News / Education
LifeWay Español addresses spiritual needs of Hispanic churches
LifeWay Español hosts Hispanic ministry leaders and providers in Miami
According to the Pew Hispanic Center, 70 percent of Hispanic evangelicals attend church weekly, as opposed to 61 percent of non-Hispanic white evangelicals. Additionally, 68 percent of all Hispanics say religion is "very important" to them, while only 57 percent of non-Hispanic whites say the same.
Statistics such as those led pastors, leaders and about 60 book distributors from the U.S, Latin America and Spain to Miami for LifeWay Español’s annual International Seminar of Hispanic Consultants. LifeWay Español is the Hispanic resources publishing area of LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention.
"Being able to understand the characteristics and virtues of the newest resources will help us in our ministry of distributing these works in Mexico," said seminar attendee Eleazar Ortiz Reyes.
Richard Blackaby, author of 7 Verdades de Mi Experiencia con Dios (7 Truths from Experiencing God), and Chuck Lawless, author of Vistiendo la Armadura (Putting on the Armor) and Guerra Espiritual (Spiritual Warfare), were on hand to talk about those recently released discipleship materials.
Blackaby’s study is a summary of his father, Henry Blackaby’s, best-seller Experiencing God, which the younger Blackaby said is still impacting lives around the world even though it has been 15 years since its initial release.
"My father and I were recently in Angola maximum security prison [in Louisiana]," Blackaby said. "Many of the inmates are studying Experiencing God, becoming Christians and are feeling the call to ministry."
He told the group that although many of Angola’s prisoners are on death row or serving life sentences, God’s transforming work in their lives compels them to minister to their fellow prisoners.
"The warden told us that the entire Bible college they have in their prison came about as a result of teaching Experiencing God to the inmates," Blackaby said. "Wherever Experiencing God is taught, people feel called into Christian ministry."
LifeWay Español Director Luis López is well aware of the impact Experiencing God has had in the Spanish-speaking world. "All over Latin America, Spain and the United States I hear of pastors and leaders who have been called into the ministry by studying Experiencing God," he said.
Lawless, dean of the Billy Graham School of Mission, Evangelism and Church Growth at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky., also spoke to attendees about his recently released studies, both of which address the topic of spiritual warfare.
"The Bible is very clear about the reality of spiritual warfare, regardless of what culture we are in," Lawless said. "We face the enemy every day, even if we do not realize it. However, we are already on the winning side. When believers realize the power and authority we have when wearing the full armor of God, we best stand ready to take on the enemy."
Lawless expressed his appreciation for the opportunity to minister to key leaders from the Spanish-speaking world.
"Help those of us who are non-Hispanic to know how best to reach out," he asked of the attendees. "Walk with us, teach us about your culture and challenge us to learn some of your language. Let’s work together to make a difference for the Lord."
For information about these and other resources highlighted at the conference, including a Spanish language version of LifeWay’s Vacation Bible School curriculum, visit LifeWay.com/international or LifeWay.com/Español.
