CBF Affiliate Missionaries
Strategic Coordinators with Latino Immigrants
North America Internationals Team
GROUP OF INTERNATIONALS
Greg and Sue work with the Latino-Hispanic community in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and in particular in the Greater Fredericksburg (VA) Area through their local organization called LUCHA Ministries, Inc. LUCHA Ministries began in 2004 as a joint CBF/United Methodist effort to reach the 1st generation and immigrant Latino population of the city of Fredericksburg and the counties of Stafford and Spotsylvania.
Throughout Virginia, Sue and Greg work through the Latino Network of Virginia Baptists, composed of five Virginia Baptist organizations dedicated to supporting and assisting Virginia Baptist Latino congregations, pastors and leaders. The five organizations which make up the Latino Network are the Virginia Baptist Mission Board, the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Virginia, Woman’s Missionary Union of Virginia, Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond, and the John Leland Center for Theological Studies.
The Smiths also serve as Latino Ministries Kingdom Advance Ambassadors with the Virginia Baptist Mission Board, through which they seek to assist Latino and non-Latino Baptists in starting and developing outreach ministry among the growing Latino population.
CBF MINISTRY ASSIGNMENT
With the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, Greg and Sue serve as Strategic Coordinators with Latino Immigrants on the North America Internationals Team through CBF’s Affiliate Missionary program. The Smiths assist the team in connecting with the Latino community by providing expertise and information on Latino culture, needs, and ministry resources.
The Smiths draw on their local ministry in Fredericksburg to inform them about the Latino community, which they serve through a variety of social, spiritual and community-based ministries. Some of the ministries which allow them to connect and relate to the Latino community are spiritual and counseling services, English-as-a-Second Language ministries, school supplies distribution, translation services, a Latino Food Pantry ministry, and others. LUCHA Ministries has also supported Spanish-language worship, Bible studies and church planting efforts.
HOW CHURCHES/INDIVIDUALS ASSIST THE WORK
Locally in Fredericksburg, churches and individuals have assisted the Smiths and their work as translators, as drivers transporting Latinos to appointments, leading Spanish-language studies, helping in the start of a new church plant. Churches and associations state-wide have helped by donating school supplies for the annual School Supplies Project and food for the Latino Food Pantry. Because LUCHA Ministries is a not-for-profit faith-based outreach ministry, churches and individuals can donate to the ministry.
HOW WE HELP CHURCHES AND INDIVIDUALS MINISTER TO THIS GROUP
Greg and Sue seek to help churches and individuals understand the US Latino reality through presentations in churches, community organizations, and in professional-level training events. The Smiths are available to preach, speak, or teach on missions and Latino culture on any given day of the week. Churches often invite the Smiths to hear about their ministry and inquire about how to become involved. Greg has also developed a Latino Cultural Competency Training Program designed to help social, civic, government and other workers who deal regularly with the Latino community to understand better the Latino context.
The Smiths also help churches and individuals understand how to relate and minister to Latinos in their own communities. US Latinos face a variety of struggles that, while not unique to their community, nevertheless require churches and individuals to understand before they can effectively be the presence of Christ among them. Greg and Sue focus on helping churches, Christian organizations and individuals realize that the needs of Latinos go beyond food, clothing, housing, employment, transportation and healthcare. They also include the need to connect with basic social service, healthcare, and legal agencies; the need to learn how to raise their children in the US context; the need to help families cope with loneliness, confusion and fear; and the need to know the love, mercy and grace of Jesus Christ.
SHORT VIGNETTE
Humberto had not worked in over a month. During the cold, wet months of January and February, the construction business is slow and jobs are difficult to find. Asking for assistance with food was a humbling experience. Sue and Greg provided Humberto with rice, dry beans, and corn flour to make tortillas through LUCHA’s Latino Food Pantry, and later supplemented this with a trip to the local food bank for bread, meat, and canned goods. Humberto also helped deliver food to another family in his community, and learned about a job during that visit. “God will provide what I need,” he said. “See, today you helped me with food, I was able to help you help someone else, and now I am hopeful that I will soon have a job. God has a purpose for everything, and He’s given me a lot of time to think lately . . . .” A major part of working with Latinos includes sensitivity to their need to maintain dignity, to give back and help others, and to be part of a community, connected to others even though they may live far away from friends and family.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Greg and Sue Smith
LUCHA Ministries, Inc.
P.O. Box 8239
Fredericksburg, VA 22404-8239
Greg’s email address: greg.smith@vbmb.org
Sue’s email address: sue.smith@vbmb.org
www.gregsuesmith.blogspot.com
Phone: 540-370-4502