HIALEAH— During this year’s Thanksgiving celebration at Iglesia Bautista Northside, 23 individuals publicly expressed their faith in Christ through baptism, making it one of the church’s most memorable holiday events. Among these were seven young members from Northside English, the church’s English-language congregation led by Pastor Noel Morera.

One of the men baptized came to Northside English after Pastor Morera met him in the church parking lot. Initially a devout Jehovah’s Witness, he started meeting with Morera weekly to study the Gospel of John. Through these discussions and his increasing understanding of Jesus, he put his faith in Christ and publicly expressed his new life through baptism on Thanksgiving morning.

The day started early with church members assembling at Miami Beach’s South Pointe for their beloved annual sunrise service. With the sky gradually brightening over the Atlantic, the congregation came together to worship, express thanks for God’s faithfulness, and contemplate His influence in their lives.

Once the sun was fully risen, the church family came back to the Hialeah campus for a hearty breakfast and fellowship. The morning was alive with laughter, testimonies, and conversations before everyone assembled in the sanctuary for worship and a short message from Pastor Alberto Ocaña.

The 23 baptisms stood as a strong reminder of God’s continuous work through Iglesia Bautista Northside and its ministries. At the end of the service, Pastor Ocaña urged the congregation to enter the Christmas season with hearts filled with gratitude and obedience. His message was straightforward: “Be thankful, follow Christ, and serve Christ.”

La reunión atrajo aproximadamente a 450 personas que representaban a 55 iglesias bautistas hispanas de las regiones del Sudeste, Suroeste, Centro y Este. Debido a que las regiones del Norte y Oeste estaban bajo vigilancia de tormenta tropical, las personas de esas regiones no pudieron realizar el viaje.

Durante su mensaje bíblico, el pastor de Northside, Alberto Ocaña, extendió una invitación a todos los que deseaban responder al llamado al ministerio de misiones.

“No es suficiente ir a la iglesia el domingo; tenemos que llevar el mensaje del evangelio al mundo perdido”, dijo. “Si no somos proactivos en compartir el evangelio, muchos se perderán y la iglesia no crecerá”.

Muchos respondieron al llamado por primera vez, mientras que otros renovaron su compromiso de vivir sus vidas en misión.

En el evento estuvo presente Moisés Bermúdez, un joven miembro de la Iglesia Bautista Dios es Bueno en Daytona Beach, quien pasó tres meses como misionero en Puerto Rico a través de una asociación con Send Relief de la Junta de Misiones de América del Norte. Una docena de plantadores de iglesias hispanos que representan a todas las regiones de Florida también estuvieron presentes, mostrando la cultura de envío entre las iglesias hispanas que está creciendo.

Manny Barahona, presidente de la Confraternidad, animó a los reunidos a estar en misión “porque Dios está con nosotros”. También compartió su sueño para las iglesias hispanas en Florida.

“Mi sueño es que nuestras iglesias bautistas en Florida sigan creciendo en el nombre de Jesús, que sigan levantando hombres y mujeres que prediquen el evangelio, que cada año se bauticen más personas, que cada año más iglesias trabajen juntas. Y, cuando nos reunimos como lo estamos haciendo hoy, podemos hablar de las grandes cosas que Dios está haciendo entre nosotros”.

Además de escuchar al nuevo vicepresidente de Send Network en español, José Abella, el grupo también vio un video de la Junta de Misiones Internacionales que celebra cómo los hispanos están en misión en todo el mundo. En el video aparecen tres pastores y tres mujeres bautistas de Florida que viajaron a España para trabajar junto a misioneros hispanos que buscan llegar a los inmigrantes musulmanes. Estos pastores siguen viajando a la región como parte de su asociación con la Junta de Misiones Internacionales.

Tommy Green, director ejecutivo y tesorero de la Convención Bautista de Florida, aunque no pudo asistir a la reunión, envió un mensaje en video. “Mi corazón está lleno de alegría y gratitud por cómo hemos estado juntos en la misión. Hay muchas cosas que podrían separarnos, pero hemos elegido estar unidos por el evangelio de Cristo”.

The gathering drew approximately 450 individuals representing 55 Hispanic Baptist churches from the Southeast, Southwest, Central and East regions. Because the North and West regions were under tropical storm watch, individuals from those regions were unable to make the trip.

During his biblical message, Northside pastor Alberto Ocaña extended an invitation to all who desired to respond to a calling to missions ministry.

