Front row: Sylvia Ramos, Emma
Gonzales, Joseph Tkach, Lorenzo
Arroyo. Second row: Richard Gonzales,
Gloria Soto and Armando Soto.
DALLAS, Texas—Raul Ramos, director of the U.S. Hispanic Ministry Department, presented the La Cosecha (the Harvest) mission/ vision workshop to nearly 30 Hispanic pastors, ministry leaders and members, Sunday, Aug. 3, during the Dallas regional conference.
During this workshop, Mr. Ramos shared with these leaders the growing need for Spanish language outreach ministry in the United States and discussed how to implement this in the local context.
The harvest is certainly ripe in this region. The states represented in the South Central district are second in Hispanic population only to the Southwest district. Texas alone, according to the 2000 Census, has more than 6.5 million Hispanics. The congregations in this area find themselves with the opportunity to share God’s love to this growing population. Our bilingual members and ministry leaders can cultivate relationships and share the gospel to this people group in their native tongue.
Dan Rogers, superintendent of U.S. ministers, reminded those at the Dallas conference that a couple of years ago he had told them that he was praying for the birth of a Spanish-speaking ministry in the WCG. It appears that the Lord of the harvest has heard these prayers and is sending out workers into this harvest (John 10:2).
Some at the Dallas workshop expressed a desire to begin Spanish-speaking Bible studies in their areas before the end of this year. Gloria Soto, wife of Pastor Armando Soto, wrote, “We are anxious to start the Spanish ministry here in El Paso.”
Carn Catherwood, district superintendent and U.S. Hispanic Ministry vision team member, encouraged pastors in his region to send Hispanic ministry leaders to the conference and the La Cosecha workshop.
The workshop also included an extended period of Spanish-language worship. Worshiping in Spanish moved most of the workshop participants and reminded them of the importance of reaching people in their heart language.
“As those called to share the gospel of Jesus Christ, we realize that the most significant relationship a person can have is with God,” Mr. Ramos said. “When people are introduced to the love of God in their native language, it speaks more directly to their hearts, even if they have some proficiency in another language.”
Mr. Ramos asked that members pray for those who need to hear the gospel in their heart language. Ask God to send people who will reach out and share the good news. As Romans 10:14 reads: “But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?”
If you are interested in how you can reach out to the Spanish-speaking people in your area, please send an e-mail message to raul.ramos@ wcg.org.
Front row: Sylvia Ramos, Emma
Gonzales, Joseph Tkach, Lorenzo
Arroyo. Second row: Richard Gonzales,
Gloria
Soto and Armando Soto.
LA COSECHA
PARTICIPANTS—
[Photos by Raul Ramos]
Copyright © Worldwide Church of God, 2003