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By MARGARET DEMPSEY-COLSON
Florida Baptist Convention
PENSACOLA (FBC)—Five Florida Baptist leaders invited to pray during the 2009 annual meeting reflected the ethnic diversity of Pensacola Bay Baptist Association.“I see God at work among these ethnic groups,” said Bob Greene, PBBA director of missions.
Those praying, some with interpreters, during the annual meeting included:
Jorge Sepulveda, Brazilian
Two years ago, the first stop in the Sunshine State for Brazilian Jorge Sepulveda was Destin. When he soon learned that there was no ministry to the Brazilian community in Pensacola, “this moved my heart.” For two years he prayed, spoke with others about the ministry possibility and visited Pensacola as often as possible. Just four months ago, the two years of prayer and preparation culminated with the launch of First Brazilian Baptist Church of Pensacola. He now serves two churches—in Destin and Pensacola. Already, the Pensacola church offers worship services as well as Bible study and prayer times. “We are praying for [my fellow Brazilians] to be attracted to Jesus through the First Brazilian Baptist Church of Pensacola,” he said.
RUSSIAN Vinitsly Yepishin’s son Mark (l) translated for his father as he prayed with John Cross (r). FBC photo
Vinitsiy Yepishin, Russian
After 20 years of mission work in his native country, Vinitsiy Yepishin moved to Pensacola about 10 years ago and soon discovered many fellow Russians, most of whom didn’t attend any church. Today, he leads a Russian ministry at Olive Baptist Church. The ministry has a worship service with Russian interpretation on
Sunday mornings as well as Friday Bible studies and prayer groups. He hopes to begin a mission among Russians in downtown Pensacola. He dreams of planning annual mission trips to Russia and offering financial assistance to
missionaries there.
SPANISH Agustin Rodriguez leads in prayer as Al Fernandez, director of South Florida Urban Impact Ministries, translates. FBC photo
Agustin Rodriquez, Hispanic
For Hispanic immigrants, “the United States is the promised land,” according to pastor Agustin Rodriquez. They come to America from difficult circumstances, seeking a better life, he explained. Still, the transition can be difficult. Pastor Rodriquez and the congregants at Pensacola’s Myrtle Grove Hispanic Church, are there to ease the transition and share Christian love with both words and actions. The congregation, which recently celebrated its sixth anniversary, currently has a core base of 50 to 60 people and welcomes approximately 100 each Sunday to its bilingual services, with lunch served afterwards. The ministry extends far beyond Sunday morning as Rodriquez invests his life in the Hispanic community during the week.
Beth Carr, American Sign Language
For almost 20 years, Beth Carr has been interpreting for the deaf and teaching the deaf. A few years ago, however, her investment in the world of the deaf became immensely personal as she and her husband adopted two deaf children. For the past five years, she has helped lead a ministry to the deaf at Pensacola’s Hillcrest Baptist Church. The ministry, although small, is directed to both children and adults and currently relies on three interpreters, including Carr. Today worship services and a children’s life group are interpreted. Carr dreams of having a deaf Sunday School class as well outreach ministry to the deaf in the community.
SIGNING Johnny Carr voices a prayer as his wife, Beth, signs for the deaf. FBC photo
Thang Uc, Vietnamese
According to Vietnamese pastor Thang Uc, more than 6,000 Vietnamese live in metropolitan Pensacola. Most are from a Buddhist religious background and are skeptical about Christianity. “We will try anything to reach them,” said the pastor who launched his ministry, which meets at Pensacola’s First Baptist Church, about one year ago. Today, the young Vietnamese congregation attracts approximately 50 people to bilingual services on Sunday mornings. Slowly that number is rising as Vietnamese Christians commit to live their faith seven days a week, to “live what Christ has told us to do outside of the church,” he said.
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