“It’s not enough to go to church on Sunday; we have to take the gospel message to the lost world,” he said. “If we are not proactive in sharing the gospel, many will be lost, and the church will not grow.”

Many answered the call for the first time, while others renewed their commitment to live their lives on mission.

Present at the event was Moises Bermudez, a young member of Iglesia Bautista Dios es Bueno in Daytona Beach, who spent three months as a missionary in Puerto Rico through a partnership with the North American Mission Board’s Send Relief. A dozen Hispanic church planters representing all regions of Florida were also in attendance, showcasing the sending culture among Hispanic churches that is growing.

Manny Barahona, president of the Fellowship, encouraged those gathered to be on mission “because God is with us.” He also shared his dream for Hispanic churches in Florida.

“My dream is that our Baptist churches in Florida will continue to grow in the name of Jesus, that they may continue to raise up men and women who will preach the gospel, that every year more people will be baptized, that every year more churches will work together. And, when we gather like we are doing today, we can talk about the great things God is doing among us.”

In addition to hearing from Send Network’s Español new vice president Jose Abella, the group also watched a video from the International Mission Board celebrating how Hispanics are on mission across the globe. Featured in the video were three Florida Baptist pastors and three Florida Baptist women who traveled to Spain to work alongside Hispanic missionaries reaching Muslim immigrants. Those pastors continue to travel to the region as part of their partnership with the International Mission Board.

Tommy Green, executive director-treasurer of the Florida Baptist Convention, although unable to attend the gathering, sent a video message. “My heart is full of joy and gratitude for how we have been together on mission. There are many things that could separate us, but we have chosen to be united for the gospel of Christ.”

HIALEAH— El culto matutino del domingo 28 de julio en la Iglesia Bautista Northside fue un poco diferente porque el día marcó el 25 aniversario del ministerio pastoral de Alberto Ocaña.

Ocaña, originario de Cuba, fue homenajeado por la Convención Bautista del Occidente de Cuba, así como por la Convención Bautista de Florida.

Delvis Acuña, secretario general del Seminario Bautista de La Habana y secretario general de la Convención Bautista del Occidente de Cuba, viajó desdeCuba para otorgarle a Ocaña en nombre de esas organizaciones un broche de fidelidad en el ministerio como es costumbre en Cuba.

“Nuestra convención da un reconocimiento especial cuando los pastores completan 25 años de ministerio activo en sus iglesias, y es un broche de fidelidad que queremos, en nombre de la Convención Bautista del Occidente de Cuba, otorgar en este momento al pastor Ocaña y a su esposa Oneida y de esta manera, expresamos nuestra gratitud por su servicio y el reconocimiento a lo que hacen”, dijo Acuña.

Ocaña junto con su esposa, Oneida, su hija Aileen y su hijo Alberto Jr., emigraron a los Estados Unidos el 24 de julio de 1993. Su formación musical lo llevó a ser llamado por la Primera Iglesia Hispana Bautista de Hialeah como ministro de música, un papel que desempeñó durante cinco años hasta que fue llamado a dirigir la Iglesia Bautista Northside. El 1 de junio de 1999, Ocaña comenzó a pastorear Northside, una de las iglesias hispanas más grandes del sur de la Florida.

“Cuando era un niño, recuerdo cuando le dieron este prendedor a mi padre… A menudo oraba para que Dios me permitiera llegar a este momento y, para Su gloria, el día ha llegado”, dijo Ocaña.

Ocaña ha llevado a Northside a estar en misión no solo a nivel local, a través de asociaciones con otras iglesias hispanas y satisfaciendo las necesidades de las personas de la comunidad, sino también a nivel internacional, acompañando a iglesias en el extranjero, incluidas las iglesias en Cuba.

“Expresamos nuestra gratitud también por su servicio, en términos de la obra bautista en Cuba”, dijo Acuña. “Viendo aquí también entre las banderas, que ustedes tienen del trabajo misionero que han hecho en otros países de América Latina, está [la bandera cubana]. Gracias, Pastor, porque sin duda usted no solo representa una bendición para la iglesia local sino también para otras iglesias y para otros siervos de Dios en la nación cubana”.

