LA MIRADA, CALIF. — As the Hispanic population increases and Spanish-speaking churches are on the rise, there is a need for training on topics of faith and ministry within these communities. For its 36th consecutive year, Biola University’s Talbot School of Theology will host the 2015 Biola Hispanic Conference on April 18.

“This conference is a unique opportunity for Biola to minister our Spanish-speaking brothers and sisters,” said Biola professor Octavio Esqueda, who will speak at the conference. “With the conference we serve this important part of the body of Christ through contextualized worship, fellowship, and biblical teaching for children and adults.”

This event, titled “Are You Ready … To Defend Your Faith?,” will provide a high-quality educational training opportunity for Spanish-speaking pastors, church leaders, and children of the greater Southern California area.

The one-day conference will include two plenary addresses by keynote speaker Pastor Joe Owen, and eight workshops delivered by Biola University professor Octavio Esqueda, Talbot alumnus and pastor José Fernández, Senior Pastor of Iglesia Biblica Fundamental Hugo García, pastor and engineer Jaime Simán, and apologists Andrés Umaña and Carlos Pamplona. These workshops will aim to address important issues and concerns of the church in order to enhance and sharpen knowledge for effective ministry in today’s world.

Owen is a pastor, apologist, and Spanish director of the organization Answers in Genesis — an organization that helps people answer questions of the Bible, specifically the book of Genesis. His lectures will involve themes on the relevance of Genesis and the topic of multicultural backgrounds in today’s world.

Children ages 4-12 will also have the opportunity to attend Bible classes and participate in structured recreation.

The Hispanic Conference will be hosted on Biola’s campus in Sutherland Auditorium on Saturday, April 18, from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.


The deadline for online registration is April 8. Standard tickets are $35. Tickets for children’s Bible classes and recreation are $20 per child.

For more information or an interview with Octavio Esqueda or any speaker, please contact Jenna Loumagne, media relations specialist, at 562.777.4061 or jenna.l.bartlo@biola.edu.