During the past 60 years, the Christian Reformed Church has tried in various ways to establish Hispanic ministries.
El Buen Samaritano was the CRC’s first Spanish-speaking church. Formed in 1964 in Miami, Fla., the church reached out to refugees who fled to the United States from Cuba. It remains active in ministry, particularly in helping to start community-development programs.
In 1965, The Back to God Hour (now Back to God Ministries International) founded a Spanish ministry that continues to focus mainly on Latin America. In 1966, Rev. Juan Boonstra joined the staff as Spanish-language minister.
Through various church-planting efforts, there are today about 20 primarily Hispanic churches in areas such as Florida, Texas, California, Michigan, and New Jersey.
Christian Reformed Home Missions (CRHM) and the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (CRWRC) have instituted leadership training programs over the years, geared to help members of ethnic minorities take leadership in their congregations.
About the Author
Chris Meehan is a freelance writer and commissioned pastor at Coit Community Church in Grand Rapids, Mich.
