Episode #139
Ep. 139 - Obe Arellano on the Future of Latino Church Planting
Obe Arellano shares why Latino church planting and next-generation leadership represent an important opportunity for the Church in the United States. Drawing from more than 20 years of church planting experience, Obe explains the complexity of the Latino and Hispanic church and what it takes to develop culturally relevant, multiplying churches. Obe and Greg Nettle begin by unpacking terminology like Latino, Hispanic, and Brown Church , including why these communities cannot be treated as a single culture. Obe explains the differences across countries, languages, immigration generations, and cultural experiences—and why understanding those differences matters for church leaders. Obe also shares his own journey from becoming a Christian at 17 to planting his first church at 22 and eventually helping develop Exponential Español , a Latino-led multiplication ministry created to provide Spanish-speaking pastors and church planters with resources, relationships, training, and opportunities to pursue multiplication. The conversation explores one of the biggest opportunities facing the Latino church: developing second- and third-generation Latino leaders who can reach both Latino communities and the broader culture around them. Obe describes the Latino church as a "both-and" church—Latino and American, Spanish- and English-speaking, immigrant and native-born, traditional and contemporary. Greg and Obe also discuss the challenge of transitioning leadership from first-generation immigrant leaders to U.S.-born Latino leaders. Rather than preserving one particular cultural expression of church, Obe challenges pastors to remain focused on ensuring that the gospel of Jesus continues to reach the next generation . For churches thinking about multiplication, Obe offers a practical starting point: look for Latino leaders who are already in your congregation, invest in them, and help them explore what God may be calling them to start. Table of Contents: 00:00 – Meet Obe Arellano & Latino church planting 02:21 – Latino, Hispanic or Brown Church? Understanding the terminology 05:16 – Obe's journey from new Christian to young church planter 08:12 – Finding church planting training & Exponential 10:17 – The vision behind Exponential Español 12:02 – Building culturally relevant support for Latino church planters 14:12 – What makes the Latino church unique? 16:13 – Developing the next generation of Latino leaders 18:27 – The leadership transition facing Hispanic churches 23:53 – How existing churches can multiply Latino church planters
