AN HISTORICAL OVERVIEW OF HOW HISPANIC WORK BEGAN IN
THE USA AMONG PROTESTANT DENOMINATIONS AND CHURCH ASSOCIATIONS

 

By Clifton L. Holland, Director of PROLADES

 

Draft copy:  25 April 2010 

 

 

 

SOME OF THE KNOWN VARIABLES OF BEGINNING HISPANIC MINISTRY IN THE USA (see our chronology document and our “Historical Profiles of Protestant Denominations with Hispanic Ministry in the USA”)

 

• Returned Protestant missionaries from Latin America led the way for their respective denominations to begin outreach ministries in the USA among Hispanics (examples:  Northern and Southern Baptists, Congregational Church, Disciples of Christ, Presbyterians, Methodists, etc.).
• Evangelism and compassion ministries among Hispanics were begun by Anglo denominations as part of their Home Missions development, as well as to other ethnic groups (mainly immigrants).
• Some autonomous denominations and church associations were formed that were not related to any Anglo denomination, such as the Apostolic Assembly of Faith in Jesus Christ – Asamblea Apostólica de la Fe en Cristo Jesús (Southern California, 1906-1914), a “Jesus Only” (Oneness) Pentecostal group.
• Splits and divisions among existing Hispanic denominations led to the formation of new Hispanic denominations in the USA; for example, at least four denominations were founded as splits from the Latin American Council of Christian Churches – Concilio Latino-Americano de Iglesias Cristianas (CLADIC), founded in 1923 by the Rev. Francisco Olazábal and his associates.
• Latin American immigrants to the USA (mainly Mexicans and Puerto Ricans) who were Protestant believers sought out churches in the USA that were similar to those they attended in their home countries.
• Some evangelical pastors from Latin America immigrated to the USA in search of better economic opportunities for their families; they began to establish new Hispanic congregations in the USA or served as pastors of existing Hispanic churches or Hispanic Departments in Anglo churches.
• Some Anglo denominations invited Latin American pastors in their respective mission fields to relocate in the USA and help with Hispanic ministries.
• Some Latin American pastors came to the USA for advanced studies in universities, seminaries and Bible institutes; and during their studies or after they graduated, some began to pastor local Hispanic churches and remained in the USA (this represents a leadership drain on churches in Latin America).
• Some Protestant denominations in Latin America began to send their own pastors and missionaries to the USA to serve their migrating church members in major U.S. cities and other areas with high concentrations of Latin American immigrants; Puerto Rican denominations were major participants in this process.
• Individual Hispanics (native-born in the USA or immigrants) were converted to the Protestant faith and started their own churches and/or denominations.

 

The Historical Development of Protestant Hispanic Ministry in the USA

·         A Chronology of Significant Protestant Beginnings in Hispanic Ministry in the USA

·         Guide to Histories of Selected Protestant Hispanic Denominations and Ministries

·         Historical Profiles of Protestant Denominations with Hispanic Ministries in the USA: Listed by Major Religious Traditions and Denominational Families

·         A Basic Bibliography on Protestant Hispanic Ministry in the USA