Bridges of the Spirit Institute for Hispanic-Latino/a Ministries
Reaching the Dream
Our Vision: Bridging cultures, making disciples, one in the Spirit
Our Mission: To provide training opportunities that prepare people in the Central Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church to develop dynamic, Spirit-led, bridge building ministries with the diverse Latino/a people.
Reaching for the Future
We are committed to continuing the vital ministry of practical training in Hispanic Ministries. However, in an effort to expand the Intitute's reach an advisory board was formed in August of 2006. This board includes four area academic leaders who will work in consultation with the conference committee on Hispanic Ministry to bridge the gap between the practical, theological, and spiritual elements of Hispanic Ministry. Already the board has proven to be invaluable to the mission of the Institute and we thank the members for their involvement!
Rev. Daniel Flores is an ordained elder in the Rio Grande Conference where he is serving La Trinidad UMC in Fort Worth as pastor. Dr. Flores is Adjunct professor of Church History at Perkins School of Theology, SMU.
Victor Peña is a second career pastor. He owned his own business for 22 years prior to answering the call to ministry. He has a heart for the small rural churches. He loves to minister to those who have no formal church upbringing. He champions the underdog. Currently, Victor is assigned to Acton UMC at the Rancho Brazos mission to explore whether or not there is an opportunity to open a church.... and is doing a new church start in Cleburne -- Resurrection UMC -- which will focus on 'blended' families - the unchurched!
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Jeannie Treviño-Teddlie has been director of the Mexican American Program at Perkins School of theology, SMU since 2002. She received an MSSW from University of Texas at Arlington after completing her BA at University of North Texas. Trevino-Teddlie is an ordained deacon in the Central Texas Conference and a member of The General Commission of the Status and Role of Women in the United Methodist Church. Before coming to Perkins, she served the Central Texas Conference as General Board of Global Ministries missionary for Hispanic Ministries assigned to the Commission on Church Growth and Development. She is also the former executive director of Metropolitan Board of Missions for the United Methodist Church in Fort Worth. Trevino-Teddlie in the author of Pentacost Journey: A Planning Guide for Hispanic Ministries (Nashville: Discipleship Resoures, 1999).
Mark Hanshaw is a member of the Central Texas Conference and a faculty member of Richland College in Dallas, Texas, where he teaches various courses in the field of religious studies. Mark has undertaken his doctoral studies in the field of comparative religious ethics at Southern Methodist University. He holds masters degrees from Brite Divinity School and the University of Manchester, England, and a Juris Doctor from the University of Tennessee. Mark, and his wife, Yvette, live in Fort Worth and have one son, Mark, Jr.
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Bridges is a conference training institute sponsored by the Office of Hispanic Ministries in partnership with the Metropolitan Board of Missions. The Institute is designed to serve conference pastors and church leaders in better accomplishing Hispanic Ministries. In its inaugural year, we have seen great success in providing workshops and events to support the outreach and growth of this vital ministry. We expect 2007 to expand its reach among the conference and offer a wider range of training opportunities.
If we accept the struggle to appreciate diversity in our community and our church, we not only are responding to God’s commandment to love our neighbor, but we are also fulfilling the other great commandment to love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. --Eric H.F. Law
