An Oasis: Memphis Hispanic Church members find friendships, relief through its small group ministries

For the past ten years, the Memphis Hispanic, Tenn., Church has been placing a strong emphasis on its small group ministries. This has resulted in a stronger church community and place of rest for its participants.

Armando Zaldaña, church member at the Memphis Hispanic Church, was baptized in 1993 thanks to the influence of a small group he attended while living in California. Since then, he has taken leadership of different small groups and spearheads this ministry at the Memphis Hispanic Church.

“The [small groups] are not just a religious gathering, but a lifestyle,” Zaldaña said. “It gives us a chance to learn about God and make connections beyond the church service on Sabbath.”

The Memphis Hispanic Church currently has eight small groups, which meet weekly on Wednesdays. The groups vary in size, but on average each is composed of 10 participants.

According to Zaldaña, a small group should have two goals: to worship and to fellowship. At the Memphis Hispanic Church, the program starts with ice breaker activities, followed by Bible study and prayer. In addition, the groups offer a potluck and a time for members to discuss what they wish to achieve as a team.

“Another important aspect for a small group to be successful is to provide special programs for the children,” Zaldaña said. “This way, parents can focus on the meetings without worrying about their kids.”

For some church members, like Roberto Cámara, small groups play an important role on their spiritual life. Cámara was born to an Adventist family but says he never felt connected to the church community until he joined a small group.

“For most of us [in my group], our relatives live far away, in another country,” Cámara said. “So, to have someone that I can share my worries and joys with is a relief.”

Cámara has been leading his small group for the past two and half years. He says this ministry has been a blessing to his entire family and now encourages other churches to fully invest on these programs.  

“I know many people see [small groups] as a burden, because you have to take two or three hours from your week to attend a meeting that has nothing to do with your responsibilities,” Roberto Cámara said. “But once you give it a chance and experience this church family, it becomes like an oasis. It's like having a party once a week.”