Sermons from the Latino/a Pulpit
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About this ebook
Eli Valentin has gathered some of the top US Latino/a theologians and religious practitioners to contribute actual sermons that have been constructed out of the rough and tumble of the Latino/a reality.
The sermons in this book approach nitty-gritty issues that directly impact Latinos/as in the United States. What we find as a result is a message of hope that continues to emanate from the Latino/a pulpit, a hope placed in a God who promises a restored cosmos.
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Sermons from the Latino/a Pulpit - Wipf and Stock
Sermons from the Latino/a Pulpit
Elieser Valentin, Editor
9992.pngSermons from the Latino/a Pulpit
Copyright © 2017 Wipf and Stock Publishers. All rights reserved. Except for brief quotations in critical publications or reviews, no part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without prior written permission from the publisher. Write: Permissions, Wipf and Stock Publishers, 199 W. 8th Ave., Suite 3, Eugene, OR 97401.
Wipf & Stock
An Imprint of Wipf and Stock Publishers
199 W. 8th Ave., Suite 3
Eugene, OR 97401
www.wipfandstock.com
Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
paperback isbn: 978-1-4982-7897-3
hardcover isbn: 978-1-4982-7899-7
ebook isbn: 978-1-4982-7898-0
Manufactured in the U.S.A. November 20, 2017
Table of Contents
Title Page
Contributors
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Who Do People Say that I Am?
Against All Odds
Rachel’s Tears for Aylan Kurdi
Migration and the Immigrant as a Biblical Motif
The Missing
¡Una Pneumatología de Basta Ya!
Remember to Say Thank You
!
Called to Be the Face of Mercy
Along the Border
The Liberating Mission of Jesus
Extravagant Interruption
Being Witnesses of God
To the Rev. Angel Valentin, my father and the one who taught me that there is power in the sermon.
Contributors
Efrain Agosto is Professor of New Testament Studies at New York Theological Seminary. Formerly, he was Academic Dean and Professor of New Testament at Hartford Theological Seminary. Dr. Agosto has served in pastoral ministry in Pentecostal, Baptist, and Congregational churches in New York, Boston, and East Hartford, Connecticut.
Miguel Alvarez (PhD, Oxford Centre for Mission Studies) is a missionary from Honduras. He is Associate Representative of Superbook at the Christian Broadcasting Network, Director of Hispanic Ministries for the Church of God in the state of Virginia, and Adjunct Professor of Theology and Mission at Regent University in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Alvarez is former President of the Asian Seminary of Christian Ministries (ASCM) in the Philippines and the Asian Pentecostal Society (APS).
Mireya Alvarez (DMin New York Theological Seminary) is Director of Women Ministries with the Church of God in the state of Virginia. She teaches in the areas of spirituality and Latin American studies.
Liliana Da Valle was born in Argentina. She served as a counselor for battered women and as a hospice chaplain. She graduated with a Master of Divinity from Northern Baptist Theological Seminary and with a Doctor of Ministry from Andover Newton Theological School. Dr. Da Valle was an area minister, executive minister, and seminary professor in New England. Currently, she is the pastor of New Horizon Baptist Church and Grace Baptist Church, both in San Jose, California.
M. T. Dávila is a laywoman in the Roman Catholic tradition. She completed her PhD in Christian social ethics at Boston College. Her main interests are the intersections of class identity formation and Christian ethics in the US context. Her research looks for the intersection of these issues with respect to the relationship of class and militarism, class and immigration, and class and activism.
Orlando O. Espín is Professor of Systematic Theology and Religious Studies at the University of San Diego. He has authored or edited ten volumes, and several hundred articles published in US, European, and Latin American academic journals. His theological research has been on popular religion, traditioning, and culture. He is a pioneering figure in Latino/a theology.
