|
 Record
growth
In one year, one-half of the U.S. population’s growth
was in the Hispanic community, reported the Census Bureau.
Bible League International is responding to this huge growth by initiating
a ministry specifically to more than 40 million Hispanics living
in the U.S.
This new outreach has developed in South Florida, Los Angeles,
and Chicago. Under the direction of Rosilio Román, a
pastor who headed a large denomination in Puerto Rico, the
ministry is already making a difference in the lives of hundreds
of new and established immigrants throughout the nation.
Realizing a vision
“There is a strong spiritual interest in the U.S. Hispanic
community,” says Román. “But there has been
a lack of discipleship through the local church. Bible League International’s
program of discipleship through Bible study will give local Hispanic
pastors the ministry tools they need to grow their churches in
depth as well as in numbers.”
“We have the vision to reach our communities for Christ,” says
Anna, a Miami-area church worker. “But we needed something
to catapult us into action. I believe Bible League International is meeting
that need.”
“Our dilemma has not been a lack of vision to reach
the lost in our communities,” says Benny, a youth pastor
in a Hispanic church, “but rather how to carry out that
vision.”
Equipping local churches
Bible League International trains believers in local churches and equips
leaders and lay people to lead Bible studies where people
can find answers to their spiritual questions. By
training many ordinary people in a local church, the growth
is not limited to the number of people who can be discipled
by the pastor alone.
Brenda has been a believer for less than a year. But after
going through Bible League International training, she felt more equipped
to help a neighbor who was going through a difficult time. “Although
I’m a new Christian,” says Brenda, “these
studies are helping me grow and also reach others for Christ.”
Recognized in Latin America
Many new immigrants were involved in Bible League ministry
in Latin America. Bible League International has work in Colombia,
Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Haiti, Mexico, Nicaragua, Puerto
Rico, Peru, and Venezuela. Once in the U.S., many have looked
for the same evangelism and discipleship tools offered in
their homelands.
“My entire family came to Christ in Colombia through
Bible League International,” says Anderson Garcia from Miami. “When
I heard the training was going to take place at my church,
I immediately wanted to become involved.” Garcia is already
leading an introductory Bible study with people who are looking
for spiritual answers.
All materials are available in both Spanish and English. Many
first-generation immigrants need the Spanish version for complete
understanding. But their children are often more comfortable
with the English text.
Great multitude
The vision in Revelation 7:9, ‘I looked,
and behold, a great multitude, which no one could count, from
every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing
before the throne and before the Lamb . . .’”
|
To provide Bibles to U.S. Hispanics and around the world, click
here
To obtain Spanish Bibles and Bible study materials, click here
Basic information as well as models of effective church planting. Read more
|
