Hispanic Ministries Making a Difference in Oklahoma

OKLAHOMA CITY – In 2023, the Hispanic ministries in the Oklahoma Conference had a clear mission—to focus on evangelism and unity. The year began with meticulous planning and organization, leading to the creation of an evangelistic caravan. The caravan was supported by a large team that included Southwestern Union Vice President for Multicultural Ministries Osvaldo Rigacci, the entire Hispanic pastoral team in Oklahoma and an evangelist team.

The caravan lasted for 10 days. As they traveled from city to city, they carried a torch symbolizing the radiant message of God’s Word to each community. The enthusiasm of the brothers and sisters they encountered was contagious, resulting in successful outreach to many with the message of salvation. The caravan proved to be the highlight of the year.

Throughout the year, churches, pastors and members actively engaged in various activities to demonstrate the love of Christ within local communities. In West Siloam Springs, a food bank was successfully established, providing assistance to nearly 80 families weekly, addressing both physical and spiritual needs.

In Tulsa, churches and members contributed to supporting the Tulsa Community Center through various activities, including distributing over 100 food items weekly to underprivileged families, offering English classes for recent immigrants and providing free music classes for youth and children in the community. The ministry extended its support to eye clinics, offering optical professional services and free lenses to participants, and partnered with oriental medicine clinics, enhancing healthcare for many Hispanic community members.

Throughout the year, Hispanic ministries actively engaged with local communities and organizations to foster strong community relationships and better understand their needs. This included a meeting with Senator James Lankford where discussions revolved around the current situation of the country, projects to assist the Hispanic community, pending laws and upcoming congressional reforms. A mental health project was launched at the Oklahoma City Central Hispanic Church, offering separate talks tailored for children, youth and parents, along with counseling services and refreshments.

The Hispanic work saw remarkable growth in 2023, witnessing more than 100 baptisms and having approximately 20 percent of its members actively involved in providing an average of 300 weekly Bible studies. While new churches weren’t established in the past year, the focus has been on strengthening existing ones. Two churches celebrated becoming debt-free as they paid off their mortgages.

Looking ahead to 2024, Hispanic Ministries has exciting plans, including the creation of a community center in Oklahoma City to address a wide range of needs for the local population. Additionally, they are sponsoring the construction of cabin five at Wewoka Woods Adventist Center, which will benefit numerous children and families attending summer camps and camp meetings.

By Luis Prieto
Hispanic Ministries Director and
Wes Via, Communications Director