When Central Baptist Church in Memphis, Tennessee, wanted to reach the Hispanic community around them, they started Iglesia Bautista Central, a Spanish-language daughter church that shares Central Baptist’s facilities. In 2005, Central Baptist invited missionaries Tim and Shelby Green to shepherd this small church plant. Church growth has been slow and steady, but in the last several years, that growth has accelerated at a remarkable pace. Church members are stepping up to take on more and more roles, and the changes have been a delight to the Greens. 

A year ago, one of the church leaders returned to Mexico, leaving a big vacancy. As Tim and the church leadership team considered who would fill his place, they asked, “What about Moises?” Moises had been coming to church on and off, but after agreeing to the position, he hasn’t missed a Sunday. Besides leading morning worship, Moises has volunteered for other ministries, and he challenges others to come to Sunday School and to read their Bibles consistently.   

Another man, Eder, prepares slides for Sunday morning services and teaches the men’s Sunday School class. His wife, Rosa, teaches the young children. Alfredo, along with his wife, Ericka, and their four children, are also involved in ministries. Alfredo plays guitar in the services and has started a choir. He and Eder each feel called toward greater ministry involvement and are taking seminary courses. 

Tim and Shelby are overjoyed at how people like Moises, Eder and Rosa, and Alfredo’s family have taken ownership of the church’s ministries and are coming up with ideas of their own. Three years ago, church members initiated an annual Día de Los Niños (Day of the Child) outreach. This Mexican holiday is similar to Mother’s Day or Father’s Day. Entirely on their own, the congregation planned and promoted the event, spent hours in set up, and provided food and crafts. Alfredo taught the Bible lesson about Daniel and the Lion’s Den. Tim and Shelby had to do nothing except enjoy the event with them. 

The outreach has become an excellent bridge into the community, and attendance increased to 130 this year. For Tim, the highlight was when a teen named Brito sat next to him and told him he hadn’t slept well the night before because he wasn’t sure where he would go when he died. When Tim shared the gospel’s news of hope, Brito put his faith in Christ. He now looks forward to being baptized. 

Others have found Christ. On a Sunday in April, Moises and Telma brought their daughter Yaretzi to Tim. The night before, she was thinking about eternity and recognized her need of salvation. With tears in her eyes, Yaretzi called on the Lord to forgive and save her. At the beginning of the year, a mother and her two teens waited to speak to Tim after a Communion Sunday. The teens, Brianna and Gerardo, asked questions about the Lord’s Supper. After Tim explained how Christ accomplished our atonement, Brianna and Gerardo prayed to receive Christ and expressed their desire to be baptized. 

At the evening service that same day, Tim shared what happened, and another teen, Edder, told him he wanted to be baptized also. Then Jade, a girl that Shelby had led to the Lord, said she wanted to be baptized too. The momentum continued the following Sunday when one of the faithful church attendees, Judith, told Tim that the Lord had been dealing with her about baptism. All five—Brianna, Gerardo, Edder, Jade, and Judith—were baptized on January 26, and six other adults joined the church. 

Tim and Shelby couldn’t be happier with the momentum they’re seeing at Iglesia Bautista Central—growth that is numerical and spiritual. Their coworker, Beulah Pinkston (a retired BMM missionary), is giving special training to two of the church ladies. Beulah’s son and daughter-in-law, Jim and Melissa, are training many in music. The men are holding a Saturday morning Bible study that is leading more men to become involved. 

The church now runs an average of 65-75 attendees on Sunday, and in the 50s for prayer meeting. They have begun praying about getting a building of their own. Eder began monitoring commercial properties for sale and located one in their price range. Although the congregation was outbid, their excitement has only grown. Getting their own church building is finally within reach, and they are sacrificially saving up toward a purchase. The church leaders developed a vision for the planning needed to take that step, and they are establishing a church governing structure and selecting deacons. Tim and Shelby look forward to the day, perhaps soon, when they can graduate the church. And from all indications, the church will be in good hands.