Fernando Sr. & Maria Vera
Learn About Our Church
About Us
We are originally from Mexico. We got married in 1990, we have 2 children, Fernando Jr, 22 years old, and Josue, 15 years old.
Our Call to Plant
It was during a time of transition, when I was studying for my master’s degree at the Baptist seminary of New Orleans, while at the same time temporarily pastoring a ministry in the city of Bogalusa, LA. When my wife and I began to pray for the next step to follow in our lives, after having served in Mexico for 10 years and 22 in the New Orleans area, feeling the need for a change, that is when we received the invitation to come to Alabama to plant a new ministry, which we clearly saw that God was calling us to.
About Our Church Plant
My wife and I received the call to serve the Lord, even before we got married, without thinking that one day, God would call us to come to the United States to work.
Our mission: The Church exists to empower and develop its members to Be and Make dynamic disciples obedient in Christ, showing a supreme Love for God, a sacrificial love for Brothers, and an overflowing love for the World Vision: It is to reach the Hispanic community of Albertville and its surroundings with the gospel, through the resources of the First Baptist Church of Albertville or FBCA (and with the support of the Dawson Memorial Baptist Church as well), who are incredibly supporting us with their financial resources and brothers who are interested and willing to minister to the Latin community. One of the goals is for the Hispanic church to be part of the American church, which sees us as an integral part of its ministries.
To achieve this, we are carrying out activities in the same facilities (and outside) of FBCA, such as English classes, classes to help pass the driving test, literacy classes, support classes for families with problematic children, children’s club (both in the church park and in mobile home locations), free food, counseling, one-on-one and group Bible studies.
The city of Albertville had Hispanics making up around 50% of the population, but due to mass deportations, it is not very clear now. We have the Catholic Church as the largest church in the city. There are many Pentecostal churches in the city, at least two Pentecostal churches have more than 500 members. The majority of Hispanics in the area are from Guatemala and Mexico. What we have found is that the educational level of Guatemalans reaches the second year of elementary school, and a good number of the wives do not speak Spanish well but do speak their dialect and their kids understand much better English than Spanish. There are a lot of single Moms.
How to pray for us
- For wisdom in ministering to the diversity of cultures (even among Guatemalans themselves there are differences).
- Wisdom in “when to help economically” (due to so much economic need), since there are too many families that have lost one of the parents.
- Find creative ideas to share the gospel.
- To advance in my English and improve every day in communicating better
- The health of my family, especially that of my eldest son