October 24, 2024
Hispanic Missions Sunday is a day to celebrate the accomplishments and contributions of Hispanic International Mission Board missionaries and Hispanic churches as active partners with the International Mission Board in bringing the gospel to the nations. This year, the board is asking churches to observe Sept. 25 as Hispanic Missions Sunday.
In September, as the United States recognizes Hispanic Heritage Month, all Southern Baptist churches are invited to take time to celebrate and pray for what God is doing through Hispanic churches.
"We praise God for Hispanic churches sending missionaries to the nations and for Hispanic IMB missionaries, many of whom are serving among people groups who are hard to reach with the gospel," the mission organization said in a statement.
This is the second year that the IMB has specifically celebrated the achievements and contributions of Hispanic churches and missionaries in taking the gospel to every nation, tribe, people and language.
Oscar Tortolero, IMB’s Hispanic Church Mobilization Strategist, says that Hispanics are equipped in a unique way for missions. “They already know how to navigate other cultures; the majority are bilingual and oftentimes trilingual,” he explained.
Currently, there are about 3,500 Hispanic Southern Baptist congregations in the United States. It is estimated that within the next 15 to 20 years, the number of Hispanics will surge to 80 million people, making the U.S. the second largest Spanish-speaking country in the world.
“We have a big opportunity to mobilize Hispanic churches to pray, give, go and send,” Tortolero said.