En la familia Northside, Ocaña ha cultivado una cultura de amor y aliento para todos. Algunas de sus frases más conocidas son, “En la Iglesia Bautista Northside, todos son bienvenidos” y “Adelante con valor”. Es querido por la congregación por estar presente en sus momentos de necesidad y enviarles mensajes musicales en sus cumpleaños y otros días especiales. Sintiendo la necesidad de alcanzar a la próxima generación de hispanos, Ocaña llevó a la iglesia a lanzar un servicio en inglés que promedia 100 personas para el culto dominical.

Emanuel Roque, catalizador de ministerios hispanos de la Convención Bautista de Florida, también honró a Ocaña en nombre de los bautistas de Florida. “Su Convención Bautista de Florida y el Dr. Tommy Green reconocen y envían saludos. Aquí tenemos un regalo que dice: “Reverendo Alberto Ocaña 25 años como pastor” y en su interior tiene un bolígrafo de plata tallado con su nombre de la misma manera que Dios lo ha llamado a usted y ha tallado su vida con su llamado junto con su familia. Que Dios continúe usando su vida para escribir el resto de la historia de fe”.

Ocaña es miembro de la Junta Estatal de Misiones de la Convención Bautista de Florida y fue uno de los nueve miembros del Comité de Búsqueda de Director Ejecutivo-Tesorero.

HIALEAH— Sunday morning worship at Iglesia Bautista Northside was a little different on July 28 because the day marked Alberto Ocaña’s pastoral ministry’s 25^th anniversary.

Ocaña, originally from Cuba, was honored by the Baptist Convention of Western Cuba as well as the Florida Baptist Convention.

Delvis Acuña, general secretary of the Havana Baptist Seminary and the general secretary of the Baptist Convention of Western Cuba, traveled from the island country to bestow on Ocaña on behalf of those organizations a pin of faithfulness in ministry as is customary in Cuba.

“Our convention gives special recognition when pastors complete 25 years of active ministry in their churches, and it is a faithful button that we want, on behalf of the Baptist Convention of Western Cuba, to grant at this time to pastor Ocaña and his wife Oneida and in this way, we express our gratitude for their service and recognition of what they do,” said Acuña.

Ocaña along with his wife, Oneida, daughter Aileen and son Alberto Jr., immigrated to the United States on July 24, 1993. His musical background led him to be called by the Primera Iglesia Hispana Bautista de Hialeah as minister of music, a role which he filled for five years until he was called to lead Iglesia Bautista Northside. On June 1, 1999, Ocaña began to pastor Northside, one of the largest Hispanic churches in South Florida.

“When I was a young boy, I remember when my father was given this pin … I often prayed that God would allow me to reach this moment and to His glory, the day is here,” said Ocaña.

Ocaña has led Northside to be on mission not only locally, through partnerships with other Hispanic churches and by meeting needs of people in the community, but also internationally, coming alongside churches abroad, including churches in Cuba.

“We express our gratitude also for your service, in terms of the Baptist work in Cuba,” said Acuña. “Seeing here also among the flags, that you have of the missionary work that you have done in other Latin American countries, is [the Cuban flag]. Thank you, Pastor, because without a doubt you not only represent a blessing for the local church but also for other churches and for other servants of God in the Cuban nation.”

In the Northside family Ocaña has cultivated a culture of love and encouragement to all. Some of his most known catchphrases are, “At Iglesia Bautista Northside, everyone is welcome,” and “Move forward with courage.” He is beloved by the congregation for being present in their times of need and sending them musical messages on their birthdays and other special days. Sensing the need to reach the next generation of Hispanics, Ocaña led the church to launch an English service that averages 100 people for Sunday worship.

Emanuel Roque, Hispanic ministries catalyst of the Florida Baptist Convention, also honored Ocaña on behalf of Florida Baptists. “Your Florida Baptist Convention and Dr. Tommy Green acknowledge and send greetings. Here we have a gift that says, ‘Reverend Alberto Ocaña 25 Years Pastor,’ and inside it has a silver pen carved with your name in the same way that God has called you and has carved your life with His calling along with your family. May God continue using your life to write the rest of the story of faith.”

Ocaña serves on the Florida Baptist Convention’s State Board of Missions and was one of the nine members on the Executive Director-Treasurer Search Committee.

Las olas están surgiendo. A medida que oleada tras oleada de inmigrantes ingresa a Estados Unidos, los Bautistas de Florida están aprovechando la ola y compartiendo el amor de Dios con aquellos de países internacionales que buscan comenzar una nueva vida en el Estado del Sol.

