As Dr. Frank Page, pastor of Taylors First Baptist Church, welcomed this year’s attendees to the Hispanic Evangelism Conference, he did so in Spanish, not his native tongue. Page, along with members of the Taylors First Baptist choir memorized their songs and greetings in the foreign language in an effort to make their guest feel most comfortable.
This year marked a change in venue for the conference, which traditionally convened the last weekend in April at White Oak Conference Center. As attendance increased, the need for new facilities did as well. It is a move that proved to be a positive one.
“The real story here is the relationship between the church and the conference,” said Dino Sensi, director of the SCBC church multiplication group.
“[The church] did not just turn over the keys to their facilities, they really embraced the Hispanic culture,” continued Sensi.
“God has literally brought the world to our front door during recent years as we have seen the growth of minority populations in the Greenville area – especially Hispanics,” said Barbara Kennedy, Taylors First Baptist coordinator for the conference.
Dozen of volunteers were needed in child care, food service and other logistics to facilitate the nearly 500 attendees. Almost all volunteers were recruited from the church and surrounding community.
“Hosting the Hispanic Conference was a way that Taylors could follow his lead by opening our doors for the Hispanic community to receive training, equipping, encouragement and fellowship in a caring environment. Our members were excited about this missions opportunity,” Kennedy continued
Taylors was not only the site of the conference, but is also a partner in church planting having started one Hispanic church, Igelsia Betania who is in turn partnering with a church in Cuba.
Victor Prieto, member of Igelsia Betania has seen the conference meet the needs of the Hispanic community.
“It has helped my ministry a lot since I have learned the needs in our community, have heard the concerns of other pastors and leaders, and also it helps ourselves as leaders to understand that we are not alone. It strengthens your ministry, definitely,” he said.
Unique to the east coast, there are no other known conferences of its kind east of the Mississippi river. Participants included families from Virginia, Alabama and Maryland among other states. Centered around Matthew 7:20, the conference includes age group activities for children and youth as well as adult sessions.
The conference will return to Taylors First Baptist in 2007.
