“I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”
John 10:10 NRSVUE
I have decided to share my passion for mental health and its impact on the Hispanic community to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. My message will be divided into the following three newsletters, so please send me your feedback questions or comments as you read it so I can consider them in my following message.
The Latinx population represents 18.7% of the total United States population, which is 62.3 million people (U.S. Census Bureau, 2020). As the largest ethnic minority group in the U.S., this population often confronts many challenges. The risk of depression, anxiety disorders, and trauma, especially among Latinx youth, is significantly high (Cooper et al., 2020). Consequently, the need for mental health care among Latinx is urgent. Not only that, but the need for culturally adapted, sensitive, and contextual interventions is vital to offering ethical and professional care to this growing population. Jesus’ desire for all humanity is that they may have an abundant life, so the reality described above presents an opportunity for us, the Church of Christ, to be a refuge and a source of relief and healing to the Hispanic community in this country.
As the disciples of Jesus Christ, we need to be aware of the vast diversity within the Latinx population. Any attempt to be in ministry with this population must include different approaches, methods, and interventions, ensuring they are contextual and culturally adapted. To ensure that, as disciples of Christ, we should adopt a posture of ongoing learning. In addition, we must be aware of and embrace the values and spirituality within the Latinx community that can enhance our ecclesial and religious experience and understanding. As we are in ministry with Latinx communities, we need to pay more attention to contextualizing and adapting how we do Church.
For instance, more is needed to translate resources or programs the dominant culture uses. We need to interpret the materials in a way relevant to the Latinx population’s background and country of origin. Even more, we must be willing to overcome the “us and them” rhetoric and create a new “we.” Creating a new “we” may allow our local churches to become spaces of radical hospitality and healing – a space of abundant life.
Almighty God, our source of abundant life, helps us be open to creating a new “we” so that we can be one with our Latinx, Black, Indigenous, Asian, Pacific Islander, or other minoritized brothers and sisters. Amen.
Please consider giving a donation to the following ministries and advances that serve the Hispanic population:
La Estrella Resplandeciente (You can also serve as a volunteer).
Advance Specials:
- S-00107 Hispanic Ministries
- S-00289 Apex Immigration Services
- S-00299 Immigration & Sanctuary Legal Support Fund