Holt and Druid Hills UMCs actively seek to connect with their Hispanic neighbors

The congregations of Holt and Druid Hills UMCs (Southwest District) want to connect with their Hispanic neighbors. This Christmas they stepped out to try to do just that.

They planned for their Christmas Eve Service to be a bilingual worship service in both English and Spanish. They also planned a fellowship time of cookies and hot cocoa. In preparation, Pastor Rev. Sarah Smoot visited several Hispanic businesses and a neighborhood of Hispanic residents to offer invitations to worship and fellowship.

When the evening of Christmas Eve arrived none of their Spanish-speaking neighbors came, but that has not deterred the congregations. They are already looking to the next opportunity to connect with their neighbors – Vacation Bible School.

The congregations are now making plans to hold a VBS in a local Hispanic neighborhood.  Rev. Smoot says, “I think bringing the church into the community will give us a better chance to connect than asking people to walk in the doors of an unknown church.”

She adds, that she thinks the visits and invitations in preparation for Christmas Eve have helped lay the groundwork for the community to recognize the church’s name and pastor so that a connection will be possible through VBS this summer.