Spaniard in United States

People Name:	Spaniard
Country:	United States
10/40 Window:	No
Population:	702,000
World Population:	29,944,500
Primary Language:	Spanish
Primary Religion:	Christianity
Christian Adherents:	77.00 %
Evangelicals:	1.00 %
Scripture:	Complete Bible
Ministry Resources:	Yes
Jesus Film:	Yes
Audio Recordings:	Yes
People Cluster:	Spanish
Affinity Bloc:	Eurasian Peoples
Progress Level:

Introduction / History

Did you know that Spanish is the fourth most spoken language in the world? Over a half of billion people speak Spanish. This puts Spanish behind only English, Mandarin and Hindi. The widespread use of the Spanish language came as a result from the huge holdings of the Spanish Empire from the 15th century to 1976. During this five-century period Spain controlled large sections of North America, the Caribbean, South America, Western Europe, Africa, and islands in Asia and Oceania.
Besides those residing in Spain, Spaniards are found in over 50 countries including the US where they often live in the states of New York, New Jersey, California, Louisiana, New Mexico, Texas, and even Hawaii. Spaniards are the first Europeans to settle in a place now ruled by the US. Before the arrival of the British, Spaniards lived in Puerto Rico and St. Augustine Florida. The latter was settled by Spaniards in 1565. There are also the descendants of Spaniards who remained in the American Southwest after the Mexican-American War ended in 1848. More Spaniards fled for the US during the Spanish Civil War in the 1930s.

What Are Their Lives Like?

There are a large number of Spaniards in the US, but they often blend in either with the majority White population or with other Spanish speaking immigrants. Spaniards are more likely to move to other EU countries where it's easy to get a visa. The US gives preference to immigrants who have needed skills in medicine, engineering, etc. A good percentage of the Spaniards in the US hold professional positions.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Most Spanish people are nominally Roman Catholics. Only about 10% of Spanish Catholics attend mass on a weekly basis. They get married and buried by the Roman Catholic church. Their children are baptized by Roman Catholic priests into the church. Most Spanish people in the US are more concerned with their family's economic and social well-being rather than teachings of the Roman church.
Evangelical Christians believe that the Bible is the only source of authority for Christ's church. Roman Catholics see tradition and the official teachings of the popes and bishops as equal to or superior to the Bible. Catholics pray to God, Mary and the saints while evangelicals pray only to God. Still evangelicals and Catholics have many beliefs in common such as the Trinity and the virgin birth, the deity, crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

What Are Their Needs?

Spaniards need to understand that they can have a personal love relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Christianity is not a set of rules or system of morality. Christians can know for certain that their sins are forgiven, and they have eternal life. According to Roman Catholic teaching, one cannot be assured of one's salvation.

Prayer Points

Pray for the Holy Spirit to revive the Roman Catholic church in the US so that it focuses on Jesus Christ.
Pray for American churches to be Christ centered rather than tradition centered.
Pray that the Lord sends disciple-makers to the Spanish people in the US.
Pray for spiritual hunger and a discernment that will keep the Spanish people in the US away from spiritual counterfeits.