Signature Ministry In Action
In the heart of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Pine Hills Church is living out a powerful truth: the Gospel speaks every language.
As the city’s Spanish-speaking population continues to grow, this church has embraced the call to serve not just in proximity—but with intentionality and cultural humility. Their Spanish-speaking ministry, Pine Hills en Español, isn’t just an add-on. It’s a response to a very real opportunity—and a very real need.
Fort Wayne’s population stands at just over 270,000—and more than 10.5% identify as Hispanic or Latino, according to recent U.S. Census estimates.
That translates to over 28,000 residents, with most tracing roots to Mexico, as well as other Latin American countries. Importantly, about 6.5% of Fort Wayne residents speak Spanish at home, a number that continues to climb each year.
From local schools to workforce development, the Latino community is vital to the region’s growth. But with that growth comes a clear challenge: representation and inclusion, especially in faith communities.
Seeing this demographic shift, the leadership at Pine Hills Church didn’t wait on the sidelines. In December 2021, they launched Pine Hills en Español—a full Spanish-speaking ministry designed to offer worship, community, and discipleship in a culturally welcoming environment.
“If we remove the language barrier, we have a whole new group of people that we can reach with the gospel”
— Pastor Hugo Reyes, Pine Hills en Español
And that’s exactly what they’ve done. With over 100 individuals now attending regularly, hailing from 14 countries, Pine Hills en Español is more than a service—it’s a spiritual home for many who might have otherwise felt like outsiders.
What sets Pine Hills apart isn’t just that it offers a Spanish service—it’s that they’ve designed their approach around long-term relationship building:
- Dedicated pastoral leadership through Pastor Hugo Reyes
- Culturally relevant worship and teaching
- Small groups, ESL assistance, and outreach tailored to real needs
- Full integration with the broader Pine Hills vision, not a siloed experience
This isn’t about assimilation—it’s about belonging.
The story of Pine Hills en Español is a call to action for churches across the country. As communities become more linguistically and culturally diverse, churches have a choice: reactively accommodate or proactively embrace.
Pine Hills chose the latter. Their approach shows that intentional language access and cultural inclusion aren’t optional extras. They’re central to the mission of the church—to make disciples of all nations, even within our own ZIP codes. By removing the language barrier, Pine Hills Church opened a new door to the Gospel.
But even more than that, they extended the table—proving that everyone has a seat. As Fort Wayne continues to grow and diversify, Pine Hills isn’t just keeping up—they’re leading with love, strategy, and Spirit-filled vision.
