The White Memorial Church initiated a dynamic new ministry at the start of 2006. Beginning Jan. 1, Dr. Frank Gonzalez, director-speaker of La Voz de la Esperanza media ministries and a general field secretary of the North American Division, joined the White Memorial pastoral staff.

According to Senior Pastor Lawrence Downing, “Dr. Gonzalez preaches two Sabbaths monthly and plans to be at the church during the week between the two Sabbaths. The target audience of the new ministry is the English-speaking Hispanics in metro Los Angeles.

“Our intent is to become part of the civic and religious community, and Frank is a natural to pursue these goals. The mayor and other city officials are Hispanic. We will partner with the White Memorial Medical Center to conduct diabetes-prevention seminars, vegetarian cooking schools, exercise programs and other community outreach. We recognize this is an experimental project and look forward to our ministry partnership. We are grateful to the Lord for these opportunities to impact our community and share God’s love.”

In 2004, Gonzalez videotaped a satellite series broadcast to the U.S., Mexico and Latin America. “At that time, Frank and I began discussing how we might utilize White Memorial Church facilities to reach the community," said Downing. "During our conversations, I asked why he did not join the White Memorial pastoral staff, since the church is located in the middle of the largest Hispanic population in the United States and associated with the major medical institution in East Los Angeles. In Los Angeles, La Voz de la Esperanza* is the premiere Spanish religious broadcast with an established reputation and presence—our joining forces seemed a natural. Our conversations resulted in partnership.”

The new outreach ministry with Gonzalez is the latest of WMC’s ministries planned specifically for the community. Eleven years ago the White, with assistance from the North American Youth Department and La Sierra University’s Hancock Center, established Urban Embrace, a Monday to Saturday summer day camp program for kids ages 6 to 13. The concluding Sabbath of Urban Embrace is marked by a presentation of a full-blown Christian musical. The church also sponsors a weekly food bank and invites community people to participate in evening programs at major holiday times. These events have resulted in the establishment of a Spanish-language worship service, now in its second year. This service is also attended by families of White Memorial hospital patients.

*La Voz de la Esperanza airs in Los Angeles on KWKW-AM 1330 at 7:05 a.m. Sundays.