Danish was the language spoken during worship services at Emmaus Lutheran Church during the first 75 years of the congregation's existence in Racine. The northside church, which was founded in 1851 by Norwegian and Danish immigrants, began offering worship services in English in 1926 and continued services in Danish until World War II broke out.

Last Sunday, the language of the congregation expanded once again in reflection of today's culture when Emmaus began offering worship services in Spanish. The Spanish language services, which will be held at noon every Sunday, are in addition to the church's English services held regularly at 5 p.m. Saturday and 9:15 a.m. Sunday. Led by Emmaus' intern minister, Jhon Freddy Correa, the noon worship is the first regular Lutheran Latino service offered in Racine as part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, according to Correa.

Emmaus kicked off its new services with a celebration that included music by Latino musicians from Chicago, as well as selections from Emmaus' adult and children's choirs, followed by a luncheon of Mexican food. The festive, service drew more than 140 people, including Mayor John Dickert and his wife, Teresa, and the ELCA's director for Hispanic ministry, as well as a mix of both congregation members and newcomers, according to the Rev. Mary Janz, pastor at Emmaus for 18 years.

"It was a good spirit," said Janz, who worked both as a Spanish teacher and a coordinator of travel/study programs to Spain and Mexico, before her call to ministry.

"It was a beautiful, beautiful service," said Olga Wilson, who has been a member of Emmaus for several years. "It was so good to see the church full of people, and Pastor Jhon Freddy has such a caring way about him that carries through in his work."

Outreach and outgrowth

Emmaus' Spanish language services are an outgrowth of several community outreach ministries the congregation has been involved with in the last 10 years, according to Janz. Since the congregation made the decision about nine years ago to do intentional outreach in its surrounding neighborhood, Emmaus has adopted nearby Wadewitz Elementary School, proving mentors for its students; hosted a Lighted School House after-school program at the church for several years; and provided a home for the Racine Family Literacy program's English as a Second Language classes a couple nights a week. They have also offered an ELCA summer camp for neighborhood children ages 6-11 in recent years that is funded through grants and donations.

"We wanted to do outreach to children and families in the neighborhood, and one thing led to another," said Janz. "It's not enough just to keep our doors open, we need to reach out. Having that mission helps to keep us alive."

Since coming to Racine about a year ago to work with churches here as part of his master's of divinity degree studies at the Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago, Correa has helped Emmaus expand its Latino ministry efforts in the community. In addition to leading the new Spanish-language services, the Colombia native has been connecting with area Latino families in their homes, providing Bible study and group prayer opportunities.

Emmaus' location at 1925 Superior St. makes it a good choice for Spanish-language ministry, Correa said, because the neighborhood surrounding the church is home to a lot of Latino families. The church's mission, however, reaches beyond its own neighborhood.

Building partnerships

Emmaus not only shares the sponsorship of Correa's internship with Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, 2417 Drexel Ave., the two congregations have similar missions in connecting with the neighborhoods surrounding their churches, Janz said.

"We initiated an intentional partnership with Redeemer in the last couple years," she said. "Like-minded people seem to find each other."

Redeemer has a "long and happy" connection with its neighborhood school, Mitchell Elementary and Middle, through a variety of programs its members have been involved with there, said the Rev. Molly Doreza, pastor at Lutheran Church of the Redeemer. And through those programs the church has connected with Latino families in the area, Doreza said.

The southside church also plans to offer Spanish-language services and aims to start doing so in mid-September. Redeemer also has the hope and vision to establish a Latino Ministry Center in the parsonage which is attached to its church, Doreza said. Correa would be involved in the center, which would serve as a space for a variety of Latino ministry activities, she said.

"When people immigrate here from other countries, they have enough difficulty adjusting to a new culture without having to decipher the language for their spiritual needs and traditions," Doreza said. "I think Jhon Freddy said it best when he said, 'People need to worship in the language of their hearts.' "

Racine's new Latino Lutheran ministry also extends beyond the two churches, Janz said, as Emmaus is receiving partnership funding from other churches, as well as other outside support, for its ministry.

"Without outside support, this additional ministry would not have been possible," she said. "This is really something of a larger church."

If You Go

WHAT: Spanish-language worship services

WHEN: Noon on Sundays

WHERE: Emmaus Lutheran Church, 1925 Summit Ave.

INFO: Call (414) 881-1403