The purpose of this website is to share information about an ongoing
effort in the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia to plant new Hispanic churches.
The Need
 |
There is a large and rapidly increasing number of Latin Americans
living in Northern Virginia (for example, over 60,000 within a five-mile
radius of the Falls Church). |
| The vast majority of Spanish-speaking people are like their
English-speaking neighbors: they do not attend any church. |
| The question: how can we make God known to this population? |
| Currently, no Hispanic congregation of any non-Pentecostal
denomination in has its own facility in Northern Virginia, greatly limiting
their ability to incorporate new members. |
| We have found an existing church facility (Boulevard Baptist
Church, 7000 Arlington Blvd, Falls Church 22042) and are seeking to
purchase it. |
The Vision
To establish a new freestanding congregation (i.e., not housed in a
facility of existing English-language congregations) in Northern
Virginia.
 |
Our efforts are subject to the leadership of the Holy
Spirit. |
|
We
have been looking
for an existing church or suitable property in the Pimmit Hills area of
Northern Virginia. |
|
We have found an
existing church facility and desire to purchase it. |
|
We have sought the advice and
discernment of
convivios
(gatherings intended both to inform and
to elicit ideas) from the four
existing Episcopal congregations in northern Virginia
that worship in Spanish. |
|
We plan to
leverage our existing inroads in the target community by using an initial core group
from the current Iglesia San José to plant this new
congregation. (Iglesia San José will continue at its present location
in Arlington, with its current vicar.) |
|
We are searching
for a church planter for this new congregation. |
|
We are or will be seeking funds from
Episcopal congregations in the Diocese of Virginia, from
the regions of the Diocese of Virginia located in
northern Virginia, and from individuals, agencies, and
foundations. |
|
Long term, we envision the need to
plant additional Episcopal churches in northern Virginia
that worship primarily in Spanish. |
Status of the Response
|
Visit
our Mission Location page to
see the area in which we are searching for land for this
new church. |
|
Visit
Your Budget to read a
letter we are sending to northern Virginia parishes. |
|
Visit
our Funding page to read about
start-up funding received to date, including donations
from two existing Hispanic missions and one non-Hispanic
congregation in the Diocese of Virginia. |
|
Visit
Our Budget to see progress
towards developing the startup and initial operating
budgets for planting this new mission. |
| You
can read the Resolutions
of the past two Diocese of Virginia Councils that
endorse this effort. |
| Our
Overview page provides good
background information. |
You are visitor number
since November 6, 1999.
|
