Pastor Dan Wiersema and Immanuel Baptist Church in Cedar Rapids called Gilmer Mauricio to begin Immanuel Hispanic Baptist Church on June 24th, 2012. The Baptist Convention of Iowa (BCI) and the North American Mission Board (NAMB) were also among their partners.
The church is still new, but is now established and ready to take on a new ministry adventure. On January 23rd, in partnership with the BCI, Pastor Mauricio is initiating Seminario Biblico Hispano de Iowa (Hispanic Biblical Seminary of Iowa). The purpose of the seminary is to develop local church leadership and to cooperative with other Hispanic churches in Iowa.
Pastor Mauricio says the “vision and mission is ‘to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ’ and all the people called to the ministry of planting churches, family ministry, and missions (Eph. 4:12 ESV).” He also asks for “prayers, donations of books in Spanish, and financial support to perpetuate this precious ministry of training disciples of our Lord Jesus.”
We want to continue to whatever we can to reach everyone in Iowa for Christ. Our new partnership with Pastor Mauricio should help us to develop leaders to start churches among the Hispanic population of Iowa.
