TAMPA – As more than 8,000 pastors from around the world gathered in Tampa for the 2019 International Pastors & Leadership Conference, Hispanic leaders assembled to explore cultural shifts, religious polarization and the unique challenges facing American Latinos for the inaugural “¡Dios Mío!” roundtable.
As the religious landscape of Latinos continues to shift, founder of The Potter’s House Bishop T.D. Jakes brought Hispanic leaders together for a conversation to foster greater cross-cultural understanding. Immigration, politics and community solutions were trending topics during the enlightening conversation.
Moderated by Emmy-winning journalist Myrka Dellanos, panelists agreed, race relations and social injustice are complex issues. The recurring answer: it is time to speak up, not be led by any one political ideology and unite.
“If you are in leadership in the community, it’s vital to emphasize healthy relationships and healthy conversations,” said Julio Hobaish, associate pastor at The Potter’s House of Fort Worth. “Your leadership has a voice. You can tell [about] your leadership by the dead bodies you leave behind. If you don’t speak, you’re leaving generations behind.”
Hobaish was joined by faith-based experts Rafael Sanchez, pastor at the House of Worship Ministries in New Jersey, and Diane Cortes, president of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Tampa Bay.
“With border control and immigration issues top of mind, we [faith-based leaders and churches] find ourselves walking a grey line,” said Sanchez, who expressed that many churches are afraid to engage due to lack of education. “Sometimes the most valuable thing we can offer is information and training.”
