PARON, Ark. – Hispanic church planters from across Arkansas gathered Aug. 14-15 at Camp Paron for a spiritual retreat focused on renewal, fellowship and a shared commitment to proclaiming the gospel.

The Arkansas Baptists’ Hispanic Church Planting Retreat welcomed more than 40 church plant pastors, leaders and family members for a weekend of teaching, fellowship and encouragement. The retreat provided an opportunity for those serving in Hispanic church planting to step away from the demands of ministry, connect with others serving in similar contexts and return home with renewed vision for their work.

For Julio Gomez of Iglesia Bautista Gozo de Mi Alma (Joy of My Soul Baptist Church) in Fort Smith, the retreat was an opportunity to receive something he could take back to his congregation.

“I come here with the mentality of receiving something new that I can share to my congregation,” Gomez said. “But it blesses me just to come here and have fellowship with other pastors and other leaders. That’s the main reason that I like to come – to have fellowship and learn.”

Gomez said the teaching also prompted personal reflection about his own leadership.

During one session, participants were encouraged to examine their character and temperament. Gomez said the discussion helped him recognize an area in which he needs to grow.

“I learned today that I might be a little too hard on people,” he said. “I need to slow down a little.”

The guest speaker during that session was Misael Rodriguez, academic dean of the Hispanic Department at Louisiana Baptist University. Drawing from Romans 12:3 and Romans 7:15-25, he emphasized that self-awareness is essential for effective ministry, allowing leaders to live under the control of the Holy Spirit to improve their temperament.

“With the help of the Holy Spirit, you can change your temperament and live under the control of the Holy Spirit,” Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez also emphasized the value of simply bringing church planters and pastors together. He noted that retreats provide vital fellowship for pastors and church planters, who often feel isolated. These gatherings offer necessary encouragement, shared experiences and professional training.

“This kind of retreat has a great impact in the life of the church planter and pastors, because usually we feel really alone in the ministry,” Rodriguez said. “When you come to this kind of retreat, you can share your experience and feeling with other partners in ministry, and you receive encouragement, and also you receive instruction and training to be a better servant of the Lord.”

Daniel and Nelly Armendariz, Hispanic church planters with Family Church in Siloam Springs, traveled about three hours to attend the retreat. The couple said the gathering offered a chance to connect with other Hispanic church planters who share the same mission to share the gospel. 

“It’s good to know different ways that we can work to reach more people and to also develop the leaders,” Nelly said.

For those who attended, the retreat was more than another ministry training event. It was a chance to pause, listen, learn from one another and allow God to renew their focus.