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Welcome to the:

Department of Hispanic Ministries

The Hispanic work began in the Gulf States Conference in 1991 when Jesus and Clara Cisneros moved to Mississippi.  They visited Meridian where they began giving Bible studies to Hispanics living in the area.  In a short time, they had forty people attending meetings at Pine Forest Academy on Sabbaths.

In 1997, the Conference appointed Evan Valencia as the first Hispanic coordinator.   A year later the conference asked Tui Pitman to take that position.

The Hispanic church has had rapid growth.  Baptisms in 2005 accounted for nearly half the baptisms of the Conference.  Two Hispanic pastors baptized over one hundred souls that year.  At present, there are five churches, four companies and seven groups.  During the last five years five churches have been purchased.  We have three full-time pastors, one part-time pastor and one Bible worker who care for close to eight hundred Hispanic members in this conference.

The Hispanics have formed youth and laymen federations whose objective is to win souls.  They meet several times a year to study methods of sould winning and to plan activities.  Hispanic  youth summer camp is always full.  Each pastor has formed small group ministries in his district and four to five evangelistic campaigns are conducted each year.  In 2005, Pastor Bullon from the South American Division conducted a reaping campaign.  Nearly one hundred persons were baptized.  There have been two lay training sessions for our Hispanic members provided by the Southern Union.  Our Conference subsidized members who attended.  Hispanic camp meeting continues to grow each year with capacity crowds.  Each year, Hispanic pastors from the Gulf States Conference have conducted evangelistic meetings in South America.  Hundreds have been baptized as a result.  Last year five pastors from Peru held meetings in our Conference.