Hispanic McAllen church launches English-speaking mission_110804

Posted: 11/05/04

Hispanic McAllen church launches English-speaking mission

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communications

MCALLEN–Congregations struggle with worship style preferences. Like many other Hispanic churches, Iglesia Bautista Emmanuel throws language, culture and generational preferences into its balancing act.

But instead of chaos, the congregation concocted a new method of serving multiple generations of Hispanics

The church has offered bilingual services for the past six years, but it watched as second- and third-generation Hispanics eventually became dissatisfied with the effort and moved on to Anglo congregations where they find contemporary-styled ministries in English, Pastor Ernie Chapa said.

So, a few weeks ago, Iglesia Bautista Emmanuel executed a planned split.

About 100 members moved to a recently constructed campus across town to begin Crossroads Baptist Church, a ministry tailored to the needs of later generations of Hispanics.

Chapa leads worship both at Emmanuel and Crossroads, but the ministries look drastically different.

Emmanuel will continue with a Spanish service with traditional music that has a Hispanic flare. Crossroads will be an English ministry that hopes to serve the more economically mobile Hispanics who have settled in north McAllen.

Crossroads meets in facilities financed by members of Emmanuel.

“To some, we're dividing,” Chapa said. “To others, we're multiplying. It depends on your perspective.”

At least initially, Crossroads will function like a mission. Emmanuel has outlined funding for its sister congregation for the first six months.

After that, Chapa hopes Crossroads members will begin supporting their ministry.

Developing two distinct churches enables each to more clearly define its mission and tailor it to the needs of its community, Chapa said.

However, he admits this approach has not been a completely smooth undertaking. Some members expressed displeasure about seeing their friends go to another church. Some decided to go to another congregation.

Iglesia Bautista Emmanuel, a Baptist General Convention of Texas-designated key church, spent last summer celebrating its members before many of them departed.

Chapa began each service with a Spanish sermon. After the congregation came together to sing, he preached in English.

The church as a whole now views this move as an opportunity to serve a population that the congregation as it stands now is struggling to keep, Chapa said.

“I think people are starting to see we are trying to reach more people with the gospel,” he said.