Open Door: BJU Spanish Ministry Team

Daniel Hudson, Seminary Student

Every semester, BJU sends out ministry teams to various churches throughout the Southeast and other parts of the US. I think we’re all familiar with some of these teams, especially as we see some in chapel on a regular basis. As students go out on the weekends, they encourage churches and represent the university to prospective students.
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But not all prospective students.

Last year, Julie Aguilar, a graduate student in the seminary pursuing a Master of Arts in Intercultural Studies, noticed that an important demographic wasn’t being reached by the mission teams: Hispanic churches. Almost 17% of the U.S. population identifies as Hispanic,[1] and Hispanic churches are easy to find not far from BJU and throughout the Southeastern United States. And of course, most Hispanics speak Spanish. Therein lies maybe one of the reasons that Hispanic churches haven’t received too many BJU ministry teams in the past—all BJU ministry teams were operating in English.

Julie herself comes from a Hispanic church, so she knows the opportunity for serving and recruiting the University could have among Hispanic and bilingual ministries. Seeing an opportunity, she put together the first Hispanic ministry team fall 2021 that visited two churches in South Carolina. This semester the team has doubled into two teams and is hoping to visit more churches in the greater area. Last semester I had the privilege of leading the team made up of Zane Johnson, Macy MacArthur, Josh Fox, Keila Cueto, and Gabriela Gonzalez.

Now, I have to clarify—I’m not Hispanic, and I grew up speaking English. But the ministry team is really for anyone who’s interested, though you do need to be able to speak Spanish. Some of our members are Hispanics from the US, some are from other Latin American nations, and some have learned Hispanic culture by choice. I fall into the last category—Spanish was my minor during undergrad.

For me, I was attracted to the team because I loved the vision—I had been praying for more ministry opportunities with my Spanish, and I was excited for opportunities to serve and lead. For others, it’s a matter of giving back—investing in the kind of churches they come from. For all of us, it’s an opportunity to serve the Lord with what we have. On a typical Sunday, we get up early, drive to the church, serve in Sunday School and kids programs, sing special music, share testimonies and preach the morning message. It’s definitely a stretching and rewarding experience. After the service, we spend some time eating with the teens and telling them about BJU.

Sending ministry teams out lets BJU connect with potential students and shows them that we don’t overlook the Hispanic population in the United States. I personally think it’s a great way of communicating that we are all the body of Christ, even coming from various countries, ethnicities, and language groups. The team members get practical experience serving in various churches and learn how to adapt fast in real-life situations. In the end, our greatest goal is to glorify Jesus Christ and encourage the church.

So, what can you do? Well, a lot really. Please pray for us that God will provide opportunities for ministry and bless us in it. We need prayers for safe travels, preparation for teaching and preaching, and grace to encourage and serve each church. If you come from a Hispanic church or know of one that would appreciate a ministry team from BJU, contact Julie Aguilar and we’ll find a time to visit. And if you speak Spanish yourself, contact Julie about possible opportunities to serve with us in the future. We’re excited to see how our team could grow in the future.

Two big lessons stand out to me from all of this: 1) develop what you have and realize everything about you is intentional in God’s plan, and the Lord will use you in ways you maybe can’t see now. Maybe you’re taking Spanish, and honestly, it’s just a program requirement to you. Whether it’s that, or any other class or skill you’re learning, realize that God has you there for a reason, and He can use those things for His glory. Don’t lose any of the opportunities He gives you! 2) Pray for ministry opportunities and God will give them to you. I had prayed about opportunities for a while, and then God opened up this door in a way I wasn’t expecting at all. When we give ourselves to the Lord, He will use us.

God has put us in a particular context—Greenville, South Carolina. And that context has specific people in it. Let’s be salt and light right here. Sometimes, that requires a little creatividad.

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[1] https://statisticalatlas.com/United-States/Race-and-Ethnicity