Yesterday, The Tennessean published a story on the front page of their Sunday issue about the growth of Hispanic churches. It profiles Hispanic church plants as well as the outreaches of English speaking congregations. Our own Ed Stetzer is quoted in the article, saying “churches that grow are the ones adding Spanish speakers.”
Several weeks ago on my personal blog, I wrote of my experience leading worship at a workplace where I found myself in front of several Hispanic employees and wishing that I knew some Spanish worship songs. Now I know that immigration is a hot topic and I’ll leave the discussion regarding reform to other blogs, but what I would like to discuss is how immigration is changing our worship services.
Question: Is your church doing anything to reach out to immigrants? What are some your challenges in this regard? Do you have bilingual services? Do you sing songs in languages other than English?
I work with a bilingual group that is attached to a larger Anglo church. I’d say one of the biggest challenges is that of immigration and documentation, especially regarding the Anglo church’s views toward those with unorthodox immigration status.
Our worship is bilingual, with almost everything done in both languages.
Grace and peace,
Tim Archer
In various contexts I have seen simultaneous translation over wireless audio, simultaneous self-translation (the speaker who knows two languages says everything once in one language and once in another), and the sprinkling of other languages into a verse or two of a worship set.
In the most memorable Easter service I have ever been in, we had just sung “Come Together” with flags of the various nations being held by singers streaming toward a central point on stage, from all over the building. Then out of nowhere during “Be Glorified,” the worship leader shouted, “¡en español!” and he led us in a verse of that song in Spanish. I still get goosebumps just thinking of that moment and how much bigger the (big-“C”) Church seemed than it usually did from the perspective of our little corner of the world.
Our congregation is part of a multi-cultural church. Our worship is bilingual (self-translation). We have first and second generation Hispanics and some anglos who enjoy our worship style (contemporary). Our praise and worship team sings on both languages and we mixed Spanish and English songs every Sunday. One of the biggest challenges we have is immigration. On the spiritual site, I belived one of the challenges we have is discipleship and developing leaders. God bless
“Raylene King, wife of Stonebrook minister Dennis King, looks at immigration not so much as an issue but as a really big ministry.”
“She says, ‘A few weeks ago at service Dennis said, ‘All I know is our job is to love people.” ”
http://www.hispanicnashville.com/2006/08/nolensville-churchgoers-see.html
“Participants in the international Latino ministry at Crievewood Baptist Church attend a Christmas Eve service with the ‘North American’ congregants, then celebrate with rituals from their own culture – a late dinner, stories, Bible readings and prayer, pastor David Carabajal said.”
http://www.hispanicnashville.com/2004/12/integrated-hispanicnorth-american.html
“The Wednesday-night English-as-a-second-language lessons at West End Church of Christ are among a growing number of such classes – called ‘language missions’ by many churches – that are drawing more and more recent immigrants into church basements and meeting rooms across Nashville.”
“Hickory Grove Presbyterian pastor Mike Graham said he hoped the classes would be a way for his small congregation of 80-90 to expand and include more of the area’s Hispanic community.”
http://www.hispanicnashville.com/2004/09/nashville-churches-diversify-multiply.html