New Orleans Seminary Hosted Hispanic Leadership Event
The annual Abre Mis Ojos conference gathered over 800 attendees to focus on servant leadership and community engagement.
Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in Religion — General
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The New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary welcomed 816 guests for its Abre Mis Ojos conference on September 18-19, 2026. The event, themed Liderar para Servir, brought together members from more than 40 churches across five states.
Why it matters
This conference was specifically designed to engage the Hispanic community through targeted plenary and breakout sessions. It reflects the seminary's ongoing efforts to support leadership development within Spanish-speaking congregations.
The conference drew 816 attendees from five states and 40 different churches. The seminary also reported that 100 children participated in activities during the two-day event.
The players
New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary
This educational institution serves as a center for theological training and ministry preparation.
Samaritan's Purse
This is a nondenominational evangelical Christian organization that provides spiritual and physical aid to people around the world.
Louisiana Baptist Convention
This organization represents a coalition of Baptist churches working together to coordinate missions and ministry efforts across the state.
Lifeway
This non-profit corporation provides resources, services, and ministry tools for Christian churches and individuals.
Billy Graham Evangelical Association
This organization focuses on global evangelism and provides resources for Christian ministry and leadership.
The details
The event included various breakout sessions and featured collaboration with partners like Samaritan's Purse and the Louisiana Baptist Convention. It builds on the success of the seminary's online Spanish program, which was launched in fall 2021.
Timeline
The seminary launched an online Spanish program in fall 2021.
The first Abre Mis Ojos conference occurred in 2022.
The first master's class from the Spanish program graduated in spring 2024.
The fifth annual Abre Mis Ojos conference took place Sept. 18-19, 2026.
The next Abre Mis Ojos conference is scheduled for Sept. 17-18, 2027.
Roadmap
The conference serves as a key pillar in the seminary's effort to integrate Spanish-language theological education into its broader mission. By mirroring the success of the online degree program, the event highlights a long-term strategic shift toward inclusive, multilingual leadership training.
Local church members and attendees can expect continued access to leadership training resources designed for Spanish-speaking congregations. The event serves as a networking hub for those seeking to participate in future theological courses offered by the seminary.
The takeaway
The sustained growth of this event illustrates the increasing importance of tailored resources for the Hispanic Christian community in the region. Participants can implement the servant leadership principles discussed to strengthen their local ministry efforts.
What happens next
The next Abre Mis Ojos conference is scheduled for September 17-18, 2027, and students enrolled in the Spanish program are expected to graduate in December 2026.
Further reading
For more on the seminary's ongoing community events, visit Religion — General.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Biblical Recorder.
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