Services highlight Spanish-language ministries
Rev. Owen Ross, Christ's Foundry Fellowship, Dallas, left, addresses the Spanish language revival congregation as Rev. Albano Tayengo, Kirkwood UMC, Irving, pauses for prayer.
The Oak Cliff Praise Band leads the music for the service.
BY JOHN A. LOVELACE
Special Correspondent
Four congregations prominent in the North Texas Conference’s Spanish-language ministries held a three-part revival March 5–7.
The first evening concentrated on personal revival, the second evening on congregational revival and the third evening on national revival.
The third and concluding service on national revival had a specific social-action objective: Support for the march in Washington, D.C., on Sunday, March 21, to reform immigration in America. At least one busload from North Texas, including many persons among the 200 or so at the final revival service, will make the four-day trip.
One could easily assume that the drive to reform immigration in America has very special meaning for many who came forward for prayer and to receive communion during the March 7 service focused on national revival.
The fact that the closing service was held at Lovers Lane UMC signaled longstanding ties between that large, predominantly Anglo congregation and those whose first language is Spanish, particularly those from nearby Christ’s Foundry (La Fundicion de Cristo) Fellowship.
In a carefully balanced rotation, all four Spanish-language congregations participated in leadership all three nights.
Rev. Owen Ross of Christ’s Foundry preached on personal revival March 5 at Oak Cliff UMC, and Kirkwood UMC provided the music.
Rev. Edgar Bazan of Oak Cliff preached on congregational revival March 6 at Kirkwood,
and Christ’s Foundry provided the music.
Rev. Albano Tayengo preached on national revival March 7 at Lovers Lane, and Oak Cliff provided the music. Casa Linda UMC provided children’s ministry each night.
For the closing sermon, Pastor Tayengo compared Lazarus at the gate to the undocumented immigrant seeking freedom. This immigrant, the tall, dynamic pastor said, “keeps going back out of the hope that through personal, congregational and national repentance this nation of immigrants can seek the way of the Lord.”
His 20-minute message elicited frequent “Amens,” virtually all from female worshipers, and applause punctuated several sermonic points. With one small exception, the entire service was in Spanish. Three strategically placed video screens displayed complementary visuals, including texts to praise songs. No message sank in deeper than this screen-filling announcement:
“Marcha para la Reforma Migratoria
21 de Marzo, 2010
Washington, D.C.”
A bulletin insert explained that the subsidized cost of the bus trip is $55 plus food. Registrations are available through Gabino Cortes of Christ’s Foundry, phone 214-664-3837.
