FORT COLLINS, Colo. -- Bilingual preaching is a foreign idea to most churches. But for an Assemblies of God (A/G) congregation in Fort Collins, Colo., it's the norm.
"Parents and grandparents of our church comprehend better in Spanish," said Danny Olivarez, pastor at the 100-member Templo Betel Asamblea de Dios. "But their children and grandchildren comprehend better in English because they are educated in our English schools."
Templo Betel is one of 1,918 Spanish-speaking A/G congregations in the United States, according to the A/G News Service. Olivarez preaches Sunday morning services in Spanish, then interprets in English.
"Pastor's ability to speak bilingually helps us learn English," said Ebed Molina, 34, originally from Chihuahua, Mexico.
Glenda Palomino, whose first language is English, agreed.
"Templo Betel benefits my family because my husband's first language is Spanish," she said. "It also helps my son learn Spanish."
The church offers English-as-a-second-language courses on Monday nights. Olivarez said he expects more churches across the country to start doing the same.
