VAN BUREN, Ark. - A shared desire to reach people with the gospel brought seven Hispanic churches from the Fort Smith and Van Buren area together for the two-day "Jesus Is the Answer" evangelistic crusade at First Baptist Church Van Buren. 

More than 300 people attended the event, with approximately 150 gathering the first evening and 175 attending the second night. Organizers reported that two people professed faith in Jesus Christ, while 10 others made commitments to serve the Lord. 

For Francisco Gomez, church planting catalyst for Arkansas Baptists, those decisions were the true measure of the event's success. 

"I believe that even though we didn't see the numbers we prayed for, the people who were there were the ones the Lord wanted present," Gomez said. "All the effort was worth it. There was rejoicing in heaven because two people received Jesus as Lord and Savior, and 10 people decided to serve the Lord as He wants." 

The crusade was the culmination of months of prayer, planning and cooperation among Hispanic pastors who first discussed the idea during a fellowship meeting last December. 

"We asked, 'Why don't we do something together?'" said Pastor Santiago Albuja, who serves Iglesia Bautista Betel in Clarksville and Iglesia Bautista Hispana Getsemaní in Van Buren. 

As conversations continued, the pastors envisioned an event that would not only encourage their congregations but also provide an opportunity to share the gospel with Hispanic families throughout the River Valley with personal evangelism, using John 3:16 bracelets. 

The churches met every two to three weeks to plan the crusade, combining financial resources, volunteers and prayer to make the event possible. Each congregation also encouraged its members to begin praying for and inviting at least five people who did not know Christ. 

"The main goal was to preach the gospel and invite people," Albuja said. "We do what we can do, but in the end, it's the Lord who builds His church." 

Church Planter Ricardo Ramirez of Iglesia Cristiana El Buen in Alma said the partnership reflected the churches' shared mission. 

"We just wanted to work together and try to reach as many people as we can," Ramirez said. "No matter where they're coming from, we all want them to come to Jesus." 

The crusade featured worship led by two different worship teams, one from Arkansas led by Julio Gomez Junior and his band and the other one by a Hispanic worship team from Champion Forest Baptist Church in Houston, Texas. Through music and worship, the team helped direct attendees' attention toward Christ and prepared hearts for the preaching of the gospel. 

Sharing the message both nights was Pastor Mario Monterrosa of Iglesia Bautista Vida Nueva in San Salvador, who highlighted how the cooperation among the churches was itself a powerful testimony to the community. 

“We are sending the message that we are united for the same cause. And that's powerful," he said.  

Monterrosa said the churches' desire extended beyond simply gathering a crowd. 

"The first thing is that people know who Jesus is," he said. "When we know who Jesus is, we know whom we serve." 

He also emphasized that the churches were praying for lives to be transformed, not merely for decisions to be made during the crusade. 

"What we want is transformation," Gomez added. "There are many Hispanic families in Van Buren, Fort Smith and the surrounding communities who need the message of Jesus, Jesus is your answer."