Attendence seems to be falling for all religious groups
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Latinos and church attendence
- Thread starter Salty
- Start date
I think most of them are not bothering with religion all-together.
I would challenge the stats above.
That said we started a hispanic church out of our ministry a couple of years ago. It is exploding in size.
One of the reasons, imho, why it is easier for Latinos to leave the Church (primarily RCC) is multifaceted:
1. Most move to dense urban areas where families/friends already live and realize it is just as easy to blend in and disappear.
2. The RCC in America is a very, very bad shape. If the RCC is their identity and that foundation is shaken it doesn't lead to increased church attendance.
3. Going to church isn't as cultural here as it is in Central or South American countries. It just isn't. We're in a post-Christian environment in most major cities. Believe it or not the culture of going to church is a pretty important factor.
4. Name three sizable Hispanic ministries in your immediate area with dynamic personalities.
5. Hispanics are the new African-Americans. White folk don't have many as friends because in order to be friends with most whites they have to change their language, appearance, etc. That's a high barrier for relationships. Also related to this, not many church going folk know Hispanics who need to know Jesus and have the ability to recommend a good church for them to attend. You can't send most of them to a English speaking church.
6. Most predominately white churches associate church and connectedness with attendance in worship and small group. Most ethnic minorities don't associate groups with growth.
Just saying, its a complicated thing. That said there are a TON of good things going on in ministry to Hispanics. Hope this doesn't come off as harsh or unfair characterizations. We just spent a ton of time researching and understanding this group to help reach them.
FR7 Baptist
Active Member
My church has a Hispanic ministry. I don't know too much about it. Even if I wanted to get involved with it, which I don't, I don't speak Spanish. I would like to learn one day, but I took American Sign Language in high school.
My Hispanic grandmother used to be Catholic, and her wealthy Salvadoran family sent her to a Catholic boarding school in El Salvador for a couple of years when she was growing up. She learned some English there, but she wasn't fluent. When she came to the United States in, I think, 1963, she took English classes. My grandfather was taking a Spanish class in the same building and then they met and fell in love and got married. She became fully bilingual. When they got married, she converted to Protestantism.
We also have some other Hispanic people in my church. There's this lady in the choir from Spain and I've met this one non-choir member from Puerto Rico. There's more, but I just can't think of any. I'm also not counting those in the Hispanic ministry.
My Hispanic grandmother used to be Catholic, and her wealthy Salvadoran family sent her to a Catholic boarding school in El Salvador for a couple of years when she was growing up. She learned some English there, but she wasn't fluent. When she came to the United States in, I think, 1963, she took English classes. My grandfather was taking a Spanish class in the same building and then they met and fell in love and got married. She became fully bilingual. When they got married, she converted to Protestantism.
We also have some other Hispanic people in my church. There's this lady in the choir from Spain and I've met this one non-choir member from Puerto Rico. There's more, but I just can't think of any. I'm also not counting those in the Hispanic ministry.