The Latino Network of Virginia Baptists promotes the advancement of God’s Kingdom among Latinos and Latino Baptist congregations in the Commonwealth of Virginia.  In March 2004, five Virginia Baptist organizations—Woman’s Missionary Union of Virginia, the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Virginia, the John Leland Center for Theological Studies, the Virginia Baptist Mission Board, and Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond—jointly sponsored an Encuentro or Gathering of Latino pastors and church leaders for a time of fellowship, learning and mutual support at Sandston Baptist Church.  The success of this event led to the formation of the Latino Network of Virginia Baptists in September 2004.

The Latino Network of Virginia Baptists is a Christian fellowship of Virginia Baptists networking to:

• Promote training opportunities and resources for Latino congregations and leaders;

• Develop a collaborative force among Baptists in Virginia to address the identified needs of Latino communities;

• Foster a sense of familia that bridges cultural diversity among Baptists in Virginia; and

• Establish a communication network among Baptists in Virginia committed to serving Latino communities.

The Latino Network is organized into two distinct planning groups: the Planning and Strategy Group and the larger Advisory Group.  The Advisory Group comes together two times a year supplying vision and general oversight for the Network’s ministry.  The Planning and Strategy Group meets ten times a year to engage in the planning, direction and promotion of its work and events.

In everything, the Latino Network seeks to promote the work of both Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking congregations in Virginia.  We also stress the importance of promoting among the English-speaking congregations the importance of adopting a multi-cultural mentality which fosters a sense of hospitality toward and outreach among their Latino neighbors.  To this end, many of our events and much of our promotion targets the tri-lingual and tri-cultural Spanish, Portuguese and English contexts.

We invite you to partner with the Latino Network in our important work among Latino Baptists and their congregations in Virginia.  You can do this by:

• Praying for the Latino Network, its leaders and its ministry among Latino Baptist congregations.

• Attending events sponsored by the Network, and inviting others to come along with you.  For information about an event, contact Dr. Daniel Carro, Convener of the Latino Network, at daniel.carro@vbmb.org

• Learning more about the Latino Network.  Click here to read the Network’s quarterly inserts in the Religious Herald, the state Baptist paper in Virginia.

• Sponsoring Latino pastors, leaders and members whom you know to attend Latino Network events sponsored by the Network.

Promoting, advertising and telling others about the Latino Network.