The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) and Samaritan’s Purse, both led by veteran evangelist Rev. Franklin Graham, are organising a series of meetings with Hispanic pastors and leaders to encourage them and help to equip their work for the gospel.
The meetings began on Jan. 27 across 15 cities in the United States and in anticipation for the Unidos conferences this fall, giving intensive training for Hispanic pastors. The BGEA has confirmed that the 2026 Unidos Conferences will take place in Houston (Sept. 12) and Chicago (Sept. 26), with a follow-up in Dallas (Feb. 20, 2027).
The January to February dinner gatherings will include Bible-based messages, and opportunities for Hispanic pastors to collaborate “around the table,” reported a BGEA announcement. This includes “sharing their burdens, lifting each other in prayer, and discussing their vision for greater Gospel impact in their communities.”
“We want to create an environment of connection,” said Joe Mott, senior director of Hispanic Ministries for BGEA and Samaritan’s Purse. “We hope to see unity that is brought forth from pastors gathering together and focusing on the Word.”
The prevailing need for this encouragement among Hispanic leaders originated with the challenges of the Covid pandemic, according to the BGEA.
“Hispanic pastors continue to live in the aftermath of the pandemic,” said Rev. Manuel Ramón Pérez Lorenzo, President of Red Ministerial, a network of Hispanic leaders based in Queens, New York.
“In our region, more than 50 pastors died during the pandemic. We have many churches that reduced their operations by 50% or even less.”
An additional challenge, typical among church pastors generally, is a sense of the Hispanic leaders feeling overwhelmed by the strain of serving their local communities in the midst of social strife and political instability.
“We’ve felt like it’s one trial after another. … Because of all of these trials, pastors and church leaders have had to work very hard, which has caused great fatigue, frustration, and stress,” Lorenzo said.
“I believe that these gatherings that BGEA is bringing will offer the resources we need to strengthen our work, offering a great environment and quality time among pastors,” he continued. “God loves unity among His servants.”
Gabriel Ulloa, a local pastor from Tucson, Arizona, has been working alongside BGEA to mobilize other Hispanic leaders in his area. His colleagues are excited about the upcoming meetings, he said, and are looking forward to what God will do through them.
“I believe these pastors’ meetings will create an environment where all of us, together, can create a vision for the joint ministry of the Hispanic church in the United States,” said Ulloa.
“We are eager to share a message of hope and connection with all these pastors and leaders, men and women of God who preach His Word for the love of His Name.”
