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Teens at the North County church - It's not uncommon for youth from the North County Church of Christ in Escondido, Calif., to alternately praise God in Spanish and English, they say. Three worship services at the congregation - two English, one Spanish - draw diverse groups to the growing congregation north of San Diego.
Teens at the North County church - It's not uncommon for youth from the North County Church of Christ in Escondido, Calif., to alternately praise God in Spanish and English, they say. Three worship services at the congregation - two English, one Spanish - draw diverse groups to the growing congregation north of San Diego.
ESCONDIDO, CALIF. - Damaris Romanillo, the American-born daughter of Mexican immigrants,
feels equally comfortable praising God in Spanish or English.
The 17-year-old high school senior worships in both languages at the North County Church of Christ, a growing congregation north of San Diego.
Many Sundays, she attends one of two English services, which draw a combined 500 worshipers. Then she joins her parents — and 250 other souls — in a Spanish assembly.
Other times, she helps with children’s Bible classes — all integrated and featuring “team teaching” by English and Spanish speakers.
“Whenever there is a situation, I translate and I help out, so we can be one big family,” said Romanillo, a children’s ministry intern.
At many churches, the Hispanic ministry occupies a back room or meets in the afternoon after the English assembly, said Daniel Rodriguez, associate professor of religion and Hispanic studies at Pepperdine University in Malibu, Calif.
Not so at the North County church, which aims to break down barriers that can divide Hispanic and Anglo members — even those who meet under the same roof.
“It’s arguably the healthiest Hispanic ministry we have in the Churches of Christ and one of the largest,” Rodriguez said.
The 17-year-old high school senior worships in both languages at the North County Church of Christ, a growing congregation north of San Diego.
Many Sundays, she attends one of two English services, which draw a combined 500 worshipers. Then she joins her parents — and 250 other souls — in a Spanish assembly.
Other times, she helps with children’s Bible classes — all integrated and featuring “team teaching” by English and Spanish speakers.
“Whenever there is a situation, I translate and I help out, so we can be one big family,” said Romanillo, a children’s ministry intern.
At many churches, the Hispanic ministry occupies a back room or meets in the afternoon after the English assembly, said Daniel Rodriguez, associate professor of religion and Hispanic studies at Pepperdine University in Malibu, Calif.
Not so at the North County church, which aims to break down barriers that can divide Hispanic and Anglo members — even those who meet under the same roof.
“It’s arguably the healthiest Hispanic ministry we have in the Churches of Christ and one of the largest,” Rodriguez said.
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