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Online Inroads into the Lives of Spanish Speakers
by PAUL SCHREIBER
As Hispanics—and millions of others—increasingly live on their cell phones, solid online connections are critical to Gospel ministry. Therein lies the challenge. “Media ministry often involves distance between those creating content or running programs and the people we hope listen to, read, or in some other way engage with our efforts to introduce them to Jesus or nurture their faith,” said Rev. Dr. Chad Lakies, director for LHM’s North America region. Bridging that gap is integral to LHM’s Hispanic ministry focus.
In the Spanish-speaking world, LHM is known as Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones (“Christ for all Nations”) or CPTLN. It addresses religious-practicing and non-religious, non-practicing groups. For a “Christian” or religious-practicing audience, there’s Para el Camino (PEC) (“For the Journey”) at paraelcamino.com. It has daily and seasonal devotions, booklets for adults and children, Bible studies, and Christian audio messages. Also featured are original Spanish sermons, including notes for further study.
In its outreach to a non-religious, nonfaith-practicing audience, Sentido Latino (“Latin Sense”) at sentidolatino.com features a podcast of the same name. Hosted by Pastor Luciano Vega-Ayala and Deaconess Noemí Guerra, they speak to the cultural, moral, relational, and social challenges that Hispanics face daily, from a Christian perspective. Audio messages, topical booklets, and life-relevant articles are also on the website.
The potential of LHM’s Spanishlanguage digital connections proved itself in a remarkable story recently. Shortly before Easter, Omar from Bogotá, Colombia, reached out to PEC on Facebook Messenger. Omar was suicidal. He made text contact with Beatriz Hoppe, coordinator for Hispanic ministry at LHM. The rest is about networks and relationships.
Hoppe contacted Pastor Fester from LHM–Argentina. He coordinates volunteers through Vivenciar.net, a digital platform serving Latin America. Fester contacted Julyssa, a counselor with LHM–Mexico. She called Omar for more info and crisis management. Fester then called Pastor Marín in Medellín, who connected with a colleague in Bogotá who—per Julyssa’s recommendations— located Omar and got him help at a medical clinic.
Once on the ground with Omar, this distraught man was encouraged to receive the care he needed. He is now regaining his physical and emotional health and has found employment. He passed this note on to those who helped him: “Thanks to God and to you. This is what I can now do with great love.”
Omar’s case highlights the global yet personal way one-on-one ministry is happening through LHM’s Hispanic ministry. u
The Impact of Digital Connections
Message sent from Bogotá, Colombia. LHM received message in St. Louis, MO. Message forwarded to Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Message sent to Guadalajara, Mexico, for crisis management ... ... and to Medellín, Colombia, to a Lutheran pastor.
The pastor asked people he knew in Bogotá to take care of Omar, and they did—and still are today.