CIU alumnus makes gospel inroads with Hispanic community in Louisiana

Columbia International University alumnus Danny Carpenter (master’s degree in Old Testament 1991) is making significant strides in reaching Hispanics with the gospel in his Louisiana community.  

Carpenter’s work is featured in an article published in The Advocate in Baton Rouge. 

After serving as a missionary in Mexico and Venezuela for 30 years, Carpenter has returned to his hometown in Livingston Parish where he is the pastor of Iglesia Comunidad de Cristo in Denham Springs. The congregation has welcomed families from diverse backgrounds, including Mexicans, Hondurans, Ecuadorians, Venezuelans and Cubans. 

Carpenter notes that the Hispanic population “is growing tremendously” in his area, and that local churches and pastors have encouraged his outreach to them. But even so, he adds that “you have to go out and make contact with them. It's not like you live in Venezuela with Hispanics all around."

He told the newspaper that he has had a desire to “actively share the gospel of Christ,” since he was 15 years old. 

"Jesus means everything to me," Carpenter said. "I wouldn't be where I am without His forgiveness, without his mercy, without His presence of the Holy Spirit ... I probably would not have gone everywhere I've gone and done everything I've done without Him. I try to point people always to Jesus."

Read the article: “Bringing mission to Livingston Hispanic community” in The Advocate. 

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