Bilingual Texas church plant bridges generations; Christians and predatory payday lending; Demonstrating faith in Jesus.

As the Hispanic population in the U.S. grows, new challenges are emerging. For example, more children and teenagers from Hispanic households are improving their English language skills but not developing their native Spanish language skills.

As a result, in many Hispanic households in the U.S., parents speak little English and their children speak little or no Spanish. This reality has created an environment where many parents – and churches struggle to connect with the – younger generation. 

These challenges are what prompted Manuel Martinez, pastor of Logos Baptist Church in Brownsville, to start an English-language Hispanic ministry. 

Logos is a church with a passion for missions. On a mission trip to Dallas last year, they ministered to a migrant community from Afghanistan. As a result, several migrants renounced Islam and gave their lives to Christ. The church also ministers on the campus of the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley in Brownsville, where members conduct Bible studies that have led three students to accept Christ and be baptized. 

Christians should care about predatory lending because its practices exploit and take advantage of our neighbors, whom we’ve been commanded to love. In the Old and New Testaments, Scripture is clear that God’s people should not tolerate injustice, should serve and care for those who are marginalized, and where possible, put a stop to the injustices perpetrated against them.

Predatory lending affects not just individuals, but families and entire communities. Cumulatively, it’s an industry that as of 2010 collected $3.5 billion every year in fees alone (i.e., interest and other fees), making it increasingly difficult for borrowers to make ends meet, for families to put food on the table, and for whole communities to thrive. Christians should care about payday lending because it’s a system that fundamentally “undermines the dignity of borrower[s] when [their] failure leads to success and profit for the lender.” Predatory lending is an issue of biblical justice and human dignity.

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Good News for Today is made possible through our friends at The Voice of the Martyrs, a nonprofit organization that serves persecuted Christians around the world. Founded in 1967 by Richard and Sabina Wurmbrand, VOM is dedicated to inspiring believers to deepen their commitment to Christ and to fulfill His Great Commission — no matter the cost. Find out more and sign up for their free monthly magazine at vom.org/goodnews.

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Jesus revealed His identity as Messiah and Lord through His words and His actions. From some He shrouded these truths; but to others, namely His disciples, He made these truths plain. Those followers didn’t always grasp the significance of Jesus’ identity, but sometimes they couldn’t help themselves from doing so.

Jesus demonstrated God’s love for the perishing in a greater way by laying down His life to provide salvation from sin and death. All who have faith in Him receive not just another day to sail, but the gift of eternal life with God.

If we are followers of Jesus by faith, then we know firsthand the love of God who has authority over all creation. God’s love has been shown supremely in the gift of His Son Jesus. We who believe in Jesus should seek to demonstrate bold faith in Him, no matter our circumstances, so others might trust in Him for salvation.