Pablo A. Jiménez is the Associate Dean for Hispanic Ministry Programs at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Prior to joining Gordon-Conwell, Dr. Jiménez served in pastoral, directorial, and educational positions around the world, most recently as Senior Pastor of the Iglesia Christiana (Discípulos de Cristo) in Espinosa, Dorado, Puerto Rico. He earned a BA from the University of Puerto Rico; an MDiv from the Evangelical Seminary of Puerto Rico; an STM from Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis, Indiana; and a DMin from Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Georgia.
Sister Teresa Maya is President of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR). She is the Congregational Leader of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas. Sister Teresa, a native of Mexico, has been a member of the Congregation for twenty years and has served in leadership positions in our schools in Mexico.
Carmen M. Nanko-Fernández is Associate Professor of Hispanic Theology and Ministry and Director of the Hispanic Theology and Ministry program at the Catholic Theological Union, Chicago, Illinois.
Jean-Pierre Ruiz is on the faculty of the Department of Theology and Religious Studies at St. John’s University, New York. He earned his doctorate from the Pontifical Gregorian University and is a priest in the Diocese of Brooklyn, New York.
Leopoldo A. Sánchez is the Werner R. H. and Elizabeth R. Krause Professor of Hispanic Ministries. A Concordia faculty member since 2004, he is Associate Professor of Systematic Theology and Director of the Center for Hispanic Studies. He received his Doctor of Philosophy from Concordia Seminary (2003) and his Master of Divinity from Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Indiana (1999).
Elieser Valentin is a much-sought-after political consultant and advisor to numerous national elected officials and political candidates. He is also pastor of the Iglesia Evangélica Bautista in New York City and has taught at Union Theological Seminary, New York Theological Seminary, and Hunter College (CUNY).
Acknowledgments
Authors often say that their work is never produced in isolation, that it takes a community of supporters—family, friends, colleagues—to help them see projects through. How right they are. The idea of compiling this book emerged nine years ago. Life circumstances—being a father of four, a husband, pastor, adjunct professor, and political consultant, and all the challenges that life produces—prohibited me from beginning the work sooner. But I am grateful for a community of supporters that nudged, motivated, and encouraged me to complete this project.
I am indebted to the generosity of the contributors to this volume. The appreciation and honor I feel cannot easily be expressed in words. They all have taken time out of their busy schedules—as prominent scholars and/or religious practitioners—to make this book a reality. To them all I express my heartfelt ¡Gracias!
In particular, I am grateful to Orlando Espín for his friendship and mentorship throughout the years. Our friendship began on Facebook and from there developed into a relationship that is dear to my wife and me. ¡Gracias, compadre!
I must also express my gratitude to the two congregations that have in many ways nurtured me and have allowed me to grow in my vocation as a pastor and theologian: the Iglesia de Dios de la Calle 100 and the Iglesia Evangelica Bautista.
The most precious thing to me is the support and love of my family. Without them, I wouldn’t be who I am, nor would I have been able to see this project through. To my parents, Angel and Luz Belen Valentin, who instilled in me the necessity of proclaiming the gospel; to my brother, Dr. Benjamin Valentin, and my sister, Bethsaida, whose companionship and love I cherish—thank you all! Since the age of fifteen I have been most fortunate in gaining another brother—Dr. Anthony Pinn. Without a doubt, my relationship with Tony has helped me become a better person and thinker. Thanks, bro! My in-laws—Maryanna and Jimmy—have been a constant source of love, support and encouragement. And of course, to my lovely wife, Maria, who taught me how to love. She has been my most precious gift, who in turn gave me three other precious gifts—Justin, Gabriel, and Benjamin. I love you all to the moon and back! And to my firstborn, Josiah—you are growing up to be a precious young man. I love you very much.
I wish to thank the Wipf and Stock team for taking on this project. A special thank you to Brian Palmer for his diligent work and constant prodding. And lastly, to Uli Guthrie, whose editorial help throughout the years has made me a better writer.
Introduction
Elieser Valentin
The Protestant Reformation not only placed the preached Word at the center of the worship service (or Mass, depending on one’s tradition or denominational affiliation) but also claimed it as perhaps the most critical undertaking of all the functions of the church. Today, a number of Protestant traditions continue to