The Effect of Multigenerational Families on Worship, Education, and Outreach in Hispanic Ministry

Abstract

Hispanic ministry is not a new topic. Our synod recognizes the need to reach a growing demographic in our country, and it has for decades. However, as this demographic has been growing in our country for several decades, Hispanic communities are no longer made up primarily of first-generation (foreign-born) Latinos but second- and third-generation Latinos have begun to dominate this demographic. As it is true within our nation’s communities so it is becoming evident within our synod’s congregations. Pastors serving in Hispanic congregations are witnessing the blessings of serving multiple generations with the gospel. With this blessing of multigenerational Hispanic families also come some apparent linguistic and cultural challenges. The former paradigm of carrying out Hispanic ministry entirely in Spanish has become ineffective in reaching every member of a Hispanic congregation as English is becoming the dominant language of many second- and third-generation Hispanics. The purpose of this thesis is to recognize and address the challenges faced when evangelizing and ministering to multigenerational and multilingual families within Hispanic congregations and the surrounding community. As both congregation and community evolve and multigenerational families develop, each Hispanic ministry must reevaluate its methods of worship, education, and outreach.