In 2008, on the cusp of one of our country’s most challenging economic times, Apex United Methodist Church took a step of faith by hiring Pastor José Luis Villaseñor. It was as if the winds of the Holy Spirit moved to plant a Hispanic/Latino ministry in Western Wake County. By instituting the celebration of Christmas Las Posadas from the beginning, the powerful movement of the Holy Spirit included a 400-year-old Mexican tradition that welcomed our Latino neighbors.
By 2010, Fiesta Cristiana was a “new faith community” with the necessary support to start weekly Sunday services in Spanish. More than a church, Fiesta became a family for hundreds of new people. That same year, Fiesta launched the Apex Latino Arts Festival in partnership with the Town of Apex. Subsequently, a building on the corner of Elm and Moore in Apex designated as the new “Family Resource Center” also became the office of Apex Immigration Services (established in 2016) and a place of welcome to build a sense of community and response to needs. God’s spirit was creating a movement!
Fast forward, COVID-19 presented unprecedented challenges to BILPOC communities. Yet, challenging times are nothing new to Latinx-led organizations like Fiesta. Through various partnerships, Fiesta Cristiana received support to serve thousands of individuals and families within the Fairway District, focusing on Harnett, Lee, Moore, Montgomery, and Richmond. In addition, we secured funding to expand the reach of the Family Resource Center to serve residents in the western part of Wake County with food, financial assistance, information, and referrals to health and human service providers.
After 15 years, Fiesta Cristiana is still standing! We continue to create many opportunities guided by our foundational core values: All are welcome, all belong, and all are needed. The opportunity to worship, the opportunity to serve, and the opportunity to create a just and loving community. As a recently chartered Mission Congregation, Fiesta Cristiana is finalizing its post-pandemic strategy to address the financial needs of the mission congregation without sacrificing the much-needed mission work. We are following in the steps of visionary disciples who the Holy Spirit awakened over a decade ago to establish a ministry that has transformed thousands of lives.
Loving God, help us to embody Beloved community. To embrace a world where all belong, all are welcome and needed. Thank you for your faithful witness during these last 15 years, where through Fiesta Cristiana, people from various racial identities serve together in heroic ways despite their differences, coming as they are and embodying oneness. Lead us into the future by centering the experience of those who suffer inequities or have historically been disempowered to create a thriving loving community for ALL your children. Amen.
Rev. José Luis Villaseñor serves as the pastor of Fiesta Cristiana Mission Congregation in Apex, NC.
Our theme for this year’s Lenten reflections is Graceful Hospitality. 2023 marks the 70th anniversary of the Ten Dollar Club, now known as the New Room Society. We give thanks for our Conference’s ongoing commitment to co-creating new places for new people to gather in communion with Jesus Christ and extending graceful hospitality to all of God’s children.