Inmigrantes de Cuba, Haití, América Central, México y otros lugares del mundo están llegando a Florida en lo que algunos líderes describen como “el aumento migratorio más grande” de la historia, y el aumento está lejos de terminar.

Muchas personas que llegan a Florida desde otros países son solicitantes de asilo o refugiados, que “huyen de circunstancias difíciles. Están atravesando viajes peligrosos para llegar a Estados Unidos”, dijo Emanuel Roque, catalizador de la iglesia hispana de los bautistas de Florida.

“Una vez que están aquí, los amamos.”

Immigrants from Cuba, Haiti, Central America, Mexico and other places throughout the world are descending upon Florida in what some leaders describe as “the largest surge in migration” ever, and the surge is far from over.

Many individuals arriving in Florida from other countries are asylum-seekers or refugees, who are “fleeing difficult circumstances. They are going through dangerous journeys to get to America,” said Emanuel Roque, Florida Baptists’ Hispanic church catalyst.

“Once they are here, we love them.

“We are privileged to be in this place that God has called us to as part of His plan. He has been developing and preparing generations of Florida Baptists to reach the Florida mission field.”

He described Florida Baptists’ role with immigrants as “rescue 911.” When the Surfside condominium collapsed in 2021 in a Miami suburb, first responders had no time to rest, he said, as they desperately sought to rescue victims. Likewise, Roque said, Florida Baptists are “first responders” to many of today’s immigrants who need immediate ministry. First responders have no time to waste talking, debating or dealing with political ideologies or strategies.

Myles Dowdy, missions and ministry lead catalyst for the Florida Baptist Convention, agreed, “We’re not going to get political about immigration. We’re going to get spiritual about it. We are going to minister and witness to those coming into our state. We’re going to love on them.”

Roque has a personal passion for ministry to immigrants. Decades ago, his parents immigrated from Cuba to New York City, where Roque was born. When the young Roque was only a year old, his parents moved the family to Miami, where they helped plant Iglesia Bautista Resurrecciòn in Miami. There, Roque made his profession of faith in Jesus as his Savior and was baptized and discipled.

Through the years, “Florida Baptists have had a heart and clear understanding that we are in a state that is a mission field. Florida Baptist have been there when opportunities arise to help churches share the gospel,” Roque said.

Ministry hubs

As a part of catching the wave of immigrants, Florida Baptists, in partnership with Send Relief, have designated several churches as immigration ministry hubs with specific focus on reaching immigrants with Hispanic or Haitian heritage. These churches have long ministered to immigrants, and their designation as ministry hubs provides additional funding and resources for their outreach efforts. These ministry hub churches also provide resources and training for other Florida Baptist churches wanting to launch or strengthen ministry to immigrants and offer opportunities for more Southern Baptists to become involved in hands-on mission service.

‘God’s expression of love’

Betesda Baptist Church in Miami, pastored by Frank Rodriquez, is intentionally ministering to immigrants coming their way. For Rodriquez, ministering to refugees and immigrants is personal. In 2012, he immigrated to Florida from Cuba, where he had served as a pastor for more than two decades. Once settled, Rodriquez immediately began planting Betesda in Miami, purchasing property in 2021.

For the past four to five months, the church has housed 17 immigrants in its church building. Otherwise, these individuals would be sleeping on the street, Rodriquez said. “These people have nothing … nothing,” he emphasized.

Early every Sunday morning, the church classrooms where the immigrants live are thoroughly cleaned in preparation for Bible study and worship.

“We have helped them in many ways: financially, materially and spiritually,” he said. “They have received God’s love through us. They have seen the hand of God through our generosity. They are shocked by so much love received. … We exist to be God’s expression of love to this world in need.”

Already, 11 of the 17 have been baptized.

“When the church blesses the community, the Lord blesses the church,” he said.

‘Lives served and gospel shared’

The acrostic for immigrant ministry at Iglesia Bautista Northside in Hialeah, where Alberto Ocaña serves as pastor, is SHAWL: Sharing Help/Assistance With Love. For the past several months, the church has served the immigrant community in dozens of practical ways.

From providing housing to making connections with attorneys who help with legal paperwork to enrolling children in school to teaching English, the church has been at the forefront of welcoming its new neighbors. The list continues to grow of how the church is helping those new to American soil. As the practical needs of immigrants are met, relationships are strengthened and opportunities to share the gospel grow exponentially.

