Unity Conference welcomes teens … and their parents

Fabio Castellano, director of Spanish online education at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, speaks at the Unity Conference as Sam Castro, conference director, looks on. Castellano spoke to the teens attending Unity and held a special class for parents.

Every year, Hispanic church youth groups across Arizona unite to rejoice in faith, truth and Yuma’s famous monster tacos. Unity Conference, held at Iglesia Cristiana Tiera Fertil in Yuma, is a two-day vibrant event that serves as a home for Hispanic teenagers to come and worship in their own language, Spanglish.

Unity kicks off on Friday night and continues until Saturday evening. This year, it was held Aug. 30-31, with 278 people attending.

As soon as the groups get out of their vans and stretch their long trip away, they are greeted with a sign, “Bienvenidos a casa,” welcome home. Every single detail Unity invests in caters to an atmosphere where faith and cultural identity unite.

“I love the experience so much,” said Elizama Perez from Iglesia Bautista Nueva Vida in Phoenix. “I look forward to it every single year. I feel like, growing up as a pastor’s kid, it was really hard to grow spiritually because I felt alone. But Unity helped me realize I wasn’t alone; many of us are on the same path.”

This year, however, Unity offered a special gathering for parents to have their own mini-conference as well. As the worship music shook the main building with the teenagers worshiping Jesus, the parents quietly made their way to their conference, looking for a chair to settle in.

The timid question that echoed in the parents’ faces was undeniable. How do I connect with this new generation? This may be a straightforward answer for many parents, but sometimes answers aren’t so simple.

Fabio Castellano, director of Spanish online education at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, shook parents’ hands, introduced himself and comforted them. He was the guest speaker for the event and welcomed 80 eager parents.

Castellano started the conference with the reality of what teenagers experience as individuals. He shared viral videos that are a norm in today’s young culture but were shocking for adults to watch.

Sam Castro, director of the Unity Conference and youth pastor and creative director at Tierra Fertil in Yuma, speaks to teens at Unity, held Aug. 30-31 at Tierra Fertil.

As a people, “these individual and collective experiences shape how we see the world,” Castellano said. “We call this worldview.” He emphasized topics including social media, peer pressure and social influences. These factors mold the way a child grows up, he said.

Then, Castellano zoomed out to a more globalist perspective of those topics. He shared an understanding of how the world has been changing from generation to generation. “But the one thing that never changes is the Word of God,” he said.

What can bridge the gap between worldview and Christ-view? Deuteronomy 6 formulates the answer, Castellano said: “These are the commands, decrees, and laws the Lord your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, so that you, your children, and their children after them may fear the Lord your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life.” Deuteronomy 6:1-2 NIV.

Being your child’s friend isn’t an option; they already have many, Castellano said. But they only have two parents, and in some cases, just one. Biblical education is a great responsibility that is non-negotiable for a Christian parent, he said.

The response from the parents was overwhelming. The conference was extended by popular demand, and free time was canceled. Castellano opened the floor for a Q&A. As the questions flooded in, parents realized they were not alone in their struggles. A sigh of relief rang across the room. Indeed, it was a much-needed time.

“There is so much to learn from our brothers and sisters in Christ,” said Josephina, a parent in the audience. “I didn’t just recognize that I wasn’t alone but also that I can learn from their hardships and not be embarrassed and afraid of what others might think of our parenting situations.”

Castellano closed the time with an important reminder: “Christianity isn’t a life that is lived individually; my family, my home, my life is only for me. Together, we should help each other mutually. We may think this is an uncultured idea. But I hope, as a church, we can come together to discuss these topics without fear of judgment but to aim to grow together.”

Anna Zeledón, a freelance writer living in Glendale, is a member of Iglesia Bautista Central, Phoenix.