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HOME PAGE AFFILIATED MINISTRIES
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The International Ministry Team was organized to support and encourage other language groups in Chilton County. Their goal is to assist with physical and spiritual needs, to provide Bibles and other written materials in their native language and to provide English language and other classes that will help them function better in this culture and society. The team also offers training to workers for this ministry to assist local churches beginning a ministry to other language groups.
For more information, contact Chilton Baptist Association International MinistryTeam Leader,
PRIMERA IGLESIA HISPANA
BAUTISTA DEL CONDADO DE CHILTON
219 Sixth Street
North, Clanton 35045
Welcome to Primera Iglesia Hispana Bautista website. We are the Hispanic Ministry of the Chilton Baptist Association. Our plan is to reach all the Hispanic community in our county and tell them about Jesus. We show them the love of God by doing Christian activities, helping with daily issues like hospitals, courts, etc. Also we have one current Hispanic Mission located across the street from First Baptist Church of Clanton. OUR HISTORY It is very hard to believe that the Hispanic Mission is celebrating it's seventh anniversary! Most of you know that the work has a long history. I would like to tell you a little about this history and give thanks to those who were instrumental in following God's call to start this ministry in Chilton County. The ministry began in the early 1990's with ESL classes and Bible study at Collins Chapel Baptist Church. Ed and Wilma Simmons were leaders in that work and still are faithfully serving in many areas of the Hispanic ministry. Without their faithful service, the ministry would not be where it is today. After a few years the classes moved to Mulberry Baptist church. During this time that we only had ESL classes, we worked not only to teach English, but to teach it in a way that the Gospel message was before our students. This led us to know that we must have someone to help us form a mission. God sent us a man, Jose Luis Leon, from Venezuela, who had a heart for visitation. During the short three months that he was with us, we visited what seemed like hundreds of Hispanic families. At the end of his stay we had something like a one-night revival at Mulberry Baptist church. There were over 85 Hispanics attending and it was a wonderful time of good fellowship, food, singing and preaching. Many decisions were made that night. This event was at the end of January, 2000. Jose Luis and members of this team prayed that God would send someone to us so that we could keep this work alive. The next week a call came from a pastor friend in Birmingham, who said that he had a friend of a friend who was interested in helping us and he could come that next Sunday. It was an unbelievable event. God had sent us Freddy Naranjo, who just picked up where Jose Luis had left off. Our ESL classes grew into Wednesday night Bible Study and Sunday services. While Freddy was working with us this little group grew into a mission church with an average attendance of about 28 Hispanics who came to Mulberry from as far away as Selma. Freddy worked with us for about a year and a half before his job situation and the call to minister to young people who were at risk caused him to leave our area. However, the efforts of Jose Luis and Freddy showed us the need for a Hispanic person to work among this community. It was during this time that the Chiltauga Team was formed and the search for a missionary/pastor was begun. Five years ago this month (February) the Chiltauga Team called Bro. Carlos Lemus and his family to serve as that person. Many things have changed since Bro. Carlos began working here. The International Ministries Team members thank God for Bro. Carlos and his precious family. I personally want to thank Bro. David Bishop, Ed and Wilma Simmons, and the members of Mulberry Baptist Church for their support during the time the mission was just getting started and for their continued support in this work. Of course, I must also thank Bro. Larry Felkins and the churches and pastors of Chilton Baptist Association. Our work together to serve our Father makes what seems impossible become a ministry. Please continue to pray for this work. In Christ, Pat Conway, International Ministries Team Leader
Chilton Baptist Association Medical
Missions Trip Team Members: Dr. Larry Felkins, Rev. Carlos Lemus, Dr. Keith and Regeana Funderburk, Vickie Griffith, Teresa Marcus, Julie and Terry Mims, Greg Oaks, Thomas Smith, Judy Felkins, Barbie Cottles, Randall Higgins, Dr. Bethany Lyn, Anita Smitherman, Suzanne Williams, and Janice Wyatt.
Hispanic Day Music
Celebration For the past six years the Hispanic Baptist Churches of Alabama have had a Music Festival named, "Dia de la Hispanidad" (Day of Hispanic Heritage). This event gathers approximately 800 people each year, where we have a good time praising, worshipping and fellowshipping among brothers and sisters across the state. Because of the magnitude of this Festival, we need your help. This is a good opportunity to serve God with our Hispanic brothers and sisters. We need people to work in the following areas: welcoming, registration, food, transportation, etc. If you are willing to do mission work, this is your time . . . please call Chilton Baptist Association office at 755-3188 for more information.
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