Is it time to move on?

[Jedi Knight]

Many churches have left a certain part of Texas because of the demographic change"mosty Spanish speaking". If a church is surrounded by a community of Spanish speaking people should the church hire a Spanish speaker....sell the church to the community or hunker down and stay an English speaking church?

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Many churches have left a certain part of Texas because of the demographic change"mosty Spanish speaking". If a church is surrounded by a community of Spanish speaking people should the church hire a Spanish speaker....sell the church to the community or hunker down and stay an English speaking church?

Oh man...tough question. Do these people even make an attempt tointegrate & speak english ? You caneven at least work with folks trying to be citizens

Then is crime increasing...do you feel safe? Dude...those are your indicators.

 

[Jedi Knight]

Oh man...tough question. Do these people even make an attempt tointegrate & speak english or they (& hope you will excuse the expression) being beaners? You caneven at least work with folks trying to be citizens

Then is crime increasing...do you feel safe? Dude...those are your indicators.

Well also can you really have a good group "church members" that don't reach the community verbally except food donations? I agree that they should try to learn english but thats a pipedream "not dream act" lol for the most part.

 

[Bronconagurski]

Well also can you really have a good group "church members" that don't reach the community verbally except food donations? I agree that they should try to learn english but thats a pipedream "not dream act" lol for the most part.

Why can't the church set up a ministry to teach them English? We have RU, MOPS, Grief Share, etc, so why not teach English? It's at least worth a try imo. Phonics work wonders with children when they are small, as we taught our boys to read well before they were school age. I am sure phonics would work with adults as well. Everyone complains they do not learn English, but how many are doing anything about it? I know some churches have two church services, one for English speaking and one for Spanish speaking. It would be nice to merge the two one day.

 

[Jedi Knight]

Why can't the church set up a ministry to teach them English? We have RU, MOPS, Grief Share, etc, so why not teach English? It's at least worth a try imo. Phonics work wonders with children when they are small, as we taught our boys to read well before they were school age. I am sure phonics would work with adults as well. Everyone complains they do not learn English, but how many are doing anything about it? I know some churches have two church services, one for English speaking and one for Spanish speaking. It would be nice to merge the two one day.

Thanks for the input.:wavey: I just moved back here "grew up here" and it has changed sooooo much now. I thought to drive 5-10 miles to a diffrent church but thought to myself can I do something here?

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Thanks for the input.:wavey: I just moved back here "grew up here" and it has changed sooooo much now. I thought to drive 5-10 miles to a diffrent church but thought to myself can I do something here?

Do you speak Spanish? If so there you go

 

[Jedi Knight]

Do you speak Spanish? If so there you go

No I don't. But my wife does.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

No I don't. But my wife does.

Id take advantage of that...let her teach you so you can communicate...become billingual.

 

[Jedi Knight]

Id take advantage of that...let her teach you so you can communicate...become billingual.

It takes around 5 years to become fluent. So do I hunker down like on an Island or drive to another church I can reach out in my own language? I don't have the gift of tongues.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

It takes around 5 years to become fluent. So do I hunker down like on an Island or drive to another church I can reach out in my own language? I don't have the gift of tongues.

Yea well OK...I try to communicate with these guys up town ....Im 56 & look white so when they want to talk I find them very conversant in English (at least they can understand it) but when they want to shut you down or deflect then they speak no english. That bothers me but shame on me for speaking no Spanish.

 

[ShagNappy]

(& hope you will excuse the expression) being beaners?

Are you serious? Excuse the "expression?" You know, it amazes me still that people are shocked when Hispanics and Latinos want nothing to do with American culture. Ignorance like this is inexcusable in modern America. When you are sitting around hating on those "brown" people, know they keep to themselves, and most pretend to not speak English, because of loving "Christians" such as yourself.

