CHM is an equipping organization that develops and
promotes ministry to Hispanic communities across North America. It acts as
a bridge of resources and information in order to coordinate a comprehensive
and effective Hispanic ministry effort focused on leadership training and
church planting that integrate into existing church structures.
CHM is not designed to be an end in itself but
to provide the training and information that allows individuals and other
organizations to achieve their potential in Hispanic ministries.
It promotes ministry in others rather than carrying it out on its own.
The promotion of Hispanic Ministry takes place both in the “Anglo” church
context as well as among the Hispanic peoples and churches that make up our
network.
CHM strives to reach out to Hispanic communities and
focuses on the needs of those communities. This is not an attempt to
ignore or exclude other groups on the basis of race or ethnicity. It
is an attempt to compensate for past neglect of this important area of ministry
especially among Friends.
CHM is also in place to help coordinate the Hispanic
ministries in their cross-cultural environment. Why should CHM play
this almost parachurch role in coordinating ministries? Because CHM
has the expertise to understand and mediate between the special needs of
the Hispanic church or ministry and the participating “Anglo” partners in
ministry. Until the specific Hispanic ministries have developed their
own infrastructure of interchurch / interministry support within their denomination,
CHM’s partnership can help avoid conflict and misunderstanding. Likewise,
until the predominantly “Anglo” church leaders come to grips with the unique
needs of the Hispanic communities, they will need CHM’s partnership and leadership
in collaborating with their Hispanic ministries.
The dream that is being realized is that CHM will bring
about a comprehensive and effective Hispanic ministry effort. Friends
and other denominations have begun Hispanic ministries in the past.
CHM knows that we can be more effective. CHM stands as a catalyst for
a far-reaching ministry that will bring about solutions that are far greater
than the sum of the constituent resources. Ministries that participating
organizations could not have imagined will be created. We find ourselves
as significant partners in God’s work as servants of the Hispanic peoples
in North America.
And church planting is at the heart of CHM’s ministries.
The church is the body of Christ. It is the chosen instrument for God’s
work of salvation in the world. Church planting efforts may spring
out of “mother church” relationships being formed cross-culturally as “Anglo”
churches are motivated to become involved in Hispanic ministry with CHM acting
as a facilitator and coordinator. Other churches are formed as “urban
flight” causes previously prosperous “Anglo” ministries to be left with an
empty shell that can be made available to Hispanic congregations. There
may be many different patterns employed in establishing the new churches
but it is essential that those ministry and discipleship centers are instituted.
CHM’s purpose is not to create its own denomination,
but to develop ministries that will be integrated into existing church structures.
This does not mean that new churches and ministries will immediately be knit
into the fabric of “Anglo” denominations. That would not be advisable
or constructive, but neither would setting up a CHM denomination or mission.
CHM seeks to serve a transitional role as Hispanic churches and ministries
form their support structures in their particular denominational context.
CHM
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