spanish

I just read a timely article about this in Net Results Magazine’s September/October 2007 Issue.

Bill Easum writes “Back to Basics,” calling on church leaders to get back to the great commission and the great commandment.

In returning to the Great Commandment, he exhorts congregations about the need to return to the basic ministry of loving one another, to become an “incubator of faith where non Christians and new Christians experience a warm, loving, and accepting group of people.”

Is your church friendly toward the visitor?
Is your church friendly towards the pastor?
Or is your church full of strife, division, and run by a control freak?

If your church is not an incubator of faith, perhaps its time to show the controllers and bullies to the door, says Easum.

In returning to the Great Commission, Easum reminds the church to return to the basic ministry of reaching out to the stranger. He offers practical steps for pastors to help keep this in front of the congregation.

[Update: All these articles that elaborate his steps have been taken off line, so all links are removed).

In our presbytery, one of the fastest growing demographics is the Hispanic population.

Here are just a few phrases that anyone can use to help a Spanish speaking guest feel welcome.

(See No One Said Hello for a Spanish speaking visitor who didn’t feel welcome).

1. “Dios le bendiga” with a handshake is a common greeting to one individual.

“Dios les bendiga” would be used for a family or more than one person. It’s equivalent to “God bless you.” This is usually the first thing I hear.

2. “Bienvenidos” is “welcome.” “Bienvenidos a nuestra iglesia” is “welcome to our church.”

You don’t have to speak proficient Spanish to welcome the guest. But at least a greeting with a smile and handshake is one way to demonstrate hospitality.

If you have some Spanish speakers in your congregation, try to introduce your guests to them.

In the international church where I was associate pastor, helping people connect with others from their country of origin or language group was a vital form of hospitality.

Our experience of being welcomed in a Spanish church
In the Spanish church our family attends, country of origin is a point of national pride and relational connection. When we welcome our guests during the service, we invite them to share what country they are from. At the end of the service, our members from that country are quick to welcome our guests one on one.

When we first began attending there, one member welcomed us in in English since he can speak both languages. I learned quickly that he was from Venezuela. Because I have made several mission trips to Venezeula, that commonality helped the two of us connect.

That welcome in my language, and that connection to Venezuela was a vital part of our welcome into that church.

Let me ask you this?
Would you take a risk and greet a visitor who speaks a different language?