Church in Passaic

A brief background written in about 1997 of the Hispanic church in Passaic (now meeting in Fair Lawn)

BACKGROUND: HISPANIC CHRISTIANS IN NYC AREA

The first known Spanish speaking church of Christ in the New York City area began meeting on 84th Street in Manhattan in the mid 1950's. Mack Kercheville, a faithful preacher known for his Spanish language work in Texas and Mexico, preached there for a brief period of time in the 50's. Other congregations began to form in the 70's in Brooklyn, Bronx, and Upper and Lower Manhattan.
In 1980, James Finney, who preached at Fair Lawn, New Jersey from the late 50's through 1981, came in contact with some Spanish speaking Christians with contacts in New York City. He was able to open doors for two faithful bilingual preachers, Bill Reeves and Wayne Partain, to visit most Hispanic congregations in the area in the early 80's. Since then, the congregation that meets at 159 Sherman Avenue in Upper Manhattan, has been especially influenced by Christians who are conservative in their approach to "institutionalism," though doors are still open for faithful preachers in most other congregations.

PASSAIC, NEW JERSEY

Northern New Jersey, across the river from New York City, has shared in the Latin immigration boom. According to U.S. Department of Commerce statistics, it had 898,000 Spanish speaking inhabitants in 1995.
The congregation that now meets in Passaic began meeting in Union City on November 15, 1992 and was composed of the Murillo and Tesone families and this writer. It paid $50 per service for various rented rooms in a German social club on Kennedy Boulevard.

Some of the first new converts in this new work were from Passaic, about 8 miles northwest of Union City, and therefore a small, narrow hallway was rented there on Market Street in June of 1993 for $350 a month. Shortly afterwards the brethren moved across the Street to a larger storefront building that cost $400 a month. That is where the congregation continues to meet. Attendance now averages in the 30's.
Unlike most other Hispanic congregations in the New York City area, the congregation in Passaic is not dominated by any one nationality. The membership is composed of brethren who have come from Peru, El Salvador, Guatemala, the Dominican Republic, Cuba, Honduras, Puerto Rico and one from Alabama.

FACTORS IN CONGREGATIONAL GROWTH

Several factors have helped the congregation move beyond its halting first steps to become a growing, enthusiastic and loving group of people.

* Mature Christians moving in to the area have provided teachers and maturity in dealing with problems.

* New converts like German and Andres Ortiz, Rosa Garcia, Cesar Piscoya and Teodoro and Rosa Gutierrez have given essential new blood and enthusiasm. They come from vastly different backgrounds. German was a streetwise teenager but has perhaps matured faster than any of the new converts. Rosa (Mima), a Cuban and ex Catholic, likes to consider herself everyone's grandmother. Teodoro and Rosa come from an evangelical background and have taught the brethren a lot of the songs they sang in their native Peru.

* Singing: Perhaps more than any other factor, the lively singing of praises to God has drawn the brethren of different nationalities closer together and provided a lively atmosphere for worship and growth. New songs and hymns are constantly being learned with great eagerness.
One factor often overlooked in helping small congregations to have uplifting services, is the learning of enthusiastic and animated songs of praise.

THE FUTURE

Congregations that worship in foreign languages do not usually last for more than two or three generations. Already, many of the children of the congregation in Passaic prefer to speak English.

If the Lord does not return first, eventually the wave of immigration will move on. Perhaps in several decades there will no longer be a need for a Spanish speaking congregation in Passaic as children and grandchildren assimilate themselves into English speaking congregations. Meanwhile, the congregation in Passaic will continue to provide contacts for teaching in Latin America, and make every effort to reach those Spanish speaking immigrants here. The kingdom will be extended and more people will go to heaven!

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					Return to home page Return to articles A brief background written in about 1997 of the Hispanic church in Passaic (now meeting in Fair Lawn) BACKGROUND: HISPANIC CHRISTIANS IN NYC AREA The first known Spanish speaking church of Christ in the New York City area began meeting on 84th Street in Manhattan in the mid 1950's. Mack Kercheville, a faithful preacher known for his Spanish language work in Texas and Mexico, preached there for a brief period of time in the 50's. Other congregations began to form in the 70's in Brooklyn, Bronx, and Upper and Lower Manhattan. In 1980, James Finney, who preached at Fair Lawn, New Jersey from the late 50's through 1981, came in contact with some Spanish speaking Christians with contacts in New York City. He was able to open doors for two faithful bilingual preachers, Bill Reeves and Wayne Partain, to visit most Hispanic congregations in the area in the early 80's. Since then, the congregation that meets at 159 Sherman Avenue in Upper Manhattan, has been especially influenced by Christians who are conservative in their approach to "institutionalism," though doors are still open for faithful preachers in most other congregations. PASSAIC, NEW JERSEY Northern New Jersey, across the river from New York City, has shared in the Latin immigration boom. According to U.S. Department of Commerce statistics, it had 898,000 Spanish speaking inhabitants in 1995. The congregation that now meets in Passaic began meeting in Union City on November 15, 1992 and was composed of the Murillo and Tesone families and this writer. It paid $50 per service for various rented rooms in a German social club on Kennedy Boulevard. Some of the first new converts in this new work were from Passaic, about 8 miles northwest of Union City, and therefore a small, narrow hallway was rented there on Market Street in June of 1993 for $350 a month. Shortly afterwards the brethren moved across the Street to a larger storefront building that cost $400 a month. That is where the congregation continues to meet. Attendance now averages in the 30's. Unlike most other Hispanic congregations in the New York City area, the congregation in Passaic is not dominated by any one nationality. The membership is composed of brethren who have come from Peru, El Salvador, Guatemala, the Dominican Republic, Cuba, Honduras, Puerto Rico and one from Alabama. FACTORS IN CONGREGATIONAL GROWTH Several factors have helped the congregation move beyond its halting first steps to become a growing, enthusiastic and loving group of people. * Mature Christians moving in to the area have provided teachers and maturity in dealing with problems. * New converts like German and Andres Ortiz, Rosa Garcia, Cesar Piscoya and Teodoro and Rosa Gutierrez have given essential new blood and enthusiasm. They come from vastly different backgrounds. German was a streetwise teenager but has perhaps matured faster than any of the new converts. Rosa (Mima), a Cuban and ex Catholic, likes to consider herself everyone's grandmother. Teodoro and Rosa come from an evangelical background and have taught the brethren a lot of the songs they sang in their native Peru. * Singing: Perhaps more than any other factor, the lively singing of praises to God has drawn the brethren of different nationalities closer together and provided a lively atmosphere for worship and growth. New songs and hymns are constantly being learned with great eagerness. One factor often overlooked in helping small congregations to have uplifting services, is the learning of enthusiastic and animated songs of praise. THE FUTURE Congregations that worship in foreign languages do not usually last for more than two or three generations. Already, many of the children of the congregation in Passaic prefer to speak English. If the Lord does not return first, eventually the wave of immigration will move on. Perhaps in several decades there will no longer be a need for a Spanish speaking congregation in Passaic as children and grandchildren assimilate themselves into English speaking congregations. Meanwhile, the congregation in Passaic will continue to provide contacts for teaching in Latin America, and make every effort to reach those Spanish speaking immigrants here. The kingdom will be extended and more people will go to heaven! Return to home page Return to articles