The “Abre Mis Ojos” conference (Spanish for “open my eyes”) gathered a record crowd of more than 800 guests from the Hispanic community at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary Sept. 18-19.
The fifth annual conference, developed by NOBTS as an intentional way to engage Hispanics, hosted a total of 816 guests from five different states and more than 40 different churches. Multiple nationalities were represented during the two-day event.
“God worked a miracle this weekend on the NOBTS campus,” said Fabio Castellanos, director of Spanish online education.
“This event highlighted the spirit of collaboration and unity among Baptist churches and pastors in the greater New Orleans area and beyond. Every Hispanic church associated with the New Orleans Baptist Association and every Hispanic church in Baton Rouge attended the conference. There were also attendees from Mississippi, Alabama, Florida and Texas. Without a doubt, we are stronger together.”
Norris Grubbs, provost and senior vice president for academic administration, welcomed the crowd Friday night.
“On behalf of our President, faculty and administration, welcome to our campus; welcome to your campus,” Grubbs said.
“I want to say a word of thanks to Fabio Castellanos for all of his work on this conference and for the Spanish program that he runs here. He allows us to fulfill our mission in a way that I could never do myself.
“Even though I don’t know all of these words when you all are singing, I’m still worshipping the same God you are. You love the same Jesus I love. In a room like this, there are a lot of differences. But I know that if you follow Christ, he’s the main thing in your life. That makes us brothers and sisters.”
The conference’s theme, “Liderar para Servir,” focused on servant leadership.
Luis Gabriel César Isunza, pastor of Satélite Christian Church, opened the first plenary session with a message about the foundations of biblical leadership.
“If I had to sum up leadership in one word, it would be influence,” he said.
“Leadership doesn't start with a position; it begins the moment your life starts influencing someone else. Nothing happens until someone takes the lead, and real change never happens by accident.
“The foundation of leadership is character, not charisma. And the moment you stop learning, you stop leading. Great leaders remain teachable, never assuming they've arrived.”
Carlos Rodríguez, NOBTS alum and chaplain of the U.S. Navy Chaplain Corps, spoke about serving the way that Jesus did.
“The practical principles of Jesus’ leadership remain essential for the church today,” he said. “We must serve with the same love, compassion, heart, vision and character that Jesus did during his ministry.”
Castellanos spoke out of 2 Corinthians 12, explaining the leader’s need to depend on God.
“Christian leadership isn't about eliminating weakness, but about turning it into the starting point for dependence on God,” Castellanos said.
“God doesn't take away the problem but promises something greater: sufficient grace. Paul's strength wasn't always having enough, it was that he learned that Christ was enough."
Isunza closed the final plenary with a message about ministry legacy.
“True success isn't measured by what a leader achieves while present, but by what continues after they're gone,” he said. “We don't always remember the people who impressed the world, but we remember the people who changed our world. We earn a living by what we receive; we leave a legacy by what we give."
Breakout session topics during the conference included:
Exhibitors and partners at the conference included the Louisiana Baptist Convention, the New Orleans Baptist Association, Lifeway, Samaritan's Purse, the Billy Graham Evangelical Association and more.
For the first time, more than 100 kids at the conference enjoyed a weekend of activities with Giant Cow Ministries.
The conference is part of a specific emphasis NOBTS has placed on engaging the Hispanic community in recent years.
Castellanos worked together with Cory Barnes, dean of NOBTS graduate studies, and NOBTS Provost Norris Grubbs to develop the seminary’s online Spanish program, which launched in the fall of 2021. This was followed by the first Abre Mis Ojos conference in 2022.
The Spanish program’s first graduating class of seven master’s students walked during the spring 2024 ceremony, and several more students are scheduled to graduate this December.
“Abre Mis Ojos is playing a crucial role in connecting the seminary with the Hispanic community,” Castellanos said. “NOBTS is seen as an ally of the Hispanic Baptist community because they share the same purpose, to reach Hispanics for Christ.”
Next year’s Abre Mis Ojos conference is scheduled for Sept. 17-18, 2026.
