This year at Christmas not only a new song, but a new language was heard in New Harmony Presbytery.    It was “Feliz Navidad” and “Venid, fieles todos” (“Come All Ye Faithful”).

More than thirty children from the Hispanic community received angel tree gifts, and for the first time in years, their Spanish-speaking parents celebrated Christmas in a church. 

In 2003 the presbytery began a Hispanic Ministry in partnership with Georgetown Presbyterian Church.  While the Hispanic population of the United States has grown 58% from 1990 to 2000, it has grown 300% in the same period in the state of South Carolina, and 534% in Georgetown County during that same timeframe.

Providentially, a number of Spanish speaking teachers joined Georgetown Church in 2001, and with their leadership and the congregation’s willingness to reach out into the community, a new ministry was born.   

             During the summer, the Georgetown church offers a Vacation Bible School specifically geared for Hispanic children in the community.  In the school year, the church also provides a free after school program that offers homework assistance, English lessons, and Bible stories.   The Georgetown Presbyterian children and youth are joined by their Hispanic neighbors, children and young people, for midweek programming including food, fellowship, fun, and study.

            Under the leadership of Yorky Burnas-Arnold, from Chile, the church also provides assistance to non-English speaking families who are registering their children for public school.  Mrs. Burnas-Arnold also serves as a translator for non-Spanish speaking doctors and their non-English speaking patients.  Yorki provides a powerful and helpful ministry of presence.         

  Georgetown Church, in partnership with New Harmony Presbytery, is also leading free Spanish classes and assists with English as a Second Language (ESL) classes in the county.  Georgetown Presbyterians and their Methodist colleagues also lead a multi-cultural, multi-lingual adult Bible study, perhaps soon all participants will learn new ways and new words to sing God’s praises.

 In 2003 New Harmony Presbytery grew in its knowledge that even language is not a barrier to the love of Jesus Christ gives thanks to God for new songs, new languages, and new brothers and sisters in Christ. 

 Questions? Please contact Julie Cox at 1-843-662-8411