HOW DID THE HISPANIC CHURCH OF CHRIST BEGAN IN
ATL, GA?
Hispanic Ministry in
Atlanta, GA
The
first congregation in Atlanta was established at the Chestnut Dr.
Church of Christ, in Doraville, Georgia, in November of 1987. Two
couples, Eddie and Latife Lett, and Rex and Lindy Butner had a
vision to begin this work. The elders of the Chestnut Drive
congregation graciously agreed to share their building and help in
the start of this new Hispanic endeavor. Sabino Rodriguez, from
Texas, was hired as the first Hispanic minister to start the
congregation. Within the first three years, the Hispanic
congregation grew to about twenty five membership. Due to
unforeseen problems, the membership declined early in the 1990s.
In
August of 1990, Geoff Giesemann was brought in to work as the new
Spanish minister. At his first worship service attended eight
people (the total included his family). With Giesemann’s zeal for
the gospel, the Hispanic congregation grew in the years to come.
In
1994, Nelson Galarraga, originally from Venezuela, became the third
minister for the
Chestnut Dr. Iglesia de Cristo. Joining
evangelistic efforts, both Nelson and Geoff worked together to help
the congregation grow at an amazing rate. Several members were
driving from faraway places to worship at the only Spanish Iglesia
de Cristo in Atlanta. This gave the Iglesia de Cristo visionaries
the idea to advance the Gospel in the Atlanta area and establish
other Hispanic congregations. During these missionary times,
Geoff and Nelson fervently preached the gospel on Sunday evenings.
Their hard work paid off and several congregations were begun.
The
first congregation to be begun was in Gainesville in 1997 (located
about 42 miles to the north of Atlanta). Rafael Uzcategui, from
Venezuela, was hired to be the first minister. Today, Jose Pinzon
is the currently minister at the Atlanta Road Iglesia de Cristo.
In
1999, the second sister congregation, established by the Chestnut
Dr. Iglesia de Cristo was in South Cobb (located about 30 miles west
of ATL). Nelson Galarraga left the Chestnut Dr. and moved to
continue this work. Since then, Galarraga, has planted two other
congregation in Smyrna and Marietta. This missionary effort was
done mainly by the South Cobb brethren.
During this time, another congregation was established south of
ATL. The Chestnut Dr. and the Inner City Ministry, joined forces
and established a work at the East Point Church of Christ. Alfred
Donald, concerned with the unsaved Hispanics in downtown ATL, had a
burning desire to reach the Hispanic people. Alfred and the
Chestnut Dr. congregation requested the assistance of the Lipscomb
University students and held several gospel meetings. In 2000,
Edison Quevedo, native of Venezuela, came and was hired as a full
time minister.
In
march of 2001, the Woodstock Iglesia de Cristo was born. Rafael
Uzcategui and other Gainsville members were traveling to Woodstock
on sunday evenings to begin this work. Presently, Rafael Uzcategui
is the full time minister at the Woodstock Iglesia de Cristo.
In
2002, another Spanish congregation was begun at the Campus Church of
Christ. Edison Quevedo is currently their minister.
In
2004, the sixth Hispanic congregation was planted at the Central
Church of Christ in Smyrna, GA. This congregation was too, the
missionary vision of the South Cobb brethren. They were meeting in
Smyrna on Sunday afternoons and holding evening services.
In
2006, The South Cobb brethren also established another congregation
at the East Cobb Church of Christ in Marrietta, Ga. Presently,
South Cobb, East Cobb, and the Marietta Spanish congregations have
merged together in Smyrna, GA.
In
November of 2008, the Buford Iglesia de Cristo was begun by Juan
Garcia and several families from Chestnut Dr. Brother Garcia is
native of Mexico. Prior to Buford, Juan was the Spanish Minister at
the Chestnut Dr. Iglesia de Cristo (2005-2008).
Today, besides de Spanish Congregations already mentioned, there are
other Spanish speaking members scattered among the English congregations in the Atlanta area.
Instead of starting a Hispanic Congregation for the Spanish speaking
brethren, the Anglo church of Christ instead developed a
ministry within their building to accommodate their spiritual needs.
The
first congregation in Atlanta was established at the Chestnut Dr.
Church of Christ, in Doraville, Georgia, in November of 1987. Two
couples, Eddie and Latife Lett, and Rex and Lindy Butner had a
vision to begin this work. The elders of the Chestnut Drive
congregation graciously agreed to share their building and help in
the start of this new Hispanic endeavor. Sabino Rodriguez, from
Texas, was hired as the first Hispanic minister to start the
congregation. Within the first three years, the Hispanic
congregation grew to about twenty five membership. Due to
unforeseen problems, the membership declined early in the 1990s.
Chestnut Dr. Iglesia de Cristo. Joining
evangelistic efforts, both Nelson and Geoff worked together to help
the congregation grow at an amazing rate. Several members were
driving from faraway places to worship at the only Spanish Iglesia
de Cristo in Atlanta. This gave the Iglesia de Cristo visionaries
the idea to advance the Gospel in the Atlanta area and establish
other Hispanic congregations. During these missionary times,
Geoff and Nelson fervently preached the gospel on Sunday evenings.
Their hard work paid off and several congregations were begun.