From the beginning of the ministry, pastor Ocaña explained, the church has been seeking to connect with the immigrants so that they might hear and respond to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Iglesia Bautista Northside’s outreach to the immigrant community is a “wonderful expression of what this church is doing to see lives served, and the gospel shared in word and deed,” said Roque.

‘From voice to voice … the church can help’

Carlos Carbonell, pastor of Iglesia Bautista Doral, described a challenging reality in his Christian compassion.

“Because of my conservative background, I have always thought that borders should be protected and that immigration is done legally. But we have realized that this is not the reality in this context and that our Christian responsibility is to minister to them,” he said.

He spoke of Gustavo who showed up at the church with his father and mother, seeking prayer for his children who were desperately seeking to cross the border. The pastor became personally involved in Gustavo’s heartbreak. Eventually the children crossed the border, finding their way to the church, where other young people “loved them and ministered to them.

“From voice to voice, people in need have found out that the church can help them,” he said.

Another young man, Juan Carlos, arrived at the church because he had nowhere to stay. Local shelters were full. Iglesia Bautista Doral paid for a hotel room for the night, and members began to pray. A church member stepped forward, stating that he had an apartment with three months left on his lease. Juan Carlos and another immigrant moved into the apartment. As church members helped the two become acclimated to Florida and look for work, the immigrants were able to begin paying rent and building their new lives.

Ministry to immigrants, Carbonell said, “arose organically, and we accepted the challenge,” adding that he is grateful for support from the Florida Baptist Convention.

Such stories are being repeated over and over throughout Florida, Roque said.

“With the gospel love of Jesus Christ, we want to spread out the welcome mat­–to love and minister” to those immigrating to Florida.

“In each wave, God brings those who will serve, and He develops a heart within the next generation to serve as He leads.”

By Margaret Colson with Keila Diaz

MIAMI (BP) — En medio de uno de las oleadas más grandes a nivel mundial del COVID-19, los pastores que sirven en la fuertemente azotada comunidad hispana están sufriendo enfermedades en sus respectivas congregaciones mientras continúan su ministerio.

Emanuel Roque, catalizador de iglesias hispanas de la Convención Bautista de Florida (FBC), dijo que en varias iglesias hispanas, los pastores y algunos miembros han dado positivo y se están recuperando. Se incluye la Iglesia Bautista El Faro en Marathon, donde varios miembros estaban entre un grupo de más de 20 que contrajeron la enfermedad cuando asistieron a un campamento no relacionado con la iglesia en Tennessee en junio.

El 2 de julio, Tony Salmerón, quien pastoreaba la Iglesia Bautista Central en Ocala, murió de complicaciones derivadas del coronavirus. Él tenía 60 años. En abril, el pastor Moisés Abella Díaz de la Iglesia Bautista Rescate en el suburbio de Hialeah en Miami también murió del virus, reportó la FBC.

“Todos los pastores que yo conozco han sido muy cuidadosos con sus iglesias siguiendo los protocolos para la reapertura y los ministerios,” dijo Roque. “Sin embargo, debido a que son trabajadores y ministros espirituales de primera línea que se relacionan con muchas personas, algunos se han infectado de alguna manera al tener contacto con otros que pueden haber sido asintomáticos.

“Su llamado pastoral para servir y ayudar a aquellos en necesidad en el nombre de Jesús se ha mostrado cuando han estado entre el COVID-19 con cuidado y preocupación, pero con los peligros del mundo real justo como lo hizo Jesús cuando vino a un planeta lastimado lleno de dolor. Sin embargo, el amor prevaleció y todavía lo hace.”

El New York Times el miércoles (8 de julio) clasificó a Florida en segundo lugar después de Arizona en nuevos casos a nivel mundial la semana pasada, con casi 3,000 nuevas infecciones por el millón de residentes.

En su actualización de COVID-19 del jueves (9 de julio), el Departamento de Salud de Florida reportó que los hispanos suman 22,881 de los actuales 55,352 casos del virus en el condado Miami-Dade. A nivel estatal, los hispanos suman 62,159 casos de COVID-19 entre 229,367 casos.

Julio Arriola, director ejecutivo de movilización y relaciones hispanas del Comité Ejecutivo de la Convención Bautista del Sur, dijo que el COVID-19 ha “creado un sentido de urgencia en los corazones de muchos creyentes por compartir las Buenas Nuevas de Jesús a muchos.”

