Some in society have an unfavorable view of young Latinos. But God has another view of young Latinos. The staff of InterVarsity’s LaFe ministry focuses on helping Latino college students realize the difference between the two, and discover God’s purpose for their lives.
Campus staff member Abner Ramos has been working in East Los Angeles for over six years. “These students have a spiritual burden that’s very distorted, influenced by what society thinks about them,” he said. Through the Bible they gain a new perspective on their culture, and they learn what Jesus did for them on the cross.
“What our students need most are examples of leaders who struggle like they do, who have family drama, experience injustice, but in the midst of all of that, remain faithful, and use their talents, their power, their knowledge, to bless people,” Abner stated. For just that reason, LaFe leaders chose the story of Joseph from Genesis as their main focus during LaFe 07, their second national staff conference, held in Torrance, California, December 27-31, 2007.
The conference was aimed at giving Latino students a broader vision and challenging them to prepare themselves to be leaders.
“The message of Joseph is that at the right time God will ask us to step up, to step into places that will test our integrity or our faith. We should not fear the Joseph moments and allow God to heal us, reconcile us, and use us in places of power,” said campus staff member Melissa Contreras.
She saw the impact of the message among her own students from the University of Texas—El Paso (UTEP). “Coming from a majority Hispanic campus the students realized they were not just participants at the conference but were also there to be an example as Latino leaders in their chapter and to encourage other Latino students from other InterVarsity chapters around the country.”
Only one student from Melissa’s chapter at UTEP had come to the previous LaFe conference in 2004. This year she was accompanied by 12 students from UTEP and the University of New Mexico.
The total of 240 students attending LaFe 07 numbered over twice those who attended LaFe 04. Before LaFe 04 there were only four or five specifically LaFe ministries on U.S. college campuses. “Now there are 22,” said LaFe’s national director, Orlando Crespo.
“A significant percentage of these new ministries grew out of the LaFe 04 conference, places like Sonoma State and San Francisco State,” he added. “Even a Bible study at Harvard grew out of LaFe 04.”
“The LaFe conference plays a key role in the future growth of LaFe, but it’s also a marker of how far we’ve come,” said Orlando. “My vision for the LaFe Conference is to have students realize that they are part of a larger family, a larger LaFe family that’s very much tied to InterVarsity.”
Orlando anticipates more chapters and more staff as the fruit of LaFe 07. Full-time and part-time LaFe staff now number 60, up from just 17 in 2000 when Orlando took over the leadership of LaFe. “Some of our Latino students who have been to the conference are going back to their campuses feeling empowered to lead ministries that are ethnic specific to the Latino community,” he said.
There were two tracks at LaFe 07. One was for students who wanted to learn more about expressing their faith in Christ through their ethnic identity. And one was for those who want to prepare themselves for leadership on campus and beyond.
“We spoke a lot about the power of the Gospel, particularly through Joseph’s life,” Orlando said. “It was the power of God that enabled Joseph’s dream to flourish.” Eleven students also made a first-time commitment to faith in Jesus Christ at the conference.
“The truth is we do have many more Latino students who are going back to their chapters and fully engaging in ministry,” Orlando concluded. “Before LaFe 04 and 07, we had a lot who were on the fringe and looking in. Now they’re realizing God has called them to lead. They’re stepping in and leading. That’s where some of the growth of our LaFe ministries is happening.”
