INDIANAPOLIS (BP) — The National Hispanic Baptist Network (NHBN) organized a day of workshops for Hispanic Baptists gathered in Indianapolis for the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC).

Pastors, lay leaders and women had 19 different breakouts to choose from covering missions, evangelism, church planting and children’s education, and for the second year running, the NHBN offered a workshop track specifically designed for women.

Led by Clara Molina, director of the network’s ministry to women, the women’s general session started with worship led by Nelly Juarez, followed by a short devotional shared by Diana Puente and a biblical message conveyed by Molina. The message, titled “United at the Vine with a Sound Doctrine,” encouraged women to pursue sound doctrine to shape their lives in the likeness of Christ. The women were led in prayer by Aleyda Muñoz before splitting up for breakout sessions. The sessions included a children’s education track, serving in the church, personal devotional life and an evangelism track.

Besides the women’s program, there were another 15 workshops to choose from. The Logos Bible software presentation was one of the best attended sessions. Led by Jose Chicos, the workshop modeled for pastors how to use software that facilitates access to various Bible versions, languages, historical context and more. Lifeway’s Carlos Astorga led a session on the Baptist Faith & Message 2000 (BF&M), which those in attendance found refreshing and useful. David Perez shared from his book the 7Ds of Prayer, International Mission Board’s (IMB) Annel Robayna’s session talked about being a church on mission, Send Relief’s Jonathan Santiago shared with pastors how Send Relief comes alongside local churches to help their communities in times of disaster and open doors to share the gospel.

Raul Santamaria led a church planting workshop; Ronald Vides focused on revitalization of churches; Prison Fellowship’s Karin Arango shared how churches can come alongside families affected by the imprisonment of relatives; Angel Jordan with the Billy Graham Evangelism Association facilitated an evangelism workshop; Corporate Chaplains of America’s Cesar Brito’s session highlighted the ministry of chaplains; Apartment Life’s Rey Matos shared how apartments can be a missionary field and Luis Soto from the Southern Baptist Convention of Puerto Rico taught on personal discipleship.

New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary’s (NOBTS) Fabio Castellanos’ session focused on Bible translations; Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary’s (SEBTS) Ricardo Sanchez’s session focused on leadership training and manuscripts and Rafy Gutierrez from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (SWBTS) taught about Biblical paternity.

Following workshops, state representatives for the NHBN met for fellowship and to discuss ministry in each of their regions. The NHBN’s board of directors met for a business meeting where they unanimously passed the following resolution: We serve the Hispanic churches of the Southern Baptist Convention and as an organization affirm the Baptist Faith & Message 2000.

(EDITOR’S NOTE — Keila Diaz is a digital communications assistant with the Florida Baptist Convention.)