An emerging group of Hispanic evangelical leaders are likely to have an unprecedented impact both in and outside of their ethnic community, reports Prism (evangelical churches because of the remaining barriers between Hispanic and non-Hispanic America. One such emerging leaders, Luis Cortes, whose organization, Esperanza USA has hosted the National Hispanic Prayer Breakfast, says that Hispanic evangelicals are increasingly accepting a “parish mentality [where] we can develop local leadership for the entire local community, not just for the parishioners or church members.”
Among the other emerging leaders cited are: Lisa Cummings, who worked for the White House Office for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, has served as a “hub for Hispanics putting their faith into action across America;” Albert Ryes, whose Baptist University of the Americas has become a center for training cross-cultural leaders reaching out to second-, third-, and fourth generations; Larry Acosta, who runs the largest urban youth worker training organization in America, the Urban Youth Workers Institute; and Orlando Crespo, who founded the La Fe initiative in InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, which brings together Latino students into an environment that encourages fellowship and spiritual development.
(Prism, 10 E. Lancaster Ave., Wynnewood, PA 19096)
