CuetoIt is not uncommon for me to walk into a Sunday service at our new church, Family Church en Español (gofamilychurch.org), and wonder, “What have I gotten myself into?” I had just put in a large amount of time writing a sermon and having it translated with the help of Google Translate. What an incredible tool! Having grown up in a Spanish congregation, I was not planning on returning to my Hispanic roots to do ministry. Although both my wife and I are Americans of Cuban descent, we studied, speak, and think in English. Our circles of friends are mostly English speakers with the exception of the dads on my children’s soccer teams. Unlike non-Hispanics, they understand my volume on the field correctly. “He is not yelling. He is just passionate.”

I was not searching for additional opportunities to minister. God has blessed us with a great ministry at Palm Beach Atlantic University as their campus pastor and assistant professor for biblical and theological studies in their School of Ministry. I had the best of both worlds. I get to stretch my academic muscles in the classroom teaching students the finer points of homiletical theory and exegesis, and I can put those same truths to practice ministering to a large university family (www.pba.edu).

Not to mention, I had recently completed the bulk of my dissertation in New Testament Studies from Dallas Seminary and I was ready for a break. When I was approached with the possibility of planting a new campus for Spanish speakers, I had to give it some thought. I was not looking forward to all the hard work. I had been involved in ministry start-ups and knew what they required (meetings, meetings, meetings, and did I mention meetings?). I will never forget what God was doing. It became very clear.

There are over 1 million un-churched people living in Palm Beach County. The fastest growing ethnic demographic in South Florida, let alone our nation, are Hispanics. The April 15, 2013, cover article of Time magazine highlighted that Hispanics are on the rise, and growing with them is the evangelical church’s influence all over the United States. One cannot live in South Florida and deny this growth, nor its implications on the American religious scene, as well as its capability for political reach.

So, why help start a new service? Looking back at that decision over two years ago, I was quickly reminded of the three reasons why we ventured into starting a Spanish church. My prayer is that they be of use to you.

The first reason was the importance of the Great Commission over personal comfort (Matt 28:16-20). It is easy to fall into the “church-ianity” culture where church attendance becomes the crown jewel of the spiritual experience. Taking the Great Commission as the “Great Suggestion,” we’ve minimized becoming a follower of Christ with only the promise of spending eternity with God in heaven. A true follower of Christ isn’t satisfied with going to heaven in the future, but wants to bring heaven down to earth today. I considered myself a disciple who worked hard at making disciples, and a unique opportunity had presented itself. Would I consider playing a part in the Great Commission to a community that represented part of who we were? Would I look at this opportunity to impact the Hispanic community of West Palm Beach through the lens of the Great Commission or would I choose my personal comfort? The church in the Book of Revelation chapter two is threatened with having her light snuffed out for forgetting her mission. When the church fails to make disciples, the church fails. Living in a community with thousands of Hispanics who don’t know Christ, the option to choose comfort over the commission was not an option at all. Our church is fueled by an intense desire to see lives and families changed through the message and mercy of Jesus Christ.

The second reason had to do with God’s call over my own call. We are all called to serve God in full time ministry. The question is one of location, “Where?” I considered all of the work that I would be involved in. I kept asking myself, “Is it worth it?” Instead of asking, “Is it worth it?” the question should be, “Is he worthy?” I knew the answer was yes! The one who called me was worthy of every sacrifice to accomplish the mission he has all of his children on. Parker Palmer, Center for Courage and Renewal, defines calling as whatever causes you bliss. As a college pastor, I see this definition as being flawed. Some bliss can come from immoral behavior. Your calling is not what brings you bliss. Your calling is what brings God bliss. Your calling begins at the very heart of God. It is his desire to see lives transformed through his church.

Lastly, will it be God’s kingdom over my personal kingdom? We often like to debate what the New Testament means when it speaks of God’s kingdom. The New Testament speaks of the kingdom being in heaven. At times, it presents the kingdom of God being in hearts. It also talks about the kingdom of God being in people’s midst. Which is it—heaven, hearts, or in our midst? The kingdom of God is wherever Jesus is king. According to Dallas Willard, the kingdom is where what God wants done, gets done! The kingdom of God has to do with God’s agenda. It is wherever God’s plan and purposes are accomplished. By choosing to become a bi-vocational pastor with Family Church, I was choosing his kingdom over my personal kingdom. Certainly, not everyone is called to bi-vocational pastoral leadership, but we are all called to play a role in his kingdom agenda.

That sums it up! As I sit at our kitchen table late into the night with a second cup of coffee translating a sermon into Spanish, I am motivated by those three truths. I am grateful for the Great Commission, God’s Calling, God’s Kingdom, and let’s not forget, Google Translate.

Bernie A. Cueto serves as the teaching pastor of Family Church en Español (gofamilychurch.org) and the Campus Pastor for Palm Beach Atlantic University (pba.edu/campus-pastor) where he also teaches Biblical and Theological Studies. He received his Th.M. and Ph.D. from Dallas Theological Seminary. He is married to Ana (13 years) and they have three children (Bernie 10, Nicholas 8, and Sophia 5).