Churches in Florida Welcome Venezuelan Immigrants

Veronica Neffinger | iBelieve Contributor | Updated: May 19, 2016

Churches in Florida Welcome Venezuelan Immigrants

Churches in Orlando, Florida are seeking to help Venezuelan immigrants who are pouring into the U.S. due to a massive economic crisis in their country.

According to ChristianToday.com, Venezuela is suffering from an economic crisis which has led to political unrest. Because of the state their country is in, many Venezuelans are choosing to immigrate to the U.S. in search of a better life.

Rev. Gabriel Salguero, the pastor of The Iglesia El Calvario in Orlando and president of the National Latino Evangelical Coalition, has said that about 400 families arrive in Florida every month.

In addition, Salguero said that about 1,000 families arrive in central Florida from Puerto Rico every month.

The influx of Latino immigrants presents a great opportunity for Florida churches, says Salguero: "There is a real opportunity to be a Gospel presence and to be Jesus to these people."

“The Latino evangelical church becomes a bridge to social networks and to employment," he continued.

Salguero has traveled to Venezuela himself where he met pastors and established connections with Venezuelan churches. Salguero said that there is freedom of religion in Venezuela which greatly helps the Gospel cause.

Publication date: May 19, 2016



Churches in Florida Welcome Venezuelan Immigrants