 

[HAMel]

Folks coming to this country should be expected to assimilate. Nothing wrong with them having their own translator..., which many do as their relatives have been here for many years.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Are you serious? Excuse the "expression?" You know, it amazes me still that people are shocked when Hispanics and Latinos want nothing to do with American culture. Ignorance like this is inexcusable in modern America. When you are sitting around hating on those "brown" people, know they keep to themselves, and most pretend to not speak English, because of loving "Christians" such as yourself.

Im serious. Learn to speak the language or get out.

My parents & grandparents took night courses....after working in coal mines for 12 hrs a day to learn the language & they paid for it them selves. They are all proud to be Americans....so if you dont like it....LEAVE!

 

[Jedi Knight]

If I don't speak Spanish and the majority in the neighborhood does can you serve God effectively? I think encouraging others in the same flock is good but what if that's where the buck stops? Is that reason alone to stay or should I go now?

 

[Bronconagurski]

If I don't speak Spanish and the majority in the neighborhood does can you serve God effectively? I think encouraging others in the same flock is good but what if that's where the buck stops? Is that reason alone to stay or should I go now?

Only God can tell you that by much prayer and supplication. All our opinions are just that.

 

[abcgrad94]

Many churches have left a certain part of Texas because of the demographic change"mosty Spanish speaking". If a church is surrounded by a community of Spanish speaking people should the church hire a Spanish speaker....sell the church to the community or hunker down and stay an English speaking church?

Is it safe to attend services? Are cars or the building being vandalized? If there's no safety threat, why not offer free "English" lessons to the neighborhood. Show them you're willing to reach them. I'd research some hispanic missions and invite them to come to your church. This could be an awesome opportunity to reach others WITHOUT becoming an overseas missionaries. God is bringing them right to your neighborhood.

On the other hand, if it's getting unsafe (especially at night for the elderly members) I'd sell the building and move elsewhere.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

If I don't speak Spanish and the majority in the neighborhood does can you serve God effectively? I think encouraging others in the same flock is good but what if that's where the buck stops? Is that reason alone to stay or should I go now?

Brother....are you learning? Are you growing & then can and will serve...even to a small capacity.

Look, I'm not an alcoholic but my wife is. In her darker days, in struggling with those demons, Id pick several people up and drive them to AA meetings. sometimes I had to go rescue them from a jail or some other places I wont discuss. Invariably pissed themselves, vomited blah blah blah. You pick them up, you clean them up & you get them help (when they allow it)

Thats all I could do Jedi. But maybe there is a widow in need....maybe an orphan in need, maybe someone that needs a little advise. We are called to take care of them....touch their flesh & recognize Christ in them. YEA, you can help!

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Is it safe to attend services? Are cars or the building being vandalized? If there's no safety threat, why not offer free "English" lessons to the neighborhood. Show them you're willing to reach them. I'd research some hispanic missions and invite them to come to your church. This could be an awesome opportunity to reach others WITHOUT becoming an overseas missionaries. God is bringing them right to your neighborhood.

On the other hand, if it's getting unsafe (especially at night for the elderly members) I'd sell the building and move elsewhere.

I agree completely. But is Jedi a pastor....I dont think so. Am I wrong?

 

[ShagNappy]

Your right Im serious. Learn to speak the language or get the heck out.

My parents & grandparents took night courses....after working in freakin coal mines for 12 hrs a day to learn the language & they paid for it them selves. They are all proud to be Americans....so if you dont like it....LEAVE!

Wow. So now you are spewing obscenities. Quoted so you cannot remove it. Just because you left out 3 letters doesn't mean it's not an obscenity. Thank you for proving my point though. Let that Christian love flow! :wavey:

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Wow. So now you are spewing obscenities. Quoted so you cannot remove it. Just because you left out 3 letters doesn't mean it's not an obscenity. Thank you for proving my point though. Let that Christian love flow! :wavey:

Well from a liberal you are thats really nice to hear. Go tell it to someone who gives a wit.:laugh: