Silent Exodus: A First-Hand Experience and Academic Exploration of the Complicated Challenges of Leading a Latino Church in the Twenty-First Century.
Synopsis "Silent Exodus: A First-Hand Experience and Academic Exploration of the Complicated Challenges of Leading a Latino Church in the Twenty-First Century."
There is a silent exodus of emerging generations from Latino churches in America. It is a crisis of infertility and preservation, an inability to retain and reclaim the second-and third-generation due primarily to changing demographics, an increase of influence of post-modernistic thought, a void of relevant leadership, and recent challenges with technological advances. Unless the church takes Latino teenagers and emerging adults-who are the primary targets of these challenges- more seriously, the Latino church's future is in doubt. Leading strategically in a Latino church context requires critically engaging the complexities of Latino culture, theology, and multi-generational realities. Today's Latino churches face the challenge of making space for multi-generational identities and developing the leadership skills to embrace predominantly Latino communities that are increasingly becoming more monolingual and multicultural. Latino churches that do not accommodate experience the silent exodus. This book focuses on equipping pastors and emerging leaders on counteracting the silent exodus. This is a first-hand experience and academic exploration of the complicated challenges of being part of, serving in, and developing a Latino church in the twenty-first century. The book provides a leadership approach that directly engages technology, globalization, and communicating the gospel in a post-Christian world from a Latino perspective. Dr. Steve Pinto serves as the Associate Pastor of Faro Church, a multicultural and bilingual fellowship. His knowledge of God's Word and love for people, mixed with his high energy and sense of humor, has been a powerful tool in God's hands as a keynote speaker at various youth events, camps, and conventions. Additionally, he functions as an adjunct professor at Vanguard University and LABI College. His primary teaching areas are Christian Worldview, Youth Ministry, Effective Leadership, Discipleship Making, and Expository Preaching. He and his wife, Diane, live in Southern California with their children, Alexi and Nathan.
