The Launch of 9Marks at Southeastern in Spanish

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9Marks EspagnolIn the spirit of innovation, serious commitment and a vision to serve God’s diverse kingdom, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (SEBTS) launched the first 9Marks at Southeastern in Spanish. Six years ago, 9Marks started a partnership with SEBTS to hold an annual conference focusing on the nine marks of a healthy church. In past years, the conference has addressed topics including expositional preaching and the Gospel.

This year Southeastern organized a conference entirely in Spanish facilitated by Spanish speaking authors and leaders. The speakers discussed and taught on topics such as biblical theology, conversion, evangelism, church membership and discipleship. The conference began with Dr. Danny Akin, president of SEBTS, praying for the event pastors and speaking about his personal commitment to serve the Hispanic community.

Edgar Aponte, director of Hispanic Leadership Development at Southeastern and one of the speakers of the conference, said: “Our prayer is that we will bring glory to Christ by training and equipping current and future Christian leaders among the Hispanic community. … SEBTS is here to serve the Spanish speaking church, and we want pastors to see us as their ally in serving them as they work to fulfill the Great Commission. A key to all this is a healthy understanding of the church.”

Over 50 pastors attended the conference from different cities and states from throughout the Southeast. Four pastors drove from Houston, Texas to attend the conference. William Ortega, senior consultant for Hispanic Church Planting with the North Carolina State Baptist Convention, said: “The talks and the conference in general was a productive and edifying time. Pastors were blessed by what they heard and the time of fellowship they enjoyed.”

Several Charismatic and non-denominational pastors attended. Aponte said: “At Southeastern we are a servant to SBC churches, but we also want to reach beyond that as a resource to help foster diversity within the church and our denominational environment.” Hispanics are the fastest growing ethnic group in the U.S. A large majority of those that are ministering among Hispanics do not have any kind of theological education. The lack of a good theological and gospel foundation has made many Hispanic pastors targets of distortions such as the prosperity gospel and theological moralism. SEBTS is committed to becoming a vehicle that will bring clarity and soundness to the Spanish speaking churches by engaging and training Christian leaders and pastors.

Apart from Aponte, the speakers included Miguel Nuñez, the senior pastor of the International Baptist Church in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic; Ryan Townsend, executive director for 9Marks; and Juan Sanchez, the preaching pastor of High Pointe Baptist Church in Austin, Texas. 9Marks is a ministry that exists to equip church leaders with a biblical vision and practical resources for displaying God’s glory to the nations through healthy churches. 9Marks created a Spanish website and has translated several books and journals to serve pastors within the Hispanic community in the U.S. and in Latin America.

To view photos from 9Marks en Español please click here.

For more information about 9Marks en Español please visit: es.9Marks.org

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