Walk with the People

The growth and religious commitment of the Latino community in the U.S. presents a unique set of challenges for pastors in that community. Walk with the People: Latino Ministry in the United States identifies and analyzes the contemporary challenges facing Latino churches in the U.S. and some of the issues they are likely to face in the future. Latino pastors and others working in the community need to understand and grapple with these challenges. As the Latino community continues to grow and diversify, effective church leaders in Latino congregations will need to retool their ministries to address these changes. ""An excellent and far-ranging introduction to Protestant Latino ministries in the United States, combining theory with practice, demographic data with theological perspicacity, and historical background with attention to the present challenges and opportunities."" --Justo L. Gonzalez, author of Manana: Christian Theology from a Hispanic Perspective ""After reviewing where the Latino church was twenty years ago when I wrote The Hispanic Challenge, and now examining the work of Juan Martinez, I found his book extremely encouraging and helpful in assisting the Latino church in this globalized society. The sociology of religion and the actual issues related to assimilation and adaptation will help the church in North America to be much more missiological as it engages the twenty-first century. I highly recommend this book to both Latino and non-Latino churches."" --Manuel Ortiz, Westminister Theological Seminary ""Hispanic Evangelicals continue in their struggle to define themselves and educate other in the process. This book will bring greater clarity [about] who we are and the enormous potential of our contribution."" --Dan de Leon Sr., Pastor, Templo Calvario, Inc. ""Now that Hispanics have become the largest minority group in America, this book could not be more timely. Walk with the People provides valuable insights and tools for a great understanding of the complexity of our Hispanic culture and leadership. The data presented in this book is not only essential but indispensable. It is a must-read book for leaders, teachers, students, and scholars."" --Sergio Navarrete, Superintendent, Southern Pacific Latin American District of the Assemblies of God Juan Francisco Martinez is professor of Hispanic studies and pastoral leadership in the School of Theology of Fuller Theological Seminary. Among other topics, his research focuses on the history of Latino Protestantism, Latino Protestant identity, ministry in Latino Protestant churches, Latino and Latin American Anabaptists, and migration and transnational identity formation.