JACKSONVILLE— With more than 400 Hispanic churches and ministries serving throughout Florida, the Florida Baptist Convention has affirmed a united Hispanic Ministries team designed to strengthen collaboration and provide focused support for churches seeking to reach and disciple the state’s growing Hispanic population.

The team brings together five Hispanic pastors and ministry leaders with distinct regional and missions responsibilities: Alberto Ocaña, David Perez, Hector Torres, Juan Puente and Reynier Coro. Each will serve the Convention in a part-time capacity while continuing to lead and serve in the local church.

Ocaña is pastor of Iglesia Bautista Northside in Hialeah; Perez pastors Primera Iglesia Bautista Casa de Bendicion in St. Cloud; Torres is Spanish-language pastor at Elevate Church in Miami Lakes; Puente is pastor of Lakes Church Español; and Coro pastors Iglesia Bautista Resurrecion in Kissimmee.

The new structure reflects a commitment to unity and collaboration as Hispanic ministry continues to grow and change across the state, said Stephen Rummage, executive director-treasurer of the Florida Baptist Convention.

“As we have prayed, sought counsel and observed God’s work among us, we believe He is affirming a new chapter for Hispanic ministry in Florida,” Rummage said in announcing the team.

Florida is home to more than 6 million Hispanics representing more than 20 nationalities, creating a diverse mission field stretching from North Florida to the Keys and from rural communities to the state’s largest cities.

The united Hispanic Ministries team will serve Hispanic churches, pastors, leaders and ministry expressions across the convention while also assisting any Florida Baptist church seeking to reach and disciple Hispanics in its community.

Regional support for pastors and churches

As regional ministry consultants, Ocaña and Perez will provide encouragement, networking, coaching, resources and pastoral support.

Ocaña will serve churches and pastors throughout Southeast and Southwest Florida, including the Treasure Coast. Perez will serve Central and East Florida and portions of North Florida from Ocala through Gainesville.

Other areas of the state will be served by the Hispanic Ministries team as needs arise.

Torres will serve as Hispanic ministries coordinator, helping connect the various areas of the team’s work. His responsibilities include event preparation, ministry initiatives, networking, communication and strategic projects, as well as contextualizing Florida Baptist priorities and mission imperatives for Hispanic churches and ministries.

Strengthening the missions pipeline

The team also includes two Hispanic missions consultants as part of an intentional effort to strengthen missions engagement among Hispanic churches.

Puente will help churches develop and expand local, statewide and cross-cultural missions opportunities in partnership with the Hispanic Ministries team and the Florida Baptist Missions team.

Coro will focus on helping churches develop a strong missions culture and strengthen missions pipelines while connecting congregations with missions opportunities through Florida Baptists and the International Mission Board.

Together, Puente and Coro will help churches engage the Great Commission both within Florida and around the world.

The missions consultants will work closely with the Florida Baptist Missions team under the leadership of Myles Dowdy, lead catalyst for missions and ministries, while the entire Hispanic Ministries team will collaborate with Florida Baptist ministries and regional leaders statewide.

“A key strength of this model is collaboration,” Rummage said.

One team serving Florida Baptists

Rather than functioning as separate ministry efforts, the five leaders form one Hispanic Ministries team with a shared purpose: serving churches as they proclaim the gospel, make disciples, plant churches and strengthen their congregations.

“This united approach brings clarity, strengthens collaboration and renews our shared vision,” Rummage said.

For pastors and churches, that means multiple points of connection depending on their ministry needs. Churches can turn to Ocaña and Perez for regional pastoral support and resources, connect with Torres for Hispanic ministry initiatives and collaboration, and work with Puente and Coro to develop missions opportunities and strengthen missions engagement.

The team’s work also extends beyond Florida Baptist Hispanic congregations. Any Florida Baptist church seeking to better engage Hispanic families and communities can connect with the team for assistance.

Rummage encouraged Florida Baptists to pray for the five leaders, encourage them and partner with them as they serve churches across the state.

“This team reflects different regions, gifts, experiences and backgrounds, yet they serve with one heart, one mission and one purpose,” he said.

Through that shared mission, the United Hispanic Ministries team will seek to equip Florida Baptist churches to reach the diverse communities God has placed around them with the gospel of Jesus Christ.