Westhill Spanish Ministry

Mission Minded Evangelism

I will say to the north, Give up, and to the south, Do not withhold; bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the end of the earth, everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made (Isaiah 43:6,7).

When we look toward the idea of crossing geographical or cultural boundaries to spread the Gospel, we see this is not a new idea, in fact, it is a very old practice rooted in the Old Testament. The idea of being a mission minded church didnt start at the great commission; it has been part of His plan from the beginning. So, why do we have a Spanish work at Westhill? The answer is easy: it was all part of the plan! It may not have been as visible in the past for the congregation here at Westhill, but it is now! Gods purpose has always been to unite people under the banner of His name and we are trying to do all we can to make that true here. Cultural diversity and segregation may seem like dated ideologies; however, they are still alive and well today, even in the churches of Christ. It is not uncommon to go to a town where you have individual Anglo, African American, Hispanic and Mixed congregations worshiping just miles apart, following the same pattern to please and worship the same God! I wonder if this is what God had in mind for the one body that Jesus is head over called the church that we read about in Ephesians chapter four. I would say we can safely conclude from the numerous texts that talk about

mission minded evangelism such as: (Isa. 6:8, 43:6, 7; 2 Kings 17:27, 28; I Chron. 16:23, 24; Ps. 18:49, 96:3; Jon. 3:1, 2; Matt. 24:14, 28:19, 20; Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8), this is not the case. Look at the example we read about in the book of Acts on the day of Pentecost when the people were, bewildered because each one was hearing them speak in his own language (Acts 2:6). That is very much what is going on at Westhill. Maybe it is not as apparent as it was on the day of Pentecost but through the advent of new technology our Spanish speaking brethren are hearing the gospel in their own language too! Well, that is exactly what our mission is here at Westhill in our Spanish ministry, to make the blessed Gospel readily available for all people of all walks of life, regardless of cultural boundaries. The elders and ministers here have seen a need, acknowledged the need and are now all together trying to meet that need. It isnt a need to start a new congregation here in our area; it is a need that calls us all to be one, to worship in unity and to give unto every man the gospel in a way that they can understand.

Andy Chavarrilla, Evangelist (Director or Conexiones) 903.872.5696 office

903.354.4078 mobile achavarrilla@gmail.com

How does a church reach the Hispanic community? Our answer is Conexiones a newly designed program to bring together churches,

Since the family is key, and we want to set up generations of success, this program isnt just for adults! We have reached out to our congregation and community for help. The same nights that parents and adults are engaged in learning, so too are their kids and others! Westhill has been blessed with many members being in the education field that have volunteered their time Monday night to help students grades K-12 with homework and tutoring. While many parents spend lots of time focused on their childrens success, they forget about themselves. Well, here is just another way we are focusing on the success of a family. It is here that we will also implement our Stepping Stones initiative. Conexiones has partnered with Stepping Stones to help those students who need more than just a Monday night tutor. Stepping Stones provides enrolled students with a successful conservative, Christian mentor. Why would a church want to get involved with something like this? Well in the state of Texas the projection of Hispanic growth is no secret. We are growing in number yearly. However, the number among unemployed Hispanics is increasing as well, as is the number of students dropping out of High School and College. Here is a chance to bring people together. Now is the time to make a connection!

communities and individual cultures through education. We here at Westhill in Corsicana, TX are prepared and gearing up to launch our program here. Conexiones is specially tailored to reach the Hispanic family unit and strengthen them on all levels. First, we will be offering Adult ESL (English as a Second Language) classes that focus on proficiency in face to face interaction, providing essential skills in placement or advancement in the job market. Our classroom curriculum is second to none and is utilized by many universities and colleges across the nation. While we will be using textbook curriculum, we understand there is more to success than just a book. As the class progresses, we will bring in native English speakers and have immediate interaction and conversation. To add to successful community integration, we will also include required readings from newspapers and other materials with information on current events. Our course goes throughout the year and breaks are given according to the CISD schedule because we understand family time is important!

Andy Chavarrilla, Evangelist (Director or Conexiones) 903.872.5696 office 903.354.4078 mobile achavarrilla@gmail.com