September 24, 2024
NEW ORLEANS — The “Abre Mis Ojos” conference (Spanish for “open my eyes”) gathered more than 700 guests from the Hispanic community at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary last weekend on Sept. 20-21.
The third annual conference, developed by NOBTS as an intentional way to engage Hispanics, hosted guests from six states and more than 50 churches. The event saw a record number of youth attendees, and 14 different nationalities were represented among all guests.
Fabio Castellanos, director of Spanish online education at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, described the conference as a “miracle” for the Hispanic community.
“This is a unique initiative and team effort from the seminary and local Hispanic pastors,” Castellanos said. “It’s a miracle because it’s a special union and gathering of Southern Baptist Hispanics. I pray God continues to bless us in this way.”
Cory Barnes, dean of graduate studies for NOBTS, welcomed the crowd and explained how the conference connects to the mission of the institution.
“This conference and this night represent a profound blessing for us as a seminary,” Barnes said.
“Part of the vision for a seminary in New Orleans was to reach Hispanic peoples and equip Hispanic pastors in the Americas. Tonight is a reminder that through you and the pastors and leaders in this room, the Lord is gracious to allow us to participate in that work. It is also a reminder of the mission that the Lord has given us, and this mission is far bigger than the English language. I pray that this is a rich time of worship for you.”
The theme for this year’s conference was “The Character Matters.” Plenary speakers preached about the importance of Godly character and how to develop it.
Castellanos reminded attendees they have an active role to play in their own sanctification.
“From the Old Testament to the New Testament, God's call has been constant and unchanging: listen, believe, and obey,” Castellanos said.
“Individuals are called to actively present themselves, make choices, and live in a manner that reflects their commitment to God. This involvement is crucial for growth and transformation in their spiritual journey.”
Bill Warren, NOBTS professor of New Testament and Greek, spoke about the urgent need for Christian character in the midst of a broken world, and the Bible’s role as the guide for building such character.
“Our goal is to reflect the image of God in our words, actions, attitudes and thoughts,” Warren said.
“We have a role to play in the formation of our character in that God works with us in our lives. This means that we need to purposely make decisions to let God work in our lives and to work with God in the transformation of our lives. We are to seek to have the fruit of the spirit as the characteristics of our character.”
Bárbaro Abel Marrero, president of the Baptist Convention of Western Cuba and dean of the Baptist Theological Seminary of Havana, preached about the importance of authentic Christian character.
“The authenticity of Christian character is manifested by different kinds of tests, either adversity or prosperity,” Marrero said. “Actually, prosperity is a more difficult test for spiritual life than adversity.”
Breakout session topics included:
Exhibitors and partners at the conference included the New Orleans Baptist Association (NOBA), the Louisiana Baptist Association, Send Network, the International Mission Board (IMB) and Lifeway.
The conference is part of a specific emphasis NOBTS has placed on engaging the Hispanic community in the last several years.
Castellanos worked together with Barnes and NOBTS Provost Norris Grubbs to develop the seminary’s online Spanish program, which officially launched in the fall of 2021. This was followed by the first Abre Mis Ojos conference in 2022.
The online Spanish program’s first graduating class of seven master’s students walked this past spring.
Castellanos said the conference is playing a key role in connecting NOBTS to the Hispanic community and the Hispanic community to both the seminary and the broader SBC.
“This conference helps Hispanics feel more visible and more supported by the denomination,” Castellanos said.
“NOBTS is becoming an ally and a tool for the Hispanic community in the South. Reaching Hispanics helps support the mission of the seminary and provides spiritual nourishment for people.
“NOBTS is very close to the pastors of local Hispanic churches in the community. It shows that the seminary is a place designed to reach all people groups. Hispanics feel that it is also their seminary and it helps improve the spirit to Cooperate with the convention.
“I have people even asking me if the conference can be longer or if we can develop another conference specifically for Hispanic youth. All of these are great signs. I just pray we can just continue to grow little by little.”
Next year’s Abre Mis Ojos conference is scheduled for Sept. 19-20, 2025.
