Ruth Mangual
Editor's Note: This article is part of a series featuring the 2020 Sacred Sector Fellows. Each Fellow received a host site placement, where they are conducting an organizational assessment and implementation plan, and then will apply the “Three P’s” -- organizational best practices, public policy, and positive engagement -- at their host site.
I participated in this year's 2020 Sacred Sector Fellowship with The Center for Public Justice. Sacred Sector equips seminarians to service faith-based organizations in their sacred mission. This summer, I worked with La Iglesia Presbiteriana Nuevas Fronteras in Plainfield, New Jersey. Nuevas Fronteras is a multilingual, multicultural, and multigenerational community of faith, representing 17 countries and commonwealths of North America, Central America, South America, the Caribbean, and a new generation of innovative young adults born and raised in the United States. This group of God-fearing servants unconditionally serves their community because they love God, and they know that their circumstances do not limit their abilities to be faithful witnesses.
It has been more than 50 years since the Elizabeth Presbytery has officially recognized the church. Iglesia Presbiteriana Nuevas Fronteras has touched thousands of lives for the glory of God. The church has served the community with social service projects such as the Guatemalan Mobile Consulate, La Cocina Caliente, clothing bank, immigration assistance, English classes, assistance to the elderly, job preparation, marriage counseling, programs for children (Vacation Bible School, Praise Movements), recreational trips, educational spaces in the classroom, participation in the July 4th parade in Plainfield, NJ, Youth Ministries, and Family Space.
Nuevas Fronteras has also produced a total of twelve students who completed their Master of Divinity studies at various Presbyterian seminaries. Since 2005, Nuevas Fronteras has had the pastoral leadership of Rev. Dr. Victor Aloyo, Jr., pastor and staff supervisor. Pastor Aloyo's leadership was crucial to the church in identifying a new name that describes this community of faith, Iglesia Presbiteriana Nuevas Fronteras. He also helped reorganize the governing body of the church and moved the church to define its mission and vision. While leading both the United Presbyterian Church and Nuevas Fronteras from 2006 to 2018, both congregations experienced significant reconciliation between them. As a result, several collaborative outreach efforts were designed and implemented with the community of Plainfield. Rev. Aloyo has guided the governing body to develop a partnership with the Presbytery, the Synod of the Northeast, and the General Assembly in obtaining a Mission Program fund. Through the collective leadership, membership has increased, embracing the church's ministry by members has become a reality, the visibility has been much more robust in the community, and the congregant's determination has become secure with significant commitment.
Nuevas Fronteras is a church full of rich culture, love, and leadership. Many have come through the various doors of ministries and have become leaders of God's kingdom. The worship service has a mix of different types of music. Throughout Central and South America and the Caribbean, music tends to be infused with Spanish, African, Asian, and European influences. At Nuevas Fronteras all the different flavors of our culture are combined; they bring all the people of God together in this tapestry of lyrics and songs, and we praise the Lord with rhythms of various genres such as Salsa, Cumbia and Merengue.
Over fifty years ago, Nuevas Fronteras responded to God's call to "Love the Lord our God with all our hearts and with all our souls and with all our minds." And the second call has been to "Love our neighbor as ourselves." As part of the body of Christ, the Word of God touched the hearts and souls of the pastors mentioned above who have responded to God's call to establish and lead our congregation in the Plainfield community. Each pastor had the purpose of responding to the needs within the Plainfield community, which was transforming each year with more and more immigrant families that needed a place to worship in their language. God heard the need and responded as He responded to the children of Israel. It was an Exodus trip - the purpose of the church as a congregation has been defined in a meaningful way for, we are "Blessed by God to bless the World." On March 17, 2013, Rev. Dr. Victor Aloyo Jr., with the Session of the church led the congregation to become a Charter church and a religious not-for-profit corporation within the state of New Jersey.
Ruth Mangual is a 2020 Sacred Sector Fellow and is currently pursuing a Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary.
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