Nevada/Idaho
Paul and Narcedalia (Nancy) Rodgriguez are helping to plant churches in northern Nevada and southern Idaho. Paul, a church planting consultant, works with churches and church planters who want to start new congregations among Hispanics. The most recent successes include a new pastor at a church plant in Twin Falls, Idaho, and a church plant that recently constituted in the area. As a mentor, Paul provides and schedules training, develops would-be pastors and directs pastors to areas of need. Pray for the couple for strength, for more pastors to mentor in reaching the Mexican, Salvadoran, Guatemalan and Peruvian populations. Pray for Frank and Nancys daughter Bobbie, granddaughter and son-in-law as he goes to Iraq this year.

Texas
Patty Villarreal works with about 4,000 churches among 17 associations in the southern half of Texas. She consults churches on negotiating the legal system as they often minister to non-documented immigrants from Mexico as well as Central and South America. For many immigrants it will take months for them to be processed, Patty says. For others, they are hidden and want to remain unseen. Patty has helped form an immigration task force that helps churches use the resources they already have to reach immigrants. Churches are in the best position to assess their communities, she says. They know the people and their needs better than anyone outside their communities.  Pray for Patty as she helps churches and laypeople see the crucial role in reaching immigrants in south Texas.

Ontario
Cesar and Mary Parra work with Hispanics from Middle and South America, as well as Pakistanis, Filipinos and Italians living in North York and Mississaugatwo suburbs west of Toronto. Because of an influx of Hispanic and Latino musicians to the area, Cesar, a church planter missionary, wants to see their church plant, Emmanuel Baptist Church, become a missions center where musicians can use their talents as outreach. They already are playing in local clubs and weddings, Cesar says. I want to help train them to share their faith in the places they play. Cesar says that several of the musicians are Cuban and had to leave their instruments there when they came to Canada. Cesar and church volunteers are also developing soccer training, art classes and music classes as a way of developing serious athletes and artists while also taking the opportunity to share Christ. Pray for the Parras that God would help them develop a band of musicians who can go all over the world to Spanish-speaking countries and minister through music. Also pray for Gods provision of musical instruments and resources for sports and arts clinics.

Virginia
Marisa Sanchez works to reach Hispanic migrant workers in Northampton County in Virginia. Northampton has 20 migrant worker camps that house 4,000 to 6,000 planting, harvesting and cleanup personnel at any given time. Because migrant workers only stay in Northampton up to three months during peak season, Marisa says her biggest challenge is trying to do so much in so little time. We had one worker recently who wanted to be baptized, Marisa says. But hell be moving out before we have a chance to really disciple him. They do what they can though. Last year during the peak three months 78 people came to Christ through Vacation Bible Schools, Adult Bible studies and inviting workers to church. So far this year, more than 30 have made decisions for Christ.  Pray for Marisa and her husband, Pedro. Pray for a fulltime minister to help them in their work.

Georgia
Dennis and Rossy Rivera work with Hispanics in south Georgia as church planting missionaries. The majority of people in south Georgia come from Mexico, but there are also pockets of Guatemalans, Salvadorans and Hondurans. They also have people groups that speak dialects, and Spanish is their second language. Many of the people who were farmers in their home countries are attracted to the fields of south Georgia. The area has 24 Hispanic congregations reaching out to these people groups. Dennis helps coordinate two Church Planting Networks that allow church planters in southeast and southwest Georgia to come together for a time of fellowship, idea sharing and skill development.  Pray that God will send church planters to the area. Please pray for the Hispanic pastors in the area for their health and strength in ministry.

Florida
Sylna and Marcus rego work in the Gulf Stream Association just north of Miami near Ft. Lauderdale and Pompano Beach, Florida. She helps facilitate outreach among churches serving 14 different language groups, including Haitians, Russians, Filipinos and Hispanics. The biggest challenges for Sylnas ministry are reaching the working poor including immigrants and single moms with two, three and four children. By helping churches assess the needs of their area and helping reach immigrants through medical clinics and food pantries, she is able to see more people hear the gospel and accept the gospel and fewer people slip through the cracks. Marcus is pastor of Brazil Baptist Congregation in Margate, Florida. Pray for Sylna and her family as they work in Broward County and surrounding areas. Also pray that God would send more medical professionals to serve in the medical clinics.