Starting a New Hispanic/Latino/Latina Faith Community
September 21-22, 2005
Schaumburg, Illinois

This seminar will be presented in Spanish.
The seminar will be translated in
English as well, using a listening piece for this process.

            One of the fastest growing segments of the population across the United States is the Hispanic/Latino/Latina community.  Central to our mission as United Methodists of making disciples for Jesus Christ is an effective process and strategy for reaching persons in the Hispanic/Latino/Latina community and connecting them to the grace of God in Jesus Christ and to a vital faith community.
            This seminar is designed to focus on specific strategies and proven methods to start new faith communities, which is an exciting and continuing challenge.  Participants will gain insight into the unique dynamics of life in a new Hispanic/Latino/Latina faith community that impacts ministry in that setting.  Most all of what is shared will also benefit faith communities that are experiencing and undergoing redevelopment as well.  The specific key areas of ministry in this new faith community that will be discussed and explored include the following:
              --  The worship experience in the context of the community, including music
              --  Developing a positive relationship with the greater community
              --  Building your ministry team for the new faith community
              --  The importance of a clear vision and identity for the ministry
              --  Finding and choosing the location for the faith community
              --  The role of evangelism and outreach
              --  Different ways to begin a faith community in your context
              --  Developing a strong financial plan for the ministry
              --  The strength of the United Methodist connection in getting started
              --  Key characteristics of a church planter
              --  The role of pastoral family care amidst the new start
              --  Learning from experience of fumbles, mistakes, and mishaps

Leaders

            The Rev. Ana Awilda Nolla is the pastor of San Pablo United Methodist Church in Waukegan, Illinois (Chicago metropolitan area).  She graduated from the Evangelical Seminary in Puerto Rico with a Master in Theology degree.  After serving churches in Puerto Rico, she came to serve in a Hispanic church in Buffalo, NY.  She then moved on to the Northern Illinois Conference to serve El Mesias United Methodist Church, which became the largest Hispanic United Methodist Church in the North Central Jurisdiction under her leadership.
            She is now serving San Pablo UMC, started by her 6 years ago.  Presently, it is one of the fastest growing Hispanic congregations in the jurisdiction, with an average worship attendance of 105.  So her ministry for the last 20 years has been as a developer and redeveloper of congregations in Puerto Rico and the United States.
            She is married to the Rev. Jaime Nolla, senior pastor of Christ United Methodist Church in Racine, WI and has a 13 year old son.

            The Rev. Adrian Garcia is the pastor of Jesus Es El Señor, a United Methodist Community of Faith located 16 miles south of Carbondale, Illinois.  He graduated in Civil Enginering and received a Bachelor degree in theology from John Wesley Seminar in Mexico.  He was a pastor in Mexico for 5 years.
             In 1992 he and his family came to the Southern Illinois Conference to establish a new congregation in the middle of the orchards with migrant workers. God has graced the ministry now with a congregation of around 130-150 people every Sunday.  The church owns 22 acres of property (debt free) with different new buildings (valued over $1.5 million).  Lay people from the congregation have started at least 5 new Hispanic faith communities.
             He is married to Lilly (also graduated from the John Wesley Seminary) and is a partner in ministry.  Their 3 children include Melany 18,Victoria 15, and Adrian Isai 13.

Registration and Cost

Along with "Renewal of Old Downtown First Church" and "First 180 Days of a New Church Start Pastor", "Starting a New Hispanic/Latino/Latina Faith Community", is one of a series of conference-sponsored seminars; registration costs vary depending upon your membership.  See the table below for registration fees.

Registration for Starting a New Hispanic/Latino/Latina Faith Community includes materials and lunches.  Additional meals, transportation, and accommodations are not included.

* Sponsoring conferences for this seminar are:
          Dakotas Annual Conference
          Illinois Great Rivers Annual Conference
          Iowa Annual Conference
          Minnesota Annual Conference
          West Michigan Annual Conference
          Wisconsin Annual Conference

Location and Travel

Embassy Suites Hotel Chicago/Schaumburg/Woodfield
1939 North Meacham Road
Schaumburg, IL  60173
847-397-1313

Directions

Contact Embassy Suites Schaumburg for driving directions or find information on their website at www.hotel-rates.com/us/illinois/schaumburg/embassy-suites-schaumburg.html.  The hotel is twelve miles from O'Hare International Airport.

Schedule

September 21, 2005 (Wednesday)
Begins at 10:00 a.m. [additional details to follow]

September 22, 2005 (Thursday)
Ends at 4:00 p.m. [additional details to follow] 

Accommodations

Participants are responsible for their own accommodations.  A block of rooms has been reserved at the Embassy Suites (above).  Contact the hotel directly at the number above and mention the "Bishop Rueben Job Center" for the block rate of $109 (plus taxes) for a king nonsmoking room or $129 (plus taxes) for a double bed nonsmoking room.  The cut-off date for the special rate is 12:00 a.m. on 8/30/2005.  Check on-line for various other accommodations options for the Schaumburg, Illinois area.

If you have any questions, please contact us.

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