VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS 10/20/08) — Rev. F. Salvador Orellana will join National Ministries as national coordinator for Intercultural Ministries, Latino Ministries strategist, on December 1.

In his new role, Orellana will provide leadership to American Baptist Hispanic and Portuguese-speaking constituencies and encourage awareness of and sensitivity to cultural diversity throughout American Baptist Churches USA, while working to strengthen ministries in multicultural and intercultural contexts. In addition, Orellana will focus on increasing the capacity of American Baptist leaders to excel in implementing effective ministries of evangelism, discipleship, transformation and prophetic justice, as his work furthers National Ministries' strategic mission.

"We are delighted by the addition of the Rev. Salvador Orellana to the National Ministries' team," says the Rev. Marilyn Turner, National Ministries' associate executive director for Program Ministries. "We're confident that the experience, leadership and commitment he brings will enable him to quickly engage in the kinds of ministry and mission that will be beneficial to the constituencies he serves and the ABCUSA body as a whole."

Since 2001, Orellana has served as senior pastor of First Hispanic Baptist Church of Trenton, N.J., where he led the congregation to establish "La Casita"—a legal services program that helps immigrants navigate the U.S. immigration system. "La Casita" has assisted more than 575 persons from approximately 35 countries—on the continents of Asia, Africa and Europe as well as the Americas—since its founding in 2006. He has also pastored congregations in Plainfield, N.J. and White Plains, N.Y. and his native El Salvador.

Orellana has been involved in all levels of American Baptist life. A member of the boards of American Baptist Churches of New Jersey and the American Baptist National Hispanic Caucus, he has served as treasurer of the Association of Spanish Speaking Baptist Churches of the New York Metropolitan Area and as an advisor to the Hispanic Youth of New Jersey. Orellana is currently a member of the ABCUSA General Board and the Executive Committee of the Board of National Ministries, from which he will resign when he joins National Ministries' staff.

A graduate of Central American Theological Seminary in Guatemala, Orellana is currently a candidate for a master of divinity degree from Palmer Theological Seminary, formerly Eastern Theological Seminary. He and his wife have two children.