Lives are being changed as SBTC en Español continues to expand

SBTC En Español’s annual Florece retreat is designed to provide women with a place of pause where they can be equipped, encouraged, and renewed. 

“We prayed that Florece would not just be another event, but a true turning point in the lives of those who attended—and that is what God did,” said Arlene Sanabria, SBTC En Español women’s ministry leader. “We have received countless testimonies from women deeply impacted by the Word shared in workshops and general sessions. Many experienced inner healing and freedom from anxiety and depression, while others found comfort and had their faith renewed.”

About 900 women representing 75 churches attended the retreat, continuing a trend of growing attendance at SBTC En Español events throughout the year. The events are not just drawing large crowds, but leading to changed lives. 

At Florece, 14 women made professions of faith in Jesus Christ, while others answered a call to serve the Lord in various capacities. A similar situation happened at the Hombres de Impacto conference earlier this year, where one of the 750 men in attendance trusted Christ after being invited by a participating church.

Over the summer, Youth Week—SBTC En Español’s student camp—saw 675 campers gather to worship, connect, and hear the gospel. One of those campers was a 16-year-old girl who had been taking hormone therapy pills in an attempt to transition her body to having male characteristics. Instead, she heard the gospel, surrendered her life to Christ, and has since stopped taking the medication and started a discipleship process at her local church. She was one of about 50 campers who made a profession of faith. 

SBTC En Español trained more than 650 lay leaders and pastors in discipleship, leadership, technology, church planting, and evangelism through the annual Apoderados conference held in conjunction with the SBTC’s Empower Conference in February, and through Equip En Español in July. The first Hispanic Women’s Ministry Leadership Summit hosted 70 leaders representing 33 churches, and a pastor and wife retreat encouraged 30 couples to strengthen their marriages and remain steadfast in their ministries.

Additionally, more resources became accessible to Spanish-speaking churches this past year through the SBTC’s Church Health and Leadership department. Those included Chosen to Serve, a newly developed deacon ministry training, and Regenesis, a process designed to help churches experience health and renewal. 

The year also saw a new leader called to serve SBTC En Español. Luis González began working as the ministry’s full-time director in August. 

“I’m so grateful to be a part of this team. We want to mobilize our churches to make disciples and to do it with excellence,” González said earlier this year. “[When we do this], we will see more of our churches accomplish the mission of making disciples and see many people come to Christ.”

—Jayson Larson