“Me recuerda,” dijo Arriola, “la escena de esa película en la que el joven soldado cristiano sigue volviendo al calor de la batalla para rescatar a los soldados heridos mientras ora: ‘Señor, ayúdame a alcanzar a uno más.’ Necesitamos recordar que estamos en una batalla espiritual. Necesitamos orar para que el Señor nos ayude a alcanzar a una persona más con el Evangelio de Jesús.”

Él expresó dolor por la pérdida de Abella Díaz y Salmerón, quienes dijo “literalmente dieron su vida en el campo de batalla para salvar a otros.”

Pastorear se ha vuelto más difícil a medida que la pandemia se dispara en el estado.

“Tan solo al hablar con pastores, en su mundo cotidiano, están confrontando más y más asuntos que están relacionados con el COVID, con miembros enfermos, con la gente alrededor de ellos en sus comunidades que tienen COVID,” dijo Roque. “Más allá del tema de la reapertura y hacerlo de la manera correcta … ellos tienen que rápida y diariamente navegar cómo ministrar a la iglesia y a la comunidad. COVID, sí, ha sido real durante tres meses, pero es mucho más fuerte y está en su cara cada día.”

En Hialeah, la Iglesia Bautista Northside tiene cuatro casos positivos, incluyendo al pastor asociado, su esposa, su hija, y otro miembro. El pastor sénior Alberto Ocaña y su esposa esperaban los resultados de la prueba el miércoles (8 de julio), de acuerdo con Carlos Finale, pastor en inglés en Northside.

La iglesia está reconsiderando volver a los cultos solamente en línea.

“La semana pasada, comenzó a golpear el hogar un poquito más de cerca,” dijo Finale. “Así que estamos un poquito preocupados. Estamos obviamente cumpliendo con las directrices de los Centros para el Control y Prevención de Enfermedades (CDC). … Nuestro mensaje principal a la iglesia hasta ahora ha sido: ‘Todavía estamos haciendo todo para protegernos a nosotros mismos y a la comunidad, y esperamos que no se esparza aún más en nuestra iglesia.”

La iglesia pasó a los cultos en línea al inicio de la pandemia, pero siguió los plazos gubernamentales al reanudar los cultos en las instalaciones, dijo Finale. Ha sido difícil para Northside, con un promedio de 550 creyentes en los tres domingos antes de la pandemia, decidir la mejor manera de continuar llenando las necesidades de la congregación.

“Teníamos a algunas personas que estaban muy emocionadas de regresar, probablemente, querían regresar a la atmósfera congregacional y familiar que la iglesia ofrece,” dijo Finale. “Pero también había una dinámica, que separa grupos que estaban temerosos, que si nos íbamos a reunir, y que hay personas que son asintomáticas, entonces … es difícil. Yo diría que ha sido un acto de malabarismo de la iglesia tratar de descifrar ese terreno neutral.”

Arriola supuso que las iglesias perseverarían en el ministerio durante la pandemia.

“Nuestras iglesias pueden o no regresar a los cultos en línea, pero no nos retiraremos,” dijo. “La iglesia siempre ha prosperado en medio de las pruebas y las tribulaciones. Estamos agradecidos por líderes como Emanuel Roque que están constantemente animando y preparando pastores para enfrentar situaciones como esta para cosechar almas para la gloria de Dios.”

La FBC ha animado a las congregaciones hispanas durante la pandemia teniendo reuniones de oración vía ZOOM, ayuda financiera y recursos educativos pertinentes incluyendo seminarios web con diferentes expertos.

Las iglesias continúan ministrando más allá de sus puertas. Roque dijo que en el centro de Florida las iglesias hispanas están realizando recolección de alimentos para ayudar a las comunidades en necesidad. A nivel estatal, los pastores hispanos están buscando maneras de responder a las comunidades de las iglesias en Cuba, Venezuela y Nicaragua donde el virus también se está esparciendo. En Nicaragua solamente, dijo Roque, por lo menos 60 pastores evangélicos han muerto, siete de ellos bautistas.

“Le pedimos a nuestra familia extendida de la SBC que ore por estos y todos los pastores cuando se ponen en la brecha para ministrar en estos tiempos,” dijo Roque. “Amen, apoyen y bendigan a todos los pastores mientras verdaderamente tratan de hacer lo mejor para ministrar en condiciones desconocidas.”

