in life and in ministry," Luter said. "Because the Hispanic churches are doing so well, the enemy will try to do his best to come against us. But you got to hold on and hold out and understand that if God brings you to it, He will bring you through it." Gus Reyes, Hispanic ministries consultant for the Baptist General Convention of Texas and a member of the Evangelical Table on Immigration, led in a time of intercessory prayer for those involved in the proposed immigration reforms. Reyes asked attendees to stand if they knew someone who needed intercession before God due to an immigration issue. In response, nearly everyone present was on their feet. Angel Luis Angel Diaz-Pabon, the editor of the newly released "Biblia del Pescador," also attended the meeting. The Bible version is an evangelistic and apologetic tool that will soon be translated into English and other languages.

HOUSTON (BP) — The National Fellowship of Hispanic Southern Baptist Churches will lead Hispanic Baptists to mobilize before, during and after the SBC’s June 11-12 annual meeting in Houston. Hispanic churches and volunteers will serve in the Crossover Houston initiative “Por Amor a Houston” (in English, “Loving Houston”). Local Hispanic churches are planning a range […]

NEW ORLEANS (BP) -- Several dozen Hispanic pastors and leaders met in the SBC Prayer Room to pray during the June 18 evening session of the Southern Baptist Pastors' Conference.

NEW ORLEANS (BP) -- Robert Amaya, one of the stars of the movie "Courageous," was among the featured speakers at "SBC Avanze Hispano" (SBC Hispanic Advance) June 18, attended by 200 Hispanic pastors and leaders from 20 states and several countries prior to the Southern Baptist Convention's annual meeting in New Orleans.

NEW ORLEANS (BP) — Hispanic Baptists are “striving to reach our city through many different means of outreach” as part of Crossover New Orleans, reported Jonathan Sharpe, cross-cultural evangelism strategist for the New Orleans Baptist Association. Sharpe, the person in charge of coordinating most of the 40-plus multicultural events planned for Crossover, noted, “At least […]

PHOENIX (BP)–More than 120 Hispanic Southern Baptists pastors and leaders participated in a joint training in Spanish June 13 at the Phoenix Convention Center prior to the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting. The “SBC Avanze Hispano” (SBC Hispanic Advance) was coordinated by Hispanic liaison staff of the International Mission Board, North American Mission Board and […]