2017 Hispanic Congress to Convene Next Week
Hundreds of Spanish-speaking members of the Church of God in the USA are gearing up to celebrate the XVII National Hispanic Congress, Thursday, August 3 through Saturday, August 5, 2017, in Ontario, Calif. The gathering will take place at the Ontario DoubleTree hotel.
For more than three decades, the National Hispanic Congress has been gathering every two years, in between Church of God General Assembly. In 1985, the first National Hispanic Congress convened in Cleveland, Tenn. At that time, there were five Spanish-speaking regions. Today, there are eight Spanish-speaking regions that lead more than one thousand churches and missions.
Emphasis of the Congress
Since its genesis in 1985, the National Hispanic Congress has emphasized the importance of providing a time of reflection, of discerning and understanding the times and how to effectively respond to their challenges. The general programming of the event includes times of celebration and training. On this particular occasion, for example, two prominent pastors will be highlighted during the Friday morning conferences. Dr. Samuel Alfaro, founding pastor of the Iglesia de Dios New Day, Phoenix, Arizona, will be speaking on FINDING the Lost. In this same vein, Reverend Lissette Grillo, lead pastor of Iglesia de Dios Ministerios Kairos, Redwood City, California, will speak on Reaching the HARVEST.
These two young speakers will be followed by Bishop Mitch Maloney, Director of Mission USA who will address the topic of church revitalization and church planting. A panel comprised of these three leaders will answer questions regarding their presentations.
Accentuation of Emerging Hispanic Leaders
The National Hispanic Congress serves as an excellent arena to provide a forum for emerging leaders to be acknowledged, encouraged and integrated to the mission and vision of Hispanic ministries of the Church of God in the USA. These young leaders are great bridge-builders between first and second-generation Latinos. They are committed to reaching the Latino harvest.
Latinos know that it is a big challenge to reach and integrate second and third generation Latinos into church life. The families want to participate as a unit in church and do not want language and cultural integration to be a hindrance. Latino pastors and church leaders need effective ministry models, training on time management, tools and resources for the development of local church ministries that address these concerns.
The Latino Administrative Bishops are committed to creating spaces for successful ministries that impact English dominant Latinos. Latinos know that faithful transmission of Christ’s good news to their children is increasingly more challenging; therefore, they will endeavor to fund and provide the training for pastors and church leaders to reach the Latinos families.
International Executive Committee to Participate in the Congress
A crucial component of the National Hispanic Congress is to foster unity of purpose, to bring about solidarity in sharing resources and creative ministry structures, to affirm and celebrate what God has done in the past years and to provide opportunities to commit to fulfilling the initiatives of the Church of God, namely, The FINISH COMMITMENT.
The International Executive Committee along with various leaders from the Church of God International Offices will be supporting the event. Two members of the committee are schedule to speak. Dr. Tim Hill, General Overseer will speak, Thursday, August 3 at the opening service. Dr. David Ramírez, will speak at the morning closing service, Saturday, August 5. Others will have an opportunity to greet and encourage the delegates.
Southwestern Hispanic Region Will Host the Congress
Bishop Samuel and Yvette Santana, Administrative Bishops, Southwestern Hispanic Region along with the pastors and churches will host the XVII National Hispanic Congress. “We are so ready to have our delegates join us for the celebration of the congress,” said Bishop Santana. “Our three days together will ignite our passion for the fulfillment of the Great Commission.”
Congress Is Free, No Need to Register
Participation of the event is free. No registration. Special hotel rates have been negotiated with the DoubleTree and with your night’s lodging, $119.00 plus taxes, you get two full buffet breakfasts per room, free parking and free shuttle to and from the Ontario, California airport. Call the DoubleTree directly at 800.222.8733.
For more information regarding the XVII National Hispanic Congress, please contact Hispanic Ministries at 423-478-7164 or the Southwestern Hispanic Regional Office at 909.931.0700.
(Submitted for Faith News by Hispanic Ministries)
