Updates from the six Hispanic congregations in Oklahoma were compiled this summer by Daniel Llanos-Jimenez of Tulsa, who chairs the Conference’s Hispanic Ministries Society and leads Nueva Esperanza UMC. Highlights from his report are shared here.

By Rev. Daniel Llanos-Jimenez

We are part of the dynamic personality of United Methodism. Our Conference committee consists of a Financial Committee and what we call the Sociedad de Ministerios Hispanos (Hispanic Ministries Society), whose purpose is to recruit people interested in building Hispanic ministries. This society was created to support the missionary work, exchange ideas, and share hopes and dreams with one another.

President of the Conference’s Hispanic Ministries Committee is Carlos Ramirez of Elk City.

This past year has been difficult for our ministries because of well-known immigration concerns. The Hispanic Ministries continue their work thanks to the financial support received from the Conference.

? El Compañerismo Metodista Unido de Heavener (The Heavener United Methodist Fellowship). Pastor Obed Alba reported this ministry has grown to 28 adults and 23 of minor age. When he began serving there, the congregation numbered seven adults and three younger than 18. The Heavener group has an extraordinary outreach with soccer teams. They celebrate worship on Sunday, offer Bible studies on Wednesday, and teach classes Saturday on "English as a Second Language."

? Vida en Abundancia (Abundant Life). In Laverne, this group is experiencing an evangelistic explosion. They hold evangelistic services and concerts in public places, plus regular worship and prayer services as well as home Bible studies. With much enthusiasm, they are working and saving to buy a building rather than rent. The 2008 yearend report listed membership at 74, and 12 new members were received through professions of faith. Attendance at worship is 86 people; prayer meetings, 19; and Bible study, 47. Pastor is Jose Estrada.

? Mision Metodista Unida San Mateo (St. Matthew’s United Methodist Mission). At Pauls Valley, Pastor Perla Goody works not only in advocacy but also leads a congregation that has been deeply affected by immigration decisions. The primarily Hispanic congregation has decreased from 35 to 18 adults, but also has many children. The ministry is working to secure a place for worship separate from their host church.

? The Guymon congregation is moving through recovery stages. Sarah Hickson Salazar is the new pastor. Sunday attendance is about 40 people, and the ministry has its own building. About 50 children were expected for summertime Bible school.

? Hillcrest Fuente de Vida. Led by Juventino "Tino" Espinoza, the church in Oklahoma City celebrates God through worship services, Bible studies, and revivals. Their Food Bank assists many people.

? In Tulsa, Nueva Esperanza UMC is overcoming the loss of 60 active members, attributed to immigration and economic problems. We now have 110 members and an average worship attendance of 75 people. In the most recent quarter, we gained 14 new members by professions of faith and two by baptism. We open a food and clothing supply bank on two Wednesdays each month and assist approximately 500 people. We have added an English-language worship service. Every Thursday night, a Bible study is held, plus knitting classes and practice sessions for mime artistry and Latin American folk dancing.

Oklahoma’s Hispanic Ministries are making mission connections in several ways. The pastors of Hillcrest Fuente de Vida and Nueva Esperanza assisted the Conference’s Young Adults Committee on a mission trip to John Wesley Seminary in Monterrey, Mexico. Vida en Abundancia and Nueva Esperanza congregations sent economic support for the Cuban Methodist Church after hurricanes in that nation. Heavener and Nueva Esperanza churches joined to financially support a Heavener church member who needed emergency surgery. Nueva Esperanza members collaborated on an ecumenical evangelism project; helped build a church in the village of Cruz Blanca, Mexico; are supporting a mission project in Liberia, West Africa; and are assisting a student from Mexico at Lydia Patterson Institute in El Paso, Texas.

We also celebrate calls we sometimes receive, from other states and countries, from people who ask us for addresses of Methodist churches where they have relocated. For us, that is additional proof that we are doing what God call us to do and that we view all the world as our parish.

Even though we are small, we praise God and say thank you to everyone for prayerful and financial support. People are receiving food, clothes, medical help, counseling, advocacy, healing and, most importantly, the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

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