SAN ANTONIO (BP)–Hispanic Baptists celebrated their Crossover efforts “en grande” June 9 at South San Filadelfia Baptist Church in San Antonio.
The crowd of 300-plus volunteers and visitors rallied under the banner of “Rise up and Build!” based on the biblical example found in Nehemiah 2:18.
Rolando Lopez, Hispanic church planting and health consultant for the San Antonio Baptist Association, reported on the various Hispanic Crossover events and said at least 76 professions of faith had been recorded.
Evangelist Sammy Fuentes of Corpus Christi, Texas, delivered an evangelistic message based on Titus 2:11 and 3:3.
Salvation, he noted, is “not through works of righteousness, but because of the mercy of God that gives us the opportunity of regeneration.” Fuentes gave an invitation to receive Christ at the end of the sermon and five people responded to his call to faith.
The praise band of the South San Filadelfia Church led by music director Lucas Barrientes gave a mini-concert of Hispanic contemporary and popular praise and worship songs. International Hispanic music artist and Mexico native Veronica Leal of McAllen, Texas, also shared the Gospel in song.
David Galvan, pastor of Primera Iglesia Bautista Nueva Vida in Garland, Texas, and a former SBC vice president, described the gathering as “positive stuff.”
“[This] is a necessary celebration that gives God the glory. It was a spiritual banquet,” Galvan said. “It allows God to put aside all the barriers in the way and focus His people in the work of the Kingdom and united in one common cause.”
Abel Amaya, music minister for the Spanish service of the South San Filadelfia Church and a native of Mexico, said “the event was beautiful and we all came together as brothers and sisters in Christ.”
Another member of the South Filadelfia church, Luis Vasques, 19, said he is glad “this great activity gave the churches an opportunity for members to get involved and serve.”
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