Rev. Samuel Robles Jr.

Way before Arise launched, I did much research on new church planting and attended new church training events (both live and online), as I still continue to do today. I must say that they have all been very helpful and educational in some fashion or another. BUT, I have to say that one very important element has not been present in nearly 100% of these events: how to be a pastor.

So I was looking through my Blog archive from 2008, and I came across some blogging I did during my new church ministry training in Indianapolis back in 2008. I blogged everyday during the week while we were there in preparation to plant in Orlando. Wow! It's amazing what I was thinking and writing about back then, and now to see Arise Christian Church a reality is just amazing! Here are the posts from over 1 year ago:

Well, our training is over, and we're back home. We are tired, yet energized at the same time. We feel empowered, supported, and equipped to do what God is leading us to do. All in all, we're "risking the ride." Here's a pic of one of the banners at the event. It's very fitting:




There will be a lot of highs and lows! but, well worth it!

It’s the conclusion of day 4, and I don’t know what to say. It’s not that I have nothing to say, it’s just that I am still in “awe!”
I just came out of the commissioning service where everyone was anointed with oil and prayed for (yes, this is New Church Training for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)!). Everyone was in a spirit of worship that probably could of gone on all night! It was awesome!

Today, there were meetings by cultures, so the Hispanic/Latino(a) group got together to speak, and it was touching to hear testimonies and the stories of people’s journeys. Before this week, we did not know each other. But now we are leaving feeling the support and love from everyone. We were all thankful and excited about what God is doing in our Church, and in our lives.
When we all re-gathered, we heard a “report” from every group, and at the conclusion, there was a sense of unity and reconciliation amongst all the cultures and groups. I pray that this continues forward from this place.

The day even started with me having a “geeky” moment. I woke up excited about discussing New Church marketing (I think I even closed yesterday’s blog entry mentioning this. OMG!) It was a great workshop where we challenged (in a good way) with simple questions that need a lot of attention and work.

Well, I guess I did have something to say. I just wish I could articulate it better at the end of the day. Basically, there has been a lot of incredible fellowship moments and learning moments.

Tomorrow is day 5, the last day.

Today was another great day, and while the teachings and workshop were again very good, I would have to say that the highlight was lunchtime. It wasn’t just the food, but sitting at a table with diverse people. I received one of the greatest compliments I ever received. Someone said, “You look Puerto Rican.” I thought that was so cool! I cannot recall anyone telling me that.
At this table I learned so much about people. I met a young, married couple from Calgary, Canada. The man is from Venezuela, and the woman is from Peru. She shared that she moved to Canada when she was 7 years old. She grew up learning French as a primary language. She had to learn English “to survive” (her words), and her Spanish has improved since she got married. Her story as a young person far from "home" resonated with mine (just without the French part LOL).
We also met a Korean pastor who was educating us on the diversity that actually exists in what we in the Western world call “Asian.” He is an awesome guy!
There was also an African-American woman who recently survived a stroke, and she is planting a church that already has 40 people worshipping. What passion for God and ministry!
And we had a member of the New Church Training staff who was sharing a tug in his heart to become a missionary after he retires. He was talking about Christianity in China, and how there is a hunger for Christ in that country, and not enough pastors. Incredible!

I'm learning so much about the ministry of Church Planting, and more so, I am learning so much more about my brothers and sisters in Christ. I am so grateful to God for the relationships being formed, and meeting new people in ministry!

I'm looking forward to tomorrow! We start the day talking about marketing.

Day 2 was productive! The teachings were great, and Hilda and I began to work on the mission, vision, and values. Wow! Developing the mission and vision statements is a lot of work, and it’s surely not final. What makes it a bit more challenging is that we’re also dealing with a complicated demographic: the bilingual community. It’s not that bilingual folks are difficult, it’s how to convey and articulate bilingualism in the United States, and to other Hispanics that is difficult.
I am aware that we will receive criticism from other Hispanics in regards to this kind of ministry. Many Hispanics don’t believe in bilingualism (I've heard them say this), and that “the youth need to cling to their roots.” However, we’re not disregarding our roots. We’re affirming them while living in the United States. This ministry is dealing with the reality of our 2nd, 3rd and beyond generations living and born in the U.S.
Simply put, I am tired of seeing youth, children, adults, and families leave the church and go to the streets just simply because they don’t understand a Spanish sermon. All I am trying to do is target the people that the Spanish dominant speaking churches are neglecting. We are a Hispanic church, it’s just that we are expressing our culture in English, and Spanish, and Spanglish. None the less, we’re going to continue to work on this, and continue to trust in God.

Well, with all the hard work we did today, what topped it off was hearing Bishop Tom Benjamin from Light of the World preach! Hilda and I haven’t heard him preach since I became student pastor at Casa del Alfarero a couple of years ago (Hilda and I are actually “watch-care members” of Light of the World). Bishop preached! And he confirmed what Hilda and I feel called to do. He preached on the renewing of our mind, a shift on how we do things. This new bilingual church is exactly that! I thank God for this training so far, and I feel empowered and encouraged by God to see this dream and vision become a reality.

More tomorrow!

I wasn't planning on blogging tonight, since I already did a post for today, but I could not go to bed without sharing my experience tonight.
Thanks to seminary, I have had the opportunity to meet different people, and worship in different settings. I've participated in worship services with people from different cultures. HOWEVER, at tonight's opening worship, I had an experience I have never had before. There were Hispanics, Anglos, African-Americans, Haitians, and Koreans all worshipping in a way that was so...genuine. It was incredible! There are so many stereo-types of how people are and worship: there is an assumption on how Anglos worship, Hispanics worship, etc. Yet tonight was different because there were no stereo-types. I truly felt tonight was a night where only God's children were worshipping.
And then, at the conclusion of the service, there was a Haitian man who asked for prayer. He came sick and he wanted to be healed. Instead of people going to bed, we all stayed and we laid our hands on him and prayed. When we finished praying, we sang together. It was an awesome moment. Praise be to God!

Anyway, I needed to share this before I went to bed. What a way to begin new church ministry!

More tomorrow!

A lot of folks have been asking Hilda and I, "so what are your plans now?" Well, Hilda and I will be moving to Central Florida soon. By the grace of God, we will be planting a new church there! For a long time now, I've felt a strong desire to begin a bilingual ministry that intentionally targets Hispanic/Latino(a) born in the United States (2nd, 3rd, 4th, and beyond generations). These are people just like me (I am a Nuyorican) looking for a place to worship and find a Christian community where they feel whole. (There is certainly a lot of theological and social importance with this kind of ministry.)

So, as a result, Hilda and I will be at a week long New Church Planter Training Event. I'm going to be blogging each day to help me reflect on this new beginning in my life.

Today is Day 1, and guess what...Casa del Alfarero, the new church plant that I attend in Indianapolis, will be leading worship tonight at the opening worship. This is pretty cool, especially since I'll be drumming tonight. Drumming soothes my soul. I love it!

I'm not necessarily nervous about this training event or even beginning this new ministry, but I do have questions that I hope get answered this week. Thankfully, New Church Ministry has been a part of my entire seminary journey, from taking a course on it in Memphis, TN, and even with being a student Pastor at a new church plant.

So with that said, I'll write some more on Day 2 of training.