Iglesia del Pacto Evangelico Douglas Park hosted the service. The other five churches included Iglesia del Pacto Evangelico Albany Park, Iglesia del Pacto Evangelico Belen, Iglesia del Pacto Evangelico Grace, Iglesia del Pacto Evangelico Peniel, and Iglesia del Pacto Evangelico Renacer.
The Douglas Park worship team provided the music and members of the other congregations offered special music during the service, which was held December 12. Ana Espinoza of the Douglas Park congregation preached the message, “Best Present of All.”
Covenant missionaries Nils and Erika Clauson gave a greeting and Erika shared about the couple’s ongoing work in Monterrey, Mexico.
Members of the churches have met for the special worship service for 15 years, says Flor Retamal, a member of Iglesia del Pacto Evangelico Grace. Hispanic Women Ministries of the Central Conference in Chicago organized the service.
Women from the churches meet three times a year and also hold a yearly weekend retreat, says Retamal. Some of the events, like the Christmas service, involve the entire family, however.
Retamal says the Christmas gathering as well as the other events “enhance women’s leadership.” The meetings are important, she adds, because, “The Hispanic community is a family oriented group. Meeting with other churches allows us to have the extended family many of us have far away.”
