PARON, Ark. – Hispanic church planters gathered over the weekend, Aug. 15-16, at Camp Paron for a spiritual retreat, where they were refreshed and re-energized in their vision and mission to share the gospel.
The Arkansas Baptist State Convention (ABSC) Hispanic Church Planting Retreat welcomed more than 30 attendees, including church plant pastors and leaders from across the state and their families.
Nicolay Guerra of Iglesia Bautista Betel in Clarksville said the retreat was a good opportunity to take a break, take time for themselves, and delve deeper into God’s word and learn more about mission and leadership.
“It has been meaningful to me. It’s a very good time,” he said. “My kids are playing outside, and my wife is with me. We are trying to search for God’s guidance, for Him to let us know what He wants me to be, what He wants our family to be. … Perhaps God has something about church planting with me. That is why we are here because I want to know more.”
Church Planter Santiago Albuja, who pastors at Iglesia Bautista Betel in Clarksville and Iglesia Bautista Hispana Getsemani in Van Buren, has attended the retreat a few times. He said it provides an opportunity for fellowship, encouragement, and learning.
“We learn a lot. Every time is different. We review who we are, where we are, and what we are doing,” Albuja said. “I think it is important as well to be encouraged by others, listen to others, and to know we are not by ourselves. That we are together working for one purpose, the Kingdom of God. That is our goal. That is what I enjoy about it.”
Albuja said a focus during this retreat was the vision and mission, noting scripture from Acts 1:8 and Matthew 28.
“The mission and the vision, that is something in my heart. I am a firm believer that the Spanish church has to work more on the mission, focusing on the vision,” he said.
James Flores, a member of a church plant in Russellville, said he loved the weekend event, but wished it could be longer.
“It is a very good … It makes me see things I didn’t see before, for example the vision and the mission. It is very good. It is helping me so I can guide and bring more people to serve in different areas,” said Flores, who serves as leader of the church’s security team. “This is very, very helpful. I am glad that my pastor invited me … I love it. I would love for it to be more days, because it is very intensive. But this is good. I am glad and happy that I am here. It has been very helpful for me because now I am going back, and I have a different vision and mission as leader of security. It’s hard to bring members to serve, they don’t want that responsibility. This has helped me a lot. I am very positive I am going to bring more members to my team.”
Winston Williams, a pastor in South Florida and South Regional Leader with Send Network Espanol, said the hope of the event is to “foster unity among pastors and leaders across the state of Arkansas and to encourage collaboration.”
“Often, pastors are just focused on local church ministry, this gives the opportunity to connect with others and collaborate,” Williams said. “They’re encouraged to come with their families, connect and have a time of refreshment. … It is a joy just to come alongside [ABSC Hispanic Church Planting Catalyst Francisco Gómez] and just plug in wherever he needs me and serve in any way that I can. … I always leave from this retreat with just a greater sense of joy to be around men and women who are just experiencing so much joy in ministry and life it’s contagious.”
“We need our Hispanic churches engaging the community wherever they are, making disciples and planting more Hispanic churches. Remember that churches plant churches,” said Gómez.
The next Hispanic Church Planting Retreat will be held Aug. 14-15, 2026, at Camp Paron.
