Working with Hispanics   

You don't have to know "dos, tres," to know Hispanics are "uno." In American society, Hispanic-Americans are a charter-member minority. Their ancestors settled in the Southwest United States long before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock. They have continued to come from Central and South America, across the Rio Grande from Mexico, and over the Caribbean from Puerto Rico.  Millions of legal and illegal immigrants have come seeking to escape the desperation of their homelands for a new beginning in the "land of promise." 

Over the decades, by their numbers and by their diligence and pride, they have influenced the social, cultural, and economic development of the nation. Yet, until recently, despite their pervasiveness and their growth, Hispanics were as invisible as the earth -- ever-present, but never seen domestic workers in Southern California; clerks and laborers in Florida; migrant bands, showing the calloused hands of farm labor. They still are, but now they are also doctors, lawyers, and even politicians. They flood every city, seeking jobs, better lives, and permanence. And in the process, they are building a bilingual, bicultural society. The decade of the 1990s was one of growth for Hispanic Southern Baptists. The Convention's largest minority, they continue to grow in number and in influence. "If we respond with openness," says a SBC leader, "the result will be uncontainable. We are going to affect a lot of the Spanish-speaking world for Jesus Christ." 


Hispanics in America: In Brief


Although Spanish language and culture provides a common denominator, Hispanic-Americans have a diversified geographic background, ranging from nearby Mexico and the Caribbean, to Peru.  Already the United States has more than 35 million Hispanic residents.  Another 6-8 million are here illegally. Most numerous are Mexican-Americans, almost 18.7 million. Half of all Puerto Ricans (7 million), U.S. citizens by birth, live in the continental United States. Cubans number 1-2 million, most having come since 1959. California has the largest Hispanic population, 10 million; Texas, New York, and Florida follow. 

Hispanics in America have grown in social and economic status in the United States, despite prejudice and other difficulties. Yet many need better education, employment, and living conditions. Heritage flows deeply.  Hispanic characteristics are family loyalty, dignity of the individual, courtesy, and a joy of living. Tradition plays an important role, including the religious tradition to which most cling, Catholicism. However, less than 20 percent are active Roman Catholics; 15 percent are Protestants; the remainder attend no church. Southern Baptist witness to Hispanics dates to the 1800s when Texans first witnessed to Mexican-Americans. Today, we find more than 4,000 Hispanic Southern Baptist congregations with 500,000 members in the United States and Puerto Rico. This is but a beginning. Thousands of new Hispanic churches are needed.