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Leader development key aim of BSSB multicultural staff


NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)– A NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)–A commitment to taking the gospel to all people in the world should be accompanied by a willingness to see that they hear the good news of salvation in their native language and culture, according to Ramon Martinez, director of the Baptist Sunday School Board’s multicultural leadership department.
“We deal with both culture and language,” Martinez said. For example, he noted while African Americans speak English, they represent a distinct culture group.
Among Spanish-speaking people, there are many culture groups, depending on their country of origin, he said. The culture of Spanish-speaking people from Mexico is different from Spanish-speaking people from Cuba, Paraguay or Spain, he noted.
Anglo-Americans are not one, but many culture groups, Martinez pointed out. “Baby boomers are a distinct culture. If I want to be among baby boomers, I go to a baby boomer church. It’s the culture, not the language.”
Martinez said department staff members represent all BSSB ministries to language/culture congregations.
“We are generalists. We need to know everything the Sunday School Board provides,” he said. Assistance to language/culture churches is provided in church growth, Sunday school, discipleship training, family ministry, pastoral ministries, church administration, church music and stewardship.
Developing professional and lay church leaders for language/culture congregations is the “main thrust” of the multicultural leadership department, Martinez said.
Luis Aranguren joined the department staff in September 1996 as manager of leadership development. He previously served as minister of education and administration at Primera Iglesia Bautista de Coral Park in Miami.
Aranguren said the department is employing varied leadership development strategies, including working closely with language/culture fellowships and using contract consultants who commit a designated amount of time per year to assist in planning and leading training conferences. Two Hispanic consultants have been added and he plans to add one Korean and one Chinese consultant later this year.
“This approach allows us greater flexibility and to be closer to where the action is,” Aranguren said.
Also, he said the department is building a National Network of Language/Culture Leader Trainers, volunteers who are available to lead conferences and consult with churches. A recent survey yielded the names of approximately 150 trained leaders from 16 language/culture groups. The department trained 35 Hispanic trainers in April in a three-day session in Nashville, Tenn.
Developing “teaching churches” which model excellent principles of growth, Bible study, discipleship or evangelism represents a third training strategy, Aranguren said.
“Teaching churches are churches that have excellence in some kind of ministry,” he said. Leaders from other churches desiring to learn about the ministry are brought to the church where they observe and attend conferences about the ministry. The multicultural leadership department will assist these churches with teaching plans for their conferences.
“To get someone excited (about a new ministry), it has to come in through their eyes,” Aranguren said. He noted his former church in Miami, which excelled in evangelism and discipleship, also trained more than 700 pastors.
“When you train a person from a language/culture group, it is not just for the U.S., but the benefits go into other countries as well,” Aranguren said. Many immigrants spend three to four years in the United States and then return to their home countries, he noted.
“If they receive the faith here and are trained in how to share it, they’re going to share it when they return home,” he said.
Martinez noted language/culture ministries among Southern Baptists have contributed to a high percentage of membership growth in recent years. In addition to the many unreached people already in the United States, approximately 2 million immigrants enter the country each year.
“Groups are coming in all the time,” Martinez said. “Churches need to be sensitive and aware to reach out.”
Opportunities for Anglo churches in language/culture ministry include providing funds or facilities for starting ministries, he said. Also, some people who are children and grandchildren of immigrants may be attracted to Anglo churches because of their facilities and varied ministries. But while they speak English, they still have unique culture needs.
In language publishing, Martinez said his department currently publishes curriculum in Spanish, Korean, Chinese, Vietnamese and basic English. While basic English materials are designed for deaf people — also a language/culture group — they also can be used with other culture groups.
Martinez emphasized the importance of language/culture ministry among Southern Baptists.
“In recent years much of the growth experienced among Southern Baptists has been in language/culture congregations,” he said. “The potential is great for further growth.”
commitment to taking the gospel to all people in the world should be accompanied by a willingness to see that they hear the good news of salvation in their native language and culture, according to Ramon Martinez, director of the Baptist Sunday School Board’s multicultural leadership department.
“We deal with both culture and language,” Martinez said. For example, he noted while African Americans speak English, they represent a distinct culture group.
Among Spanish﷓speaking people, there are many culture groups, depending on their country of origin, he said. The culture of Spanish﷓speaking people from Mexico is different from Spanish﷓speaking people from Cuba, Paraguay or Spain, he noted.
Anglo﷓Americans are not one, but many culture groups, Martinez pointed out. “Baby boomers are a distinct culture. If I want to be among baby boomers, I go to a baby boomer church. It’s the culture, not the language.”
Martinez said department staff members represent all BSSB ministries to language/culture congregations.
“We are generalists. We need to know everything the Sunday School Board provides,” he said. Assistance to language/culture churches is provided in church growth, Sunday school, discipleship training, family ministry, pastoral ministries, church administration, church music and stewardship.
Developing professional and lay church leaders for language/culture congregations is the “main thrust” of the multicultural leadership department, Martinez said.
Luis Aranguren joined the department staff in September 1996 as manager of leadership development. He previously served as minister of education and administration at Primera Iglesia Bautista de Coral Park in Miami.
Aranguren said the department is employing varied leadership development strategies, including working closely with language/culture fellowships and using contract consultants who commit a designated amount of time per year to assist in planning and leading training conferences. Two Hispanic consultants have been added and he plans to add one Korean and one Chinese consultant later this year.
“This approach allows us greater flexibility and to be closer to where the action is,” Aranguren said.
Also, he said the department is building a National Network of Language/Culture Leader Trainers, volunteers who are available to lead conferences and consult with churches. A recent survey yielded the names of approximately 150 trained leaders from 16 language/culture groups. The department trained 35 Hispanic trainers in April in a three﷓day session in Nashville, Tenn.
Developing “teaching churches” which model excellent principles of growth, Bible study, discipleship or evangelism represents a third training strategy, Aranguren said.
“Teaching churches are churches that have excellence in some kind of ministry,” he said. Leaders from other churches desiring to learn about the ministry are brought to the church where they observe and attend conferences about the ministry. The multicultural leadership department will assist these churches with teaching plans for their conferences.
“To get someone excited (about a new ministry), it has to come in through their eyes,” Aranguren said. He noted his former church in Miami, which excelled in evangelism and discipleship, also trained more than 700 pastors.
“When you train a person from a language/culture group, it is not just for the U.S., but the benefits go into other countries as well,” Aranguren said. Many immigrants spend three to four years in the United States and then return to their home countries, he noted.
“If they receive the faith here and are trained in how to share it, they’re going to share it when they return home,” he said.
Martinez noted language/culture ministries among Southern Baptists have contributed to a high percentage of membership growth in recent years. In addition to the many unreached people already in the United States, approximately 2 million immigrants enter the country each year.
“Groups are coming in all the time,” Martinez said. “Churches need to be sensitive and aware to reach out.”
Opportunities for Anglo churches in language/culture ministry include providing funds or facilities for starting ministries, he said. Also, some people who are children and grandchildren of immigrants may be attracted to Anglo churches because of their facilities and varied ministries. But while they speak English, they still have unique culture needs.
In language publishing, Martinez said his department currently publishes curriculum in Spanish, Korean, Chinese, Vietnamese and basic English. While basic English materials are designed for deaf people ﷓﷓ also a language/culture group ﷓﷓ they also can be used with other culture groups.
Martinez emphasized the importance of language/culture ministry among Southern Baptists.
“In recent years much of the growth experienced among Southern Baptists has been in language/culture congregations,” he said. “The potential is great for further growth.”

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  • Linda Lawson