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Pastor Manuel Gonzalez

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Gonzalez leads Brethren’s new multi-cultural church

by Wanda Combs
Editor

Pastor Manuel Gonzalez stands before his church members. It’s a Wednesday night in Floyd County, and the people are gathered for preaching and singing. The difference is that in this church meeting everything is spoken in Spanish.
Una Nueva Viva En Cristo (New Life In Christ Church) is a relatively new endeavor of the Brethren Church, but it was in the planning stages for a long time. Hebron Quesenberry, treasurer for the Brethren’s district committee and a Floyd resident, said that denomination saw the need for a place of worship for the Hispanic population and others in the area. The church, which began in June, 2007 and was chartered on December 21, currently has services on Wednesday nights for Bible study and Friday nights for prayer. Its members meet in a country church building on Route 750 in Willis. That building is also home to a Presbyterian congregation, led by Richard Telling and meeting on Sundays.
Gonzalez said attendance has been as much as 20 during the spring and summer months when tree businesses require extra labor. Three families are presently attending.
Plans are for the church to add a mobile unit for Sunday School rooms and offices.
Gonzalez is a native of Puerto Rico. He came to live in Pennsylvania when he was 20 years old and stayed in the United States for 4 ½ years. During that time, he worked in construction and mechanical jobs while he tried to learn English. He had been raised in the Church of the Brethren, and when he moved back to Puerto Rico, he reconnected with the church through the youth group and “turned his life around.” He believed he would stay in Puerto Rico, but he said “God changed my plans.”
He attended the National Youth Conference of the Church of the Brethren in Colorado in 2002. He met the woman who would become his future wife. Their marriage took place in February, 2003. He and Lisa Croushorn-Gonzalez now have two daughters: Natalia Faith, 3, and Bianca Angelle, 1.
The Gonzalez family also attends the church. Lisa, who is also fluent in Spanish, provides the English translation for any visitors who do not speak Spanish. The couple’s children are also being raised bilingual.
Pastor Gonzalez, who also leads an Hispanic church in Roanoke, said the church is “open to anyone who wants to come and worship God – to glorify God and praise Him” and to discover how they can turn to Him and serve other people. “We all have purpose,” he remarked. “We just need to find it.”
At the end of a recent Bible study, the members met at front and joined hands, sharing special requests and praying for one another’s needs. A child dedication had been held earlier.
After the prayer, everyone enjoyed refreshments provided by the pastor and his family.