Churches committed to Hispanic ministry

Amy McCachren, representing John Calvin Presbyterian Church, signs a covenant agreement at Thyatira Church last Sunday to support the Ministerio Hispano de Rowan. Photo by Katie Scarvey.

Last year, this family came to the Thursday evening meetings of the Ministerio Hispano de Rowan, which recently rededicated its efforts to form a local hispanic ministry. Submitted photo.

The Rev. Jorge Alvarado is the new minister for Ministerio Hispano de Rowan. Alvarado spoke last Sunday morning at Thyatira Presbyterian Church of his hopes for a local hispanic ministry. Photo by Katie Scarvey for the Salisbury Post.

Joyce Ann Spiceland of First Presbyterian Church was a child care volunteer with Ministerio Hispano de Rowan when it had weekly meetings at Second Presbyterian Church last year. Submitted photo.

Mike Wilson, part of Ministerio Hispano de Rowan, works with a group of children last year at Second Presbyterian Church, where the program was originally held. Submitted photo.

By Katie Scarvey

kscarvey@salisburypost.com

In a sermon given last Sunday at Thyatira Presbyterian Church, Jorge Alvarado told a story about a teacher who had given an assignment to her third-graders.

They were asked to go home and count the number of stars they could see from their back yards.

Juanito saw 20. Maria and Peter saw 25 and 45, respectively.

Little Pepito reported back to his teacher that he had seen only five.

When asked why he had seen so few, Pepito replied: "My backyard is very small."

Alvarado was making a point about vision — about how sometimes people unnecessarily limit their vision of what is possible.

"We cannot live one minute without dreams or vision," Alvarado said.

Alvarado's message referred to the dream of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Alvarado's own dream concerns the spiritual future of Hispanic people.

"I see misery," he said. "A lot of people need Jesus Christ."

An ordained Presbyterian minister originally from Mexico, Alvarado is the new pastor for Ministerio Hispano de Rowan.

Representatives from five local Presbyterian churches were on hand at Thyatira's early service Sunday to sign a covenant renewal in support of the ministry.

First Presbyterian was represented by Dr. Mike Wilson, John Calvin by Amy McCachren, Prospect Presbyterian by Bill Tulbert, Thyatira Presbyterian by Mary Hall and Trinity Presbyterian by Annie Bates.

These five congregations have committed to support the Ministerio Hispano de Rowan through fostering connections with "our Hispanic brothers and sisters," addressing the spiritual, physical, social and emotional needs of the Hispanic community, among other things.

They have also agreed to support the ministry by praying on its behalf, contributing financially, providing one pastor and at least one other representative to serve on the planning team, and encouraging their congregants to volunteer in the ministry.

Alvarado moved here recently from the Sierra Blanca Presbytery in New Mexico, where he spent three years as a missionary.

Alvarado said that his plan for Rowan County is to begin Bible studies in various private homes and to eventually establish a self-sufficient Hispanic church.

Dr. Mike Wilson, who is on the Ministerio Hispano de Rowan planning team, said that 1 1/2 years ago, planning began for a local Hispanic ministry. And in fact, a "vigorous program" was established last year. Meetings were held at Second Presbyterian Church on Thursday evenings and included English classes, Bible study and parenting classes.

The program was led by "a great evangelist" Oscar Garcia, Wilson said.

Unfortunately, Garcia felt the need to return to Mexico, and as a result, the program stalled.

"There is a tendency to follow a charismatic leader rather than institutions," he explained.

With Alvarado on board now, Wilson says that he has high hopes that the program will be revitalized.

Alvarado will spend half his time in Rowan County and half in Hickory, where he is also starting a ministry.

Details of the ministry in Salisbury remain to be seen, Alvarado says. For now, he says, the goal is to simply bring people together, in the hopes that they will eventually coalesce into a congregation. In his sermon, he said that he believes the holy spirit has "prepared a field" here.

Alvarado's missionary efforts were successful in New Mexico; his church there attracted 25-30 new believers, he said.

Alvarado's wife, Socorro, is still in New Mexico. She just took her ordination exams, he said, and is waiting to hear the results. She will join her husband soon.

For more information, call Alvarado at 828-446- 8289.