National Hispanic fellowship features Miami musicians

INDIANAPOLIS (BP)—Hispanic Southern Baptists will proclaim “Hay Vida en Jesus” (“There is Life in Jesus”) during evangelistic campaigns in different locations throughout Indiana June 7-11, culminating with a special concert Saturday night, June 12, at Northside Baptist Church in Indianapolis.

The concert, which will begin at 7 p.m., will feature vocalists Jose L. Rodriguez and Moises Hernandez, both of Miami; Suri from Puerto Rico; Mario Solorio of Madera, Calif.; and Mariel Rosales of Riverside, Calif.

The statewide evangelistic campaigns and closing concert are being held in conjunction with the National Fellowship of Hispanic Southern Baptist Churches’ June 12-13 annual meeting in Indianapolis, with the theme of “We Are the People of God.”

The fellowship’s sessions will begin with a “Hispanic Update” at 1 p.m. Saturday, June 12, also at Northside Baptist, which is located at 3021 E. 71st St.

Conferences on five different themes will be offered from 3-5 p.m.:

• The Family, led by Samuel Otero, a psychologist from San Antonio, Texas.
• Leadership Growth, led by Gustavo Suarez of Albuquerque, who leads education and missions ministries in behalf of the fellowship.
• Youth, led by Gonzalo Graupera of Boston, who leads young adult ministries in behalf of the fellowship.
• Women, led by Carolina Jones, Hispanic strategist with Woman’s Missionary Union, Birmingham, Ala.
• Focus on the Kingdom, led by Sergio Arce of LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention.

The fellowship’s Sunday second sessions, June 13, also at Northside Baptist, will begin with a 12:30 luncheon for pastors to highlight Spanish-language resources for the FAITH/Sunday School evangelism strategy of LifeWay Christian Resources.

Five additional conferences will be offered, beginning at 2:30 p.m.
• Worship, led by Erick Mondragon, a music leader from Garland, Texas.
• Missions, led by Jason Carlisle of the International Mission Board, Richmond, Va.
• Finances, led by Nelson Ruiz of Crown Financial Ministries, Gainesville, Ga.
• Leadership, led by David Fajardo, of the Baptist Spanish Publishing House, El Paso, Texas.
• New Churches, led by Bobby Sena of the North American Mission Board and Daniel Sanchez of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

The fellowship’s annual business session is scheduled from 4:30-6 p.m.

The annual meeting will conclude with a 7:30 p.m. worship service, with preaching by Jason Carlisle and Augusto Valverde, the president of the fellowship and pastor of Iglesia Bautista Resurreccion in Miami.

In addition to Valverde, the fellowship’s officers include Heberto Becerra, pastor of First Hispanic Baptist Church in Plantation, first vice president and Francisco Nunez of International Commission (International Crusade), Lewisville, Texas, second vice president.