A Celebration of Heritage
By Claudia Ingles
On a recent evening more than 100 people from our Spanish-speaking ministry, representing 12 different countries, gathered to celebrate that in Christ we are not divided. Although we come from different cultures, languages, accents, and backgrounds, all of that fades before the power of God and the unity we share in Jesus.
We were reminded that being Hispanic or Latino does not mean being the same; each nation brings its own language, customs, and mindset. However, what could separate us becomes a richness when we come together with one purpose: to proclaim and celebrate Christ.
The central message was the unity we have in Christ, and at the end, each person shared a traditional dish from their country. We enjoyed the culinary richness of all of Latin America, with flavors from Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, the Dominican Republic, Cuba, and also the United States. It was an evening filled with joy, visitors, moments of laughter, and even tears of nostalgia as we remembered our homelands. But above all, it was a reminder that the people of God are everywhere, and here in the United States we celebrate the welcome and equality we all share in Christ.
The Word of God expresses it clearly: “After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb” (Revelation 7:9). With grateful hearts, we celebrate that Christ unites and breaks down every barrier, and that in Him our differences become a reason for worship and joy.
