ATLANTA - The Hispanic congregation Iglesia Bautista Jesús el Buen Pastor in Hoover, Ala., has many of the same challenges of any new church start. "But no matter how hard it is, we stay together to work it out," said the church’s pastor, Jorge Camacho.
In December 2006, Alabama CBF named Camacho pastor of the new church start, which would serve the growing number of Hispanics in the Birmingham area. The first services were held in June 2007 in the living room of the apartment where Jorge and his wife, Maria Pueblo, lived.
Two couples joined them for the first service, and after three months, the congregation had grown to 12. At that point, they rented a community clubhouse. By September 2008, the church had grown even more and another move was warranted to a larger rental space.
Today, the congregation of 65 holds Bible study and worship service on Sunday and has a Wednesday prayer service. Camacho hopes to start a Friday night service soon to accommodate those who cannot attend at other times. Members come from Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and Mexico.
Over the past two years, the church has baptized 22 people and is sponsoring a new congregation in Clanton, Ala. -- Iglesia Bautista Neuvo Vida.
CBF and Alabama CBF have helped Jesús el Buen Pastor get started, and so have several local congregations including Riverchase, Vestavia Hills, and Shades Crest Baptist churches.
"The church has solid partnerships with Alabama CBF Anglo congregations," said David King, the Fellowships associate for CBF New Church Starts. "Jorge’s bi-vocational work and energy to plant the church is also amazing. The changing demographics of the Hispanic population in Hoover and surrounding areas in Alabama is interesting and Alabama CBF is responding."
"Even though many of our members are out of work right now, I think they are very happy," Camacho said. "Our people are very strong. We work together with the same faith and I think that is something that will make the church stronger as we move forward, no matter how hard it is."
CBF is a fellowship of Baptist Christians and churches who share a passion for the Great Commission and a commitment to Baptist principles of faith and practice. The Fellowship's mission is to serve Christians and churches as they discover and fulfill their God-given mission.