Roque mencionó a varios pastores hispanos más que han dado positivo al COVID-19 y están en varias etapas de recuperación.

— Ángel Bermúdez y su esposa Yadira, en la etapa previa al lanzamiento de la plantación de una iglesia en Daytona Beach.

— Jorge Lugo, pastor de la Iglesia Bautista Sion en Miami Springs, quien estuvo hospitalizado pero se está recuperando.

— Eligio Julio Varela, pastor de la Iglesia Bautista Rey de Paz en Hialeah.

— Miguel Aguilar, su esposa Dayri y sus tres hijos. Aguilar pastorea la Primera Iglesia Bautista Hispana de Delray Beach en Delray Beach.

— Reniel Castillo, su esposa Janet, los suegros y su hijito de un año. Castillo es pastor asociado de la Iglesia Bautista Getsemaní en Miami.

— La hermana mayor de Salvador Negrin, un laico que sirve en las iglesias como consejero de salud mental, murió del virus.

— Carlos Miguel González, pastor asociado de la Primera Iglesia Bautista Hispana en Coral Park.

En la Iglesia Bautista El Faro en Marathon, Fla., donde varios miembros contrajeron el virus durante un viaje de campamento, el pastor Adrián Ramos le dijo a Roque que planea tener los cultos solamente en el formato en línea durante las próximas dos semanas. Todas las familias que tuvieron el COVID-19 se han recuperado totalmente, dijo Ramos, quien les agradeció a los bautistas del sur sus oraciones y encomió a todas las iglesias por ministrar durante la pandemia.

Los hispanos comprenden el 26.4 por ciento de la población de Florida de 21.48 millones de personas, y 69.4 por ciento de los 2.7 millones de personas en el condado Miami-Dade, de acuerdo con las estadísticas del Censo de EE.UU. 2019.

Por Diana Chandler, BP News, July 14, 2020

MIAMI (BP) — In the middle of one of the highest COVID-19 surges worldwide, pastors serving Florida’s hard-hit Hispanic community are suffering illnesses among their own family members and their congregations while continuing their ministry.

Emanuel Roque, Florida Baptist Convention’s Hispanic church catalyst, said he knows of 13 pastors who have either tested positive or have had a family member test positive for the coronavirus. Others have church members who are recovering.

Calling the pastors “frontline spiritual workers,” who are fully engaged despite the dangers of the disease,  Roque said, “All pastors that I know have been very careful with their churches to follow protocol for reopening and ministering.”

“But because they are frontline spiritual workers and ministers relating to many people, some have been somehow infected in contact with others who may have been asymptomatic.

“Their pastoral calling to serve and help those in need in Jesus’ name has been shown as they have been among COVID-19 with care and concern, but with the real world dangers just like Jesus did when He came to a pain-filled and hurting planet. Yet love prevailed and still does.”

Among the congregations coping with the illness is El-Faro Baptist Church in Marathon, where many members were among a group of more than 20 who contracted the illness while attending a non-church related camp in Tennessee in June. Pastor Adrian Ramos told Roque he plans to hold worship in an online-only format for the next two weeks. All families who had COVID-19 have fully recovered.

On July 2 Tony Salmeron, who serves Iglesia Bautista Central in Ocala, died of complications from the coronavirus. He was 60. In April, Pastor Moises Abella Diaz of Iglesia Bautista Rescate in the Miami suburb of Hialeah also died of the virus.

The New York Times on July 8 ranked Florida second to only Arizona in new cases worldwide in the past week, with nearly 3,000 new infections per million residents.

In its July 9 COVID-19 update, the Florida Department of Health reported that Hispanics account for 22,881 of the current 55,352 cases of the virus in Miami-Dade County. Statewide, Hispanics account for 62,159 cases of COVID-19 among 229,367 cases.

In Hialeah, Iglesia Bautista Northside has four positive cases, including an associate pastor, his wife, their daughter, and another member. Senior pastor Alberto Ocana and his wife were awaiting test results according to Carlos Finale, Northside’s English pastor.

“The last week, it’s started to hit home a little bit closer,” Finale said. “So we’re a little worried. We’re obviously abiding by CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) guidelines. … Our main message so far to the church has been, ‘We’re still doing everything to protect ourselves and the community, and we’re hoping that it doesn’t spread even further in our church.’”

