Black megachurch reaches out to Latinos

by The Associated Press
Lithonia, Georgia--Sprinkled among the Black faces at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, Hispanic worshippers listen intently to the congregation’s leader, Bishop Eddie Long.

It’s an unusual scene for a predominantly African American church, but the area’s Hispanic population has grown from just one percent in 2000, to nearly nine percent today. And New Birth is acknowledging its new neighbors in a way most historically Black churches haven’t.

Long is trying to attract Latino members by hiring a Hispanic band, adding Spanish-language Sunday services, hiring a Hispanic pastor--even by learning Spanish.

"My message has been geared to challenging African Americans, but I have to be culturally sensitive," said Long, whose congregation draws more than 25,000 worshippers. "Now, I focus on using biblical principles that are relevant to everyone."

Long’s services are already translated into Spanish, among other languages, but Long wanted to do more for Hispanics at home.

It’s a challenging plan. Most Latinos in the United States attend churches that started in their own neighborhoods, or they worship at predominantly White churches with large missions to Spanish-speaking immigrants.

But Long says Black churches have a special lesson for Hispanics. Like African Americans before them, new Latino arrivals are struggling with poverty, finding work, getting a good education and getting a say in public policy.

"We were there," Long said. "Because we’re beginning to turn the corner, we can reach back to our brother. This is about people working together and using faith to improve themselves."

The idea of attending a Black church seemed strange at first to Julio Alberto Rodriguez, who had watched Long’s services on television from Florida. Still, when Rodriguez moved to the Atlanta area a few years ago, he visited New Birth.

‘Initially, you feel kind of out of place because you’re a Hispanic among so many Black folk. I was like, ‘What am I doing here?’" Rodriguez said. He joined anyway and now works as a personal trainer with the church’s fitness ministry.