The Joy of Getting Things Done – in Spanglish

Posted on June 9, 2021 by J. Boe Ellis

TAMPA, Fl — It never hurts to have a translator, but sometimes it’s just the two of us. With my broken Spanish, his broken English, and with Google Translate, it is amazing what we can get done.

I was reminded of that this past Tuesday, June 8, 2021 as I celebrated with Pastor Lester Acosta (our partner) that we had finally received back his articles of incorporation from the State of Florida.

Now it’s official. Iglesia Bautista Camino de Restauracion (which loosely translates Restoration Road Baptist Church or Restoration Way) is now a Florida, non-profit corporation. It has a Federal tax ID number and Pastor Lester is on his way to open up the first bank account for his new church plant in Tampa, FL.

And to think a little less than three years ago, Pastor Lester was living in the Caribbean dreaming of someday coming to the U.S., and not because he wanted to somehow escape his homeland–which he dearly loves–but because he believed he could serve his homeland and the Lord Jesus more effectively by relocating to Tampa. And he is.

And to think three years ago, I was with a team from FBC Tampa sharing the Gospel right alongside Pastor Lester. Praise God, today we are able to collaborate together on projects there and right here in Tampa.

What a blessing.

It’s something that I have done a dozen times, starting new corporations, I mean. It’s something I’ve helped other English-speaking church planters do at least a handful of times. But, never have I been able to do it in Spanglish. Oh, the joy of partnerships. Next: we’ll work with the staff of the Tampa Bay Baptist Association to help the new church get approved with the Florida Baptist Convention, and then the Southern Baptist convention, and soon after get it’s own 501(c)(3) recognition from from IRS. Simple things (at least for me) that we can do together to strengthen our partnership.

Meanwhile, Pastor Lester continues to do the things that are really important like loving his neighbors–the Spanish-speaking immigrants and natives in Town and Country; preaching the Gospel to them and growing a church family; leading small groups, and preaching the Sunday service. At the same time, he continues to be a leader and source of encouragement and support for our partners, the pastors and churches in his homeland.

Oh the joy of partnerships. In Spanglish, I believe that’s “oh, la alegría de la asociación” at least according to Google. Amen.

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