{"id":4147,"date":"2019-08-16T06:00:27","date_gmt":"2019-08-16T11:00:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/gso\/?p=4147"},"modified":"2019-08-15T15:18:04","modified_gmt":"2019-08-15T20:18:04","slug":"west-coast-hispanic-conference-report","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/gso\/2019\/08\/16\/west-coast-hispanic-conference-report\/","title":{"rendered":"West Coast Hispanic Conference Report"},"content":{"rendered":"

It was my privilege to serve as the presiding officer for the West Coast Hispanic Conference on Saturday, August 10, 2019.<\/p>\n

The conference convened at 9 a.m. with a \u2018Concert of Prayer\u2019 in the beautiful and historic Templo \u2018Belen\u2019 Church in Los Angeles, California.\u00a0 Templo \u2018Belen\u2019 was built in 1906 and is currently pastored by WCHC executive council member, Rev. Pablo Jarquin.\u00a0The church could not have been more accommodating and welcoming to the 204 registered delegates in attendance.<\/p>\n

Conference Superintendent Bishop Adam Villarreal and his executive council adopted the word \u2018Arise\u2019 as the theme for this year\u2019s annual session.<\/p>\n

In his well-articulated State of the Conference Report,<\/em><\/strong> Bishop Villareal instructed us that the word \u2018Arise\u2019 means, \u201cto get up from a lying or sitting position\u201d or to \u201cgo to the next level, a higher level.\u201d\u00a0The Spanish word for \u2018Arise\u2019 is \u201clevantate.\u201d\u00a0Expounding on Isaiah 60:1, Bishop Villarreal said \u201cthat God is challenging us through Isaiah to arise because our light has come, and the glory of Jehovah has been born upon us.\u00a0We are being pushed to stand up because we can see our communities won for Christ. Our passion must be to see a generation living with the promise of God alive in their hearts.\u201d<\/p>\n

He continued by saying that \u201cwe have been challenged to arise, leave our comfort zones, and illuminate our communities, defending justice, grace, and truth in our communities and churches, not allowing us to fall or to remain in conformity. Soon, God will do something very special in WCHC.\u00a0 We are going to arise and shine like never before and attract the attention of the people in our communities with our message that still transforms human beings (Romans 1:16). It will be at that moment that we really accelerate the coming of Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:9).\u201d<\/p>\n

Bishop Villarreal reported that God has been faithful and honored the step of faith that the conference took when he became their full-time conference superintendent in November 2018.\u00a0 He has visited all of the WCHC churches this year and has \u2018enjoyed wonderful fellowship with the pastors and their spouses.\u2019<\/p>\n

He was also pleased to announce that the WCHC has purchased their very own ten-acre campground. The beautiful property is located in Wrightwood, California.\u00a0 He invited pastors and church members to go and spend a weekend at their campground.<\/p>\n

In concluding, he asked for their prayers as they continue moving forward.\u00a0 \u201cMy prayer is that our churches of 25 members will grow to be churches of 50 members, those with 50 members will grow to be churches with 100 members, and those with 100 members will grow to be churches of 200 members.<\/p>\n

In that no one received clergy credentials, each executive council member was given 15 minutes to speak\/preach on the topic of, \u201cOur Time Has Come, Let\u2019s Arise and Shine!\u201d\u00a0They did a great job and miraculously honored their allotted time.<\/p>\n

Following lunch, I had the privilege of preaching; I am always, humbled by God\u2019s anointing.\u00a0At the conclusion of my message, Bishop Villarreal gave an impassioned challenge to the teens and young adults present that \u2018felt a call from God\u2019 to take the challenge like Isaiah did and say to God, \u201cHere I am, send me!\u201d<\/p>\n

It was an honor as the presiding officer to recognize the following conference attendees and guests:<\/p>\n