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A HUGE CROWD PLEASER - WORSHIP FIESTA.
Not to be outdone by the week of festivities in San Antonio, Texas, when
they celebrated their Fiesta San Antonio, Brother Daniel Medina and
his Fiesta Band presented Worship Fiesta to a large gathering on
April 30, 2008, in the fellowship hall.
Brother Daniel, his son Danny, his daughter Rachel, and Cherri Lee entertained the appreciative after-dinner folks with a variety of Hispanic songs from many countries. Most were from Mexico, but they played and sang some from Cuba, Argentina, Puerto Rico, and Panama.
Brother Daniel played the PSR Keyboard, the Digital Piano, and the Korg Workstation; Danny played the Spanish Guitar; Cherri played the flute and the guitar; and Rachel did a remarkable job at the drums and other percussion instruments.
A spirit of celebration always prevails in Hispanic worship. It is diverse, going from the most solemn and liturgical to the most casual and spontaneous with a charismatic influence. Spiritual songs and hymns are influenced by secular rhythms and styles. The instruments chosen are the favorites of the Hispanic community. It was a memorable experience for the Brunswick First folks! - - - - (from the church newsletter)
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Our Hispanic Ministry continues to expand! God is truly blessing the Hispanic Ministry of First UMC. Under the able leadership of Rev. Daniel Medina, attendance at worship each Sunday has increased.... In a recent interview, Brother Daniel expressed his deep appreciation to the entire membership of Brunswick First for the splendid support that has been given to our Hispanic Ministry. He said the progress so far is beyond his initial expectations and he is confident that it will continue. He said he was especially pleased with the faithful support of the teachers who work with the children and youth each week. He mentioned Tammy Ramsey, Megan Good, Susan Lee, and Julieta Medina as those doing outstanding jobs in this area. Others who assist greatly include Charlie and Nancy Ratcliffe (sound equipment), Daniel and Rachel Medina (music), and Claudia Theise (Outreach Ministry). "The rigid formality of the church in their former country does not prepare these Spanish speaking persons for easy entrance into the UMC in America," Rev. Medina explained. "They are not accustomed to reading the Bible and hearing sermons about God's Grace and love for every single person." Knowing this from his own past experience, Brother Daniel has become a teacher as he reveals to his eager congregation the good news that God wants a personal relationship with each person, and that his son, Jesus, came to show how man can live in harmony with God and each other in love: void of fear or damnation from any source on earth. This is news to many from other cultures and it takes time for such a change to be grasped. Brother Daniel continues to spend much of his time ministering to individual needs of our Spanish speaking community.... It was a good day in the life of this church when our Hispanic Ministry was begun. As the days go by it is getting better and better! Thanks be Brother Daniel has initiated a new Outreach Ministry to meet some of the emergency needs of members of the Spanish speaking community in Brunswick. |
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2007 Our Hispanic Ministry is steadily growing under the leadership of Rev. Daniel Medina, Associate Minister of Brunswick First United Methodist Church! The appointment of Rev. Daniel Medina as Associate Pastor to Brunswick FUMC in June, 2006, was the result of God’s blessings, much prayer, and excellent planning by our leaders in the conference and here at home. Having spent the previous 11 years in Bainbridge, Georgia, starting up and leading a new church for Spanish speaking folks, he has unique talents for reaching and ministering to a people struggling to become a part of a new culture. During the first 15 months of his ministry here, Brother Daniel has made good progress attracting Spanish speaking persons with his warm heart and Christian love. He says it is so important to first gain the respect and trust of others if a strong relationship leading to church attendance and activities is to come about. He spends a lot of time assisting those with language problems when they find themselves facing day-to-day or legal difficulties. Sometimes his ministry of presence is all that is needed, and he’s always there as a friend and/or a pastor. On some Sunday evenings he will have 50 persons in his congregation. The Spanish Methodist Hymnal and another book with favorite Spanish hymns are used in worship. The children and youth have Sunday school at the same time and are led by Tammy Ramsey and Susan Lee who are doing marvelous work. Brother Daniel was born in Mexico City. His great, great grandparents were a part of the first Methodist Church in Mexico in 1873. Some of his relatives are still active there in the Methodist Church today. He grew up in a Methodist pastor’s home as his father was a Methodist minister who became a District Superintendent in the North Central Conference in Mexico before retiring and moving to North Carolina where he is presently living and still serving a Methodist Church. Before studying for the ministry, Brother Daniel attended a Methodist College in Chihuahua, Mexico, and earned his degree in architecture in 1984. He continued with his activities in the church as lay leader and doing extensive mission work. His efforts took him into the mountains to work with and minister to the Indian natives there. He and his wife, Julieta were married in 1986 and he started up a new graphic design business in 1991 that grew rapidly. But he was feeling a strong urge from God to go into the ministry. He prayed that God would open doors for him in America and close doors in Mexico. God answered his prayer. He began losing business to competitors and his father was strongly urging him to come to America. It is obvious to this man of many gifts that God has a plan for him and he intends to spend his life working that plan. Praise be to God! |