wfn.org | Spanish-Speaking ELCA Lutherans in Radio

[ELCANEWS@ELCASCO.ELCA.ORG]

ELCA NEWS SERVICE

NEWSBRIEF

September 30, 1996

SPANISH-SPEAKING LUTHERANS IN RADIO

Twenty-seven Spanish-speaking congregations of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America will learn how to develop their own
radio ministry.  "Radio continues to be a primary vehicle for
communication among Hispanics.  It is a catalyst for
congregational leaders to communicate the gospel message and the
activities of its congregation," according to the Rev. Ruben F.
Duran, ELCA associate director for Hispanic outreach.  These 27
congregations seek to bring the message of Christ to the
unchurched and disconnected within the Spanish-speaking
community, explained Duran,  "The training events illustrate how
congregations can use the radio medium to heighten its outreach
ministry."  Congregations will learn how to develop a distinctive
radio program, how to reach culture-specific audiences and how to
develop a radio ministry leadership team and vision.  "The
purpose of our radio ministry is to reflect on our lives, our
community, and our faith," says the Rev. Pedro M. Suarez, San
Francisco de Asissi Lutheran Church, Aurora, Ill.  Two training
events took place since 1995 in Chicago and Simi Valley, Calif.
The third event is scheduled for Jan. 23-26, 1997 in Miami.  "We
live in a challenging time in which Hispanics have the
opportunity to be in mission with one another," said Evelyn B.
Soto, ELCA director for the multilingual and culture-specific
programs.  "The Spanish-speaking ELCA congregations can bring the
message of Christ to many via the radio medium."

For information contact: Ann Hafften, Dir., ELCA News Service,
(312) 380-2958 or AHAFFTEN@ELCA.ORG; Frank Imhoff, Assoc. Dir.,
(312) 380-2955 or FRANKI@ELCA.ORG