Courtney Hodges
CBF Communications
Greg and Sue Smith have built their two-year-old ministry among Hispanics on a principle that has served the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship well-partnership.
Two years ago, the CBF of Virginia appointed the Smiths as missionaries. After serving for 12 years in Costa Rica, the Smiths wanted to continue ministry with the Hispanic population. During their first year of serving in Fredericksburg, the Smiths assessed how to work with Hispanic issues in the state and met Heather and Victor Gomez. The Gomezes were also looking for a way to minister to the Hispanic community. After brainstorming, the couples helped develop two organizations.
LUCHA (Latinos United through Christ in Brotherhood and Support) Ministries, a Christian community-based outreach ministry among Latinos in Fredericksburg, is sponsored by the CBF of Virginia and Fredericksburg United Methodist Church. LUCHA Ministries' mission is to build support networks within the community, address spiritual and social needs, serve as an information broker and community advocate, and connect Hispanics with the outreach efforts of local organizations.
“Organizations in the community were already doing things that could be beneficial to the Hispanic population, but most of these organizations don‚t have people that speak Spanish,” said Sue Smith executive director of LUCHA Ministries. “We help the agencies reach the Hispanic community.”
Through LUCHA Ministries, the Smiths and Gomezes work in partnership with organizations like the Salvation Army.
“Through the agencies, we can make new contacts with families that we don't know,” Smith said.
A unique component to LUCHA Ministries is the attention to follow up with Hispanic families.
“This helps to increase the relationship, and it helps LUCHA get more Hispanic families involved in the Anglo community,” Smith said. “It's hard to establish and gain credibility, but when people see that you are actually there to help them, then word of mouth gets around that you can be trusted.”
LUCHA Ministries has four specific areas of Christian ministry: networking and partnering, human needs, spiritual and evangelistic and community advocacy. Along with these four concentrations, LUCHA provides specific services such as English as a Second Language (ESL) support, community clinics, translation services, Advent activities, and training seminars that include cross-cultural mission practices. It maintains a web site at www.luchaministries.org.
“I'm impressed with the Smiths' abilities in a short amount of time to develop trust with agencies, partners and the Hispanic community,” said Rick Clore, coordinator for the CBF of Virginia. “As I know CBF ministry, the Smiths' ministry is a prime and beautiful example of partnership.”
The Latino Network is a statewide cooperation among established Baptist organizations in Virginia that started in September 2004. It combines resources from the Baptist General Association of Virginia and its Virginia Baptist Mission Board, the CBF of Virginia, Woman's Missionary Union of Virginia, Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond and the John Leland Center for Theological Studies. The network primarily focuses on strengthening Hispanic ministers.
“We all wanted to put one face to Hispanic ministry instead of many faces,” Clore said. “It was our effort not to decide for Hispanic ministers what they needed, but for them to tell us what we can provide.”
“Overall, it strengthens our efforts,” Smith agreed.
Latino Network organizers discovered Hispanic ministers had needs they could address. Hispanic church leaders said they needed family nurturing, training for church leaders and fellowship opportunities.
As a result, the Latino Network offers an annual gathering for pastors and recently started a retreat for pastors and their spouses. The Tercer Encuentro de Pastores y Líderes (Third Gathering of Pastors and Leaders) will be April 28-29 in Fredericksburg. The second Retiro de Pastores y Familias (Pastors and Families Retreat) will be held at CrossRoads Camp and Conference Center on Aug. 17-19.