Latino Pentecostals in America: faith and politics in action

Abstract

Every year an estimated 600,000 U.S. Latinos convert from Catholicism to Protestantism. Today, 12.5 million Latinos self-identify as Protestant--a population larger than all U.S. Jews and Muslims combined. Spearheading this spiritual transformation is Pentecostal movement and Assemblies of God, which is destination for one out of four converts. In a deeply researched social and cultural history, Gaston Espinosa uncovers roots of this remarkable turn and Latino AG's growing leadership nationwide.Latino in America traces Latino AG back to Azusa Street Revivals in Los Angeles and Apostolic Faith Revivals in Houston from 1906 to 1909. Espinosa describes uphill struggles for indigenous leadership, racial equality, women in ministry, social and political activism, and immigration reform. His analysis of their independent political views and voting patterns from 1996 to 2012 challenges stereotypes that they are all apolitical, right-wing, or politically marginal. Their outspoken commitment to an active faith has led a new generation of leaders to blend righteousness and justice, by which they mean reconciling message of Billy Graham and social transformation of Martin Luther King Jr. Latino AG leaders and their 2,400 churches across nation represent a new and growing force in denominational, Evangelical, and presidential politics.This eye-opening study explains why this group of working-class Latinos once called the Silent Pentecostals is silent no more. By giving voice to their untold story, Espinosa enriches our understanding of diversity of Latino religion, Evangelicalism, and American culture.