by BSCM Staff
PLYMOUTH, MI – “Forging Kingdom bridges because unifying God’s diverse people is worth the work” is one of the four values of the Baptist State Convention of Michigan (BSCM). With the partnership of the North American Mission Board (NAMB) who provides the wisdom and input of Jorge Altieri in Michigan, we are poised to better achieve our mission which is to “help churches take their next step to accelerate Gospel movement.” That Gospel movement has intensified among the Spanish-speaking audiences of 50-80 church leaders, during these recent nine-months with large cohorts focused on evangelism, and discipleship. During the spring of 2023, another cohort will focus on leadership.
Altieri is the SEND Network Español (Spanish) Regional Champion Catalyst for the Ohio Valley Region which includes the states of Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio. Tony Lynn, Church Planting Leader for Send Network Michigan says, “Altieri has made big impressions on all of us with his organizational skills, his profound theology, his intense missional focus, and his ability to work in Spanish and English in such a rapid, fluid way. He is the catalyst we have needed for decades. His tireless work is helping us pursue focus which clarifies our actions, making the most of our resources and time.”
Altieri describes his personal aspirations like this, “My desire and prayer for this new season in our ministry life is to see a biblical movement of new Hispanic church plants all throughout our Ohio Valley Region. We are committed to help and serve our existing Hispanic churches in areas of development and revitalization, so we can see the birth of new Hispanic churches in Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio.”
Altieri was born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He came to saving faith at the age of 16 in 1994. Since his salvation, he has served in many ministry opportunities through local churches in the areas of Bible education, evangelism/outreach, and church planting in Puerto Rico.
In 2003, Altieri and his family moved to the state of Delaware to assist a church planting team in the process of planting a Hispanic church in the southern part of the state. In Delaware, Altieri served in various ministry opportunities with local churches as a Bible teacher, musician, and in other church leadership roles.
After many years serving God in various aspects of ministry in Delaware, the Lord guided the Altieri Family to begin the process of planting Iglesia Bautista Faro de Gracia, a new Hispanic church in the town of Milford, Delaware in 2015.
Over the past 7 years since planting Iglesia Bautista Faro de Gracia, Altieri had the opportunity of serving the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware and the North American Mission Board by providing support and assistance to the Hispanic churches in those two states as a volunteer in assessments and training modules for pastors and planters.
Now Altieri and his family have transitioned from Delaware to Ohio and where he will continue to serve the North American Mission Board through SEND Network Español (Spanish) as a Regional Champion Catalyst for the Ohio Valley Region. Jorge has been married to his wife Jerica for 22 years. They have two sons: Jorge, and Jonathan.
Altieri loves guiding others in learning while simultaneously learning all he can to increase his knowledge and sharpen his skills in ministry. Altieri received his bachelor’s degree in Christian studies from Global University. He was awarded a church planting diploma from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and is currently pursuing a master’s in theology at Southeastern.
Pastor Tim Patterson, Executive Director-Treasurer of the Baptist State Convention of Michigan, unreservedly endorses the partnership of NAMB and Altieri when Patterson said, “Jorge Altieri has been and continues to be a great Hispanic leader among many of our churches here in the Midwest. We are so blessed to have him help coordinate, motivate, and encourage pastors and leaders among our Hispanic congregations. I wholeheartedly endorse and encourage Jorge and his work here among Michigan Baptists and pray that you will also. He is a man of integrity and a man of great passion and vision.” Altieri takes part in one of the state’s highest values which says that we “strengthen leaders because they shape the culture and set the pace.” Altieri’s influence is shaping a bolder and brighter future.
Jorge Altieri can be reached through the BSCM website, or at (302) 393-6400 or at jaltieri@namb.net. We are grateful for our partnership with the North American Mission Board and the generosity of the members of multitude of churches who faithfully give through the Cooperative Program and the North American Missions Offering which makes this type of productive collaboration possible.
Finally, because of your prayers we are in the early stages of interviewing five new men who think that planting new Hispanic churches in Michigan may be in their future. We are living in the excitement of anticipation as we see the Lord moving and people responding to God’s call. Would you join us in a fresh season of prayer for the ongoing development of Hispanic churches throughout Michigan where we can easily find one-half million people or more, who use Spanish every day in their lives while living among us?