- Junior Dowie
A section of the gathering of worshippers at last week Saturday's Spanish-speaking church service held at Andrew's Seventh-Day Adventist Church in St. Andrew.
Donna-Marie Rowe, Contributor
A NUMBER of institutions have recognised the importance of encouraging their members to learn a second language, as the notion of the global village becomes more of a reality. One of our nearest neighbours, Cuba, is a Spanish-speaking country and Jamaica's geographical position lends itself to being heavily trafficked by Spanish-speakers.
The Spanish Seventh-Day Adventist Church situated at the Nurses' Hostel on the grounds of Andrew's Memorial Hospital, Hope Road, St. Andrew, provides a haven for those native Spanish-speaking people who are passing through either for study or work.
"We have a very transient membership," says Derval Graham, veteran media personality and one of the co-ordinators of the Spanish Adventist Church, in reference to the number of persons who attend the assembly. The church, which comprises bilingual Jamaicans and is led by Cuban Pastor Juan Quiroga-Tellez, has had persons visiting them from Cuba, Panama, Dominican Re-public, Colombia, Chile and Mexico. The largest gathering they have ever had is over 50 persons.
"It is an opportunity to interact with people of other cultures," says 19-year-old Peter Watson, a student at the University of the West Indies, who is fluent in Spanish. In 1999, Watson received the CXC prize for Spanish.
"In our interest to promote Spanish as a second language, the church here gives an opportunity to experience Spanish in a functional setting as opposed to a textbook exercise," explains Mr. Graham.
He notes that although "we have an Adventist orientation, everyone is given a chance to participate fully." Persons from other denominations have visited and have taken part in the Sabbath School and divine worship services, which are held from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. every Saturday. "Today we are discussing "La Esperanza en Jesus" or the "Hope of Jesus' Return".
Students, teachers and their high school classes, persons interested in Spanish and native Spanish-speaking people all visit the church from time to time. Persons come out of curiosity and when they do and are unable to follow, there is an interpreter who sits with them. If the group of curious onlookers is large, then an official interpreter will assist with the service.
Rohan Ankle says, "As a result of (the church) my Spanish has improved tremendously". He was converted two years ago when he began to study Spanish. It was then that he attended a Spanish crusade and decided to get baptised. "We don't mind inviting persons who are studying Spanish and if they don't know Christ - the church has a great impact on people's lives to bring them closer. Their Spanish will improve with regular attendance," Ankle says.
But it is Pastor Juan's proficiency in the English language that has improved through his interaction with Jamaicans. He has an interesting and victorious account of his migration from Cuba to attend theological school here, having been instrumental in the establishment of two Seventh-Day Adventist churches in Cuba. He was invited to Jamaica to study by Marvel Dixon who heard him preach in Cuba. He started the Spanish church in 1999 while he was a student at West Indies College, now Northern Caribbean University, and was appointed the Pastor for the Spanish-speaking church and Assistant Pastor for the English-speaking church that is situated on the same grounds.
The Spanish-speaking group is made up of persons who are at varying levels of fluency but they conduct their Sabbath School and worship all in Spanish so that persons will learn the language experientially.
"We hope that more people will come and share with us and experience worship in a different way," Mr. Graham says.