The church moved to online worship early in the pandemic, but followed governmental timelines in resuming onsite worship, Finale said. It’s been difficult for Northside, which averaged about 550 worshipers in three Sunday services before the pandemic, to decide the best way to continue meeting the congregation’s needs.

Julio Arriola said churches will persevere in ministry during the pandemic.

“Our churches may or may not go back to online services, but we will not retreat,” he said. “The church has always thrived in the middle of trials and tribulations.

Hispanics comprise 26.4 percent of Florida’s population of 21.48 million people, and 69.4 percent of the 2.7 million people in Miami-Dade County, according to U.S. Census 2019 statistics.

by Diana Chandler, BP News, July 14, 2020

The food kit “was a great surprise,” Pulido said. “With a teenage boy and girl at home full time, the pantry needs supplies. They are hungry all the time,” she said.

“That box made me smile. It is a tangible example of the love of God and of my brothers in the faith, and His provision even during a pandemic,” she added.

The meal kit was among thousands delivered by semi-truck Thursday, April 23 to a storage warehouse in Doral. Once it arrived, volunteers unloaded 24 pallets of boxes filled with non-perishable items designed to supplement an individual’s diet for several days.

The boxes were available for needy families through a partnership between the Florida Baptist Convention and the State of Florida, which sent multiple semi-trucks each loaded with 3,450 boxes of meal kits for Florida Baptist churches to deliver in their communities. The number of hungry persons in the state has increased exponentially as the economy suffered during COVID-19.

By the end of the week, 92,800 boxes were distributed across the state by 82 Florida Baptist churches. Another 7,200 food boxes were dispersed during the last week of April to churches across North Florida—from Lake City to Pensacola.

Each box contained a variety of more than 35 items including crackers, applesauce, cereal, canned beans, sausages, packaged chicken and more.

“This is a supplemental amount of food for people in addition to other assistance they may have already received,” said Al Fernandez, southeast regional catalyst for the Florida Baptist Convention. “It’s a nice addition to what they already have.”

Jose Garcia, pastor of New Hope Church in Allapattah, owns the Doral warehouse where the boxes of food arrived. His church operates a food pantry ministry for the needy in their neighborhood.

The day after the boxes arrived in South Florida, volunteers from New Hope came to the warehouse to pack bags with food received through Feeding South Florida. The boxes donated by the state helped to round out the food portions available to each family.

“Churches with ongoing food ministries have been very thankful for the boxes,” said Marc Johnston, Florida Baptists’ community ministries catalyst. Many of their pantries have been depleted and with the number of hungry persons increasing, their sources for food have been decreasing. Some churches are using the contents to provide backpack lunches for out of school children.

Pura Peña, a member of Iglesia Bautista Northside in Hialeah who recently celebrated her 88^th birthday, was pleased to receive the box of food. “This is such a nice gesture,” she said after receiving it, adding that she hoped to share the food with her grandchildren and neighbors.

Iglesia Real in Hollywood sent a truck to collect 300 boxes to distribute to their church family and inner-city community. While the church does not have a food ministry, Pastor Martin Vargas wanted to provide the boxes to the hungry in his church and community. “These are items that someone who is pressed financially would not spend money on,” said the pastor.

Generosity attracts generosity, said Vargas, adding that a local grocer donated melons after hearing about the church’s drive-thru food distribution. That Saturday a team of 14 church volunteers and Hollywood mayor Josh Levy placed the food boxes and melons in the trunks of cars driving through the church parking lot.

In just over an hour all the food had been distributed.

Reflecting on the day, Mayor Levy commented, “Beautiful day and beautiful spirit. Thank you, Pastor Vargas for helping to shine a bright light on the spirit of the city.”

Across the state, the boxes of food were shared by Florida Baptist churches.

–In Lakeland, Mt. Tabor Baptist church donated the boxes to homeless families throughout Polk County.

–In Central Florida, 4,800 food boxes were given to churches with ongoing food pantries ministering to the needy in Tampa Bay. “Everyone is doing their part in the coronavirus pandemic,” said Jeffery Singletary, central Florida catalyst.

–In St. John and Putnam counties, Iglesia Anastasia joined 25 other churches to distribute the food boxes and groceries to families in their communities. “Thank you all for your time, generosity and sharing Christ’s love,” read a message on the church’s Facebook page.