Honoring Hispanic heritage: Church of the City and ABHMS partner to serve and transform New London, Connecticut
VALLEY FORGE, PA (09/20/2024)—During National Hispanic Heritage Month, we honor the contributions of Hispanic Americans to the history, culture, and development of the United States. In 1968, a week-long celebration was introduced into the calendar by the Johnson administration. Two decades later, the Reagan administration extended it to a month, from September 15 through October 15. The first day, September 15, commemorates the Cry of Dolores (Spanish: Grito de Dolores), which happened when the Mexican War of Independence was started by a Roman Catholic priest, Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, who rang his church bell and issued the call to arms on September 16, 1810.
As various communities across the United States celebrate Hispanic Americans, American Baptist Home Mission Societies (ABHMS) salutes its Hispanic and Latino partners who work tirelessly to usher in the Kingdom of God on earth. One of those partners is Church of the City in New London, Connecticut, where every Saturday a community meal is served to those who need to be fed: seniors, folks facing homelessness or food insecurity, and anyone else who turns up. Nobody is turned away. The church’s motto is “a church in the city for the city,” and they are actively involved in a wide range of community projects.
New London, a former whaling town, was a bustling regional hub in the early 20th century. However, economic challenges linked to problematic redevelopment programs have started to mount over time, and today, the city’s 5.2% unemployment rate is higher than the national average. The pandemic also added a great deal of economic stress that is acutely felt by the town and its inhabitants.
Recognizing the severe impact that food insecurity has on vulnerable populations, and that no free hot meals were available in New London on weekends, First Baptist Church of New London (later renamed as Church of the City) partnered with several other faith organizations, including Calvary Chapel and the International Christian Center, to provide delicious, nutritious meals to those who would otherwise go hungry. In addition to serving food, they also offer resources such as clothing and health checkups.
Volunteers assemble a hearty pasta meal during one of the Saturday lunches at Church of the City, New London, that is free to area residents in need.
The church group responsible for serving the meal on a given Saturday must purchase the ingredients of the main dish, while Church of the City’s kitchen provides everything else. it is fully stocked with plates, utensils, seasonings, bread, desserts, beverages, and other necessary items. Dr. Patricia Sebastian, leader of the Community Meal program at Church of the City, said that the collaboration between churches ensures that no single church is overstretched. Smaller churches rotate, while Church of the City hosts the event every week. “When I came, we served around 30 men and women, and now we serve 250 meals every Saturday. In the 13 years I have been here, we only missed one Saturday, and that was because there was 22 inches of snow in downtown New London.”
Recently, Church of the City received an ABHMS grant to upgrade the kitchen equipment to industrial quality standards. A new stove purchased with the funds has significantly improved the kitchen’s functionality and reliability. The flooring also needed repairs before installing a new refrigerator. The goal is to upgrade the entire kitchen incrementally, as the current equipment becomes outdated and worn out.
Pastor Jesus Garcia of Church of the City said: “We’re starting the process of navigating and understanding what is to be a multicultural church, a diverse church, and trying to figure out always how to build God’s kingdom.” The ministry of the church extends beyond the walls of the church, which is manifested through the Good Neighbor project. “One Sunday each year, the whole church, English-speaking members, Spanish-speaking members, we serve together. We come in at 9 a.m., we sing together, and then we go as a church to serve the community,” said Garcia. “This year we did 12 projects where we worked alongside different organizations in the community. And it’s a way of uniting the church, saying that the church has left the building and gone out to the people.”
“ABHMS’ Hispanic and Latino ministry partners are invaluable in fulfilling our mission to equip leaders and heal and transform communities in an intercultural context,” said the Rev. Abner Cotto-Bonilla, ABHMS’ national coordinator for Latino Ministries. As Church of the City and many other Hispanic and Latino churches and ministries serve as hands and feet of God, ABHMS is proud to support their efforts.
Through your support of ABHMS, we can assist the Church of the City and numerous other organizations in doing their vital, desperately needed work in communities across the United States and Puerto Rico. For more information or to give, visit abhms.org.
By Rev. Dr. Anna Piela, senior writer for ABHMS and associate editor of The Christian Citizen
