by Bob Seña
NUMERO UNO
The number of Hispanics in the United
States will triple by 2050 and represent
nearly 30 percent of the population if
current trends continue, according to a
2008 report by the Pew Research Center.
Sharing the Gospel with Hispanic Americans
Hispanics in America have grown in
social and economic status despite preju-
dice and other difficulties. Yet many need
OU DON’T HAVE to know better education, employment and living
Y
dos, tres, cuatro, to know His-
CHURCH OF GOD
conditions. Heritage flows deeply. His-
panics are uno. In American
HISPANIC-AMERICAN MINISTRIES
panic characteristics are family loyalty,
society, Hispanic-Americans
• 1,200 Churches
dignity of the individual, courtesy and a
are a charter-member minori- • 80,000 Members joy of living. Most Hispanics take great
ty. Their ancestors settled in the Southwest
• 135 churches/missions established since
pride in their culture and maintain a
United States long before the pilgrims 2008 General Assembly strong sense of nationalism even after
landed at Plymouth Rock. They have con-
• 300 to 350 congregations share facilities
immigration. Respect for their native lan-
tinued to come from Central and South with English-speaking congregations guage and culture is very important to
America, across the Rio Grande from Mex-
• Goal: 1,000 new Hispanic-American
them. Tradition also plays an important
ico, and over the Caribbean from Puerto churches in 6-10 years (currently ahead role, including the religious tradition to
Rico. Millions of legal and illegal immi-
of schedule)
which most cling: Catholicism. However,
grants have come seeking to escape the
For more information, contact: Fidencio
less than 20 percent are active Roman
desperation of their homelands for a new
Burgueño, P.O. Box 2430, Cleveland,
Catholics; 15 percent are Protestants; the
beginning in the “land of promise.”
Tennessee 37320-2430; 423-478-7164
rest are unchurched.
Over the decades, by their numbers In order to influence the harvest and
and by their diligence and pride, they Peru. Already the United States has more fulfill the Great Commission, thousands of
have influenced the social, cultural and than 45 million Hispanic residents, 15 new Hispanic churches are needed. Never
economic development of the nation. percent of the population. Most numer- in the history of this nation have Hispan-
Yet, until recently, despite their perva- ous are Mexican-Americans, almost 25.3 ics been more receptive to the evangelical
siveness and their growth, Hispanics were million. Half of all Puerto Ricans (7 mil- message than they are now.
as invisible as the earth—ever-present, lion), U.S. citizens by birth, live in the
but never seen domestic workers in continental United States. Cubans num- Bob Seña is a coordinator for the North
Southern California; clerks and laborers ber almost 2 million, most having come American Mission Board Resource Develop-
in Florida; migrant bands, showing the since 1959. California has the largest His- ment and Delivery Team of the Southern
calloused hands of farm labor. They still panic population (13 million); Texas (8.6 Baptist Convention. Article reprinted by per-
are, but now they also are doctors, million) and Florida (3.8 million) follow. mission from On Mission magazine.
lawyers and politicians. They flood every
city, seeking jobs, better lives and perma-
nence. And in the process, they are build-
ing a bilingual, bicultural society.
If the American church responds with
openness the results could be astounding.
Effective ministry among Hispanic-Ameri-
cans can influence the entire Spanish-
speaking world for Jesus Christ.
Hispanics in America
Although Spanish language and cul-
ture provide a common denominator,
Hispanic-Americans have a diversified
The number of Hispanics in the United States will triple by 2050 and represent nearly
geographic background, ranging from
30 percent of the population if current trends continue.—Pew Research Center
nearby Mexico and the Caribbean to
EVANGEL • SEP 2009 23
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