South Valley Community Church is one of Gilroy’s most prominent
congregations. Established by Senior Pastor Eric Smith in his
living room some 25 years ago, it has grown in size and mission to
the point where it has a significant impact on the community.
South Valley Community Church is one of Gilroy’s most prominent congregations. Established by Senior Pastor Eric Smith in his living room some 25 years ago, it has grown in size and mission to the point where it has a significant impact on the community.
But church leaders have noticed a disturbing fact: The ethnicity of the congregation does not resemble the demographics of Gilroy as a whole. The city’s Hispanic residents are not benefiting from the many programs SVCC provides its members.
Church leaders began envisioning a new ministry to reach out to residents of South Valley who either speak only Spanish or who are more comfortable using the language. On June 15, the church held its first “South Valley Comunidad Cristiana.”
The service begins in the church’s main auditorium at 8095 Kelton Drive. English- and Spanish-speakers gather together for the beginning of worship. When it is time for the sermon, Spanish-speakers adjourn to an upstairs room to hear a message preached in Spanish. There are also prayers given in Spanish, an interactive question and answer period, followed by refreshments during a time of fellowship.
Adolfo Moreno is pastor of the new group, assisted by his wife, Lina. Moreno is a native of Bogota, Columbia, and has been ministering in the United States for the past 4-1/2 years.
Moreno was raised in a Roman Catholic family in Bogota, but didn’t feel a personal relationship to Jesus or God. At the age of 19 he discovered that missing relationship and two years later felt a call to serve the Lord as a minister. For the past 24 years he has been a pastor of Philadelphia Church. It has a congregation of 2,000 in Bogota and an additional 3,000 members in 75 small congregations spread across the country.
Moreno was also employed by Knox Fellowship, a Presbyterian evangelistic organization based in the U.S. This relationship turned dangerous when the drug cartels which oppose the Colombian government accused him of being “part of the system” for having contact with Americans.
Nearly five years ago they issued a death-threat to him and his family, mentioning details of each member which implied that they were being watched closely. Knox Fellowship probably saved his life by quickly sponsoring his immigration to the U.S. Since then, Moreno has served churches in Omaha, Neb., as well as Burlingame and San Jose.
Moreno has already been busy in Gilroy. Living in the home of a missionary currently on a mission out of the country, he has knocked on doors around town to introduce himself and describe his ministry. He has also introduced himself to other local Latino clergy, offering to cooperate with them in serving the unchurched Hispanic members of the community.
Plans for South Valley Comunidad Cristiana are ambitious. Small home groups (like Bible studies), community conferences (on domestic violence, health care or legal issues, for example), marriage and family seminars, and social outreach programs have also been suggested.
Senior Pastor Smith has called Moreno “the right man at the right moment.” Outreach Pastor Mark Turner reports that “the church has fallen in love with the Morenos,” while praising him for being very “articulate and clear.” Other church members have mentioned his relevant messages, graciousness and gentle humor.
For more information about this new ministry, call (408) 513-5603 or (408) 848-2363.
