FEATURE

Communicating Love Across Languages

When Marcos Cruz came to Shreveport, Louisiana, to teach at the local Adventist school, he didn’t plan to open a second classroom after hours. But that’s what he did. By day, he taught Bible, math and science. By night, twice a week, he opened the doors of the Bossier City Spanish Seventh-day Adventist Church for anyone who wanted to learn English.

“It started because we saw the need,” he said. “Many of our students were from immigrant families. They were trying to learn, but their parents couldn’t help them at home—not because they didn’t care, but because of the language barrier.”

That barrier, Cruz realized, wasn’t just academic. It was spiritual, financial and relational. Without English, many parents were unable to help their children with schoolwork. Without English, they were stuck in low-paying jobs that demanded long hours and offered little stability. Without English, it was hard to navigate life in a country where the language touches nearly every aspect of daily living—from healthcare and transportation to community services and spiritual growth. So Cruz began teaching English, not just to the students at the school but to parents, neighbors and church members.

“Learning English can change everything,” he said. “It helps you get a better job. And when you have a better job, you’re not working two or three jobs. That means more time with your family, more time for Sabbath rest, more time with God.”

The ministry started small, with a handful of students and one weekly class. But Cruz quickly saw progress. Within a few months, three adults had advanced enough to enter a second-level class. Rather than overwhelm himself by doubling his teaching load, Cruz gave the students a challenge: If they wanted to join the advanced class, they would have to teach the beginners.

“They weren’t sure at first,” he said. “But they did it. They taught. And you know what? They grew even more.”

One of those students, Edisson Godoy, came to the United States with a background in finance. He had taken English classes in his home country of Chile, but quickly realized that real life was different from the classroom. The people he met spoke more quickly, and there were many different accents to try to understand. “Before, I couldn’t talk to anyone at work,” he said. “Now, I speak up. I feel more confident. My world is bigger.”

Another student, a church leader who works in construction, said the class gave him the vocabulary and courage to speak directly with clients about their needs—something he had avoided for years.

What sets Cruz’s classes apart is his approach. Instead of focusing on grammar or standardized vocabulary lists, he customizes lessons to each student’s profession. “A construction worker doesn’t need the same words as someone working in a hotel,” he explained. “If English feels useful right away, they’re more likely to keep going.”

Cruz’s personal experience shapes his teaching, too. He grew up bilingual in Puerto Rico, with a mother who spoke only English at home—yet he still struggled with spelling. “I used to hide it,” he said. “Now, I just tell them. We’re all learning. Nobody knows everything.”

That honesty creates connection and helps build his students’ confidence. “I tell them, ‘You already know English. You just need to believe it.’”

Beyond the immediate benefit of connecting with the world more easily through their new skills, Cruz said that there is something deeper going on.

“This isn’t just about speaking English,” he said. “It’s about showing love. In the past, missionaries learned Spanish to bring the Gospel to our grandparents. Now we’re here in the United States, and we have the chance to do the same in reverse. By learning English, we can share the Gospel more widely, we can connect more deeply, we can serve better.”

The ministry at the Bossier City Spanish church has opened doors to the wider community, with several non-members attending classes. It has opened hearts within the church, creating a culture of support and opportunity. And it has inspired others, including a pastoral colleague who requested help creating a curriculum to support the launch of similar ministries in Baton Rouge.

Cruz is now transitioning into full-time pastoral ministry in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, but he plans to bring the language class concept with him.

“Every church has something to give,” he said. “This just happens to be the skill I have. And it’s something others can do, too.”

By Jessica Lozano. Lozano is a writer and photographer based in Northwest Arkansas. Marcos Cruz lives in Hot Springs, Arkansas. At the time of this writing, he was a member of the Bossier City Spanish Seventh-day Adventist Church. He is now a pastor for the Arkadelphia, Arkansas, district in the Arkansas-Louisiana Conference.