We live in a world dominated by differences, from contrasting beliefs and backgrounds to very distinct people and languages. These differences are truly apparent in a neighborhood like Pico Union. It seems to be homogenous on the outside with a population that is over 85 percent Latino, according to the Los Angeles Times’ Mapping L.A.
Although, nearly three fifths of the population are foreign born, mostly from Mexico and El Salvador, there remains a lot of variation between the generations and people from diverse parts of Central America. The remaining 15 percent of the population comes from several different ethnic backgrounds. In response to this wide range of cultural differences, where residents have