The Baptist Church of Metropolis Celebrates 25 Years
by Jesús Garcia
La Iglesia Bautista de Metrópolis, Puerto Rico (Metrópolis Baptist Church) was the first church in the Caribbean to join Cooperative Baptist Fellowship in November 2007, and it is pastored by Jesús Garcia. Last June and with the theme "Ebenezer, thus far the Lord has helped us," it celebrated its 25th anniversary. Several leaders were part of this true celebration of the Spirit. Ray Johnson, Coordinator of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Florida and the Caribbean, was the first of the assistant preachers. Also, Pastor Samuel Otero from San Antonio, Texas, preached to us.
Metrópolis Baptist Church is a missional church. Each activity is designed to be lived in the community and for the community. On Saturday, June 8, a concert was held outdoors at night and on the street for all residents of the community of Metrópolis. Seeing people go out of their homes and walk on the streets while listening to the message of faith and hope was a renewing experience.
Missions are part of the DNA of Metrópolis. We have received over five groups of missionaries and our church has commissioned 11 pastors; we also support a mission in Sosua, Dominican Republic.
The closing of this anniversary celebration was at the Coliseo Rubén Zayas Montañez in Trujillo Ato, PR. Over 30 children danced and many testimonies were shared of the various ministries of community impact that Metrópolis cultivates day by day. It was a great week to celebrate that we are the hands and feet of Christ where He has put us to serve.
Pastor Jesús Garcia, Iglesia Bautista de Metrópolis in Carolina, P. R., invites you to come and join him and his church in missional engagement.
In 2007, while visiting a church in Sosua, Dominican Republic, Pastor Jesús Garcia from Iglesia Bautista de Metrópolis in Carolina, Puerto Rico met Dr. Bernie Moraga, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Hispanic Initiative leader and Rev. Tommy Deal, formerly the Associate Coordinator for CBF of Florida. Not long after meeting and talking about his church and the work of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, he was encouraged to consider leading his church to be a part of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship family. In November, 2007, he led his church to formally align itself as a part of Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Florida, becoming the first church outside mainland USA to become a Cooperative Baptist Fellowship church.
In the ensuing time, he has led his church to grow in its partnership and value with Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. His church helps to coordinate Cooperative Baptist Fellowship church mission groups’ work on the “island of enchantment” in partnership with the American Baptist Churches USA regional association, Iglesias Bautistas de Puerto Rico (www.ibpr.org.) In 2009, a church from North Carolina began this missional partnership and in 2010 two churches have already begun plans to go, one from Georgia, and our own College Park Baptist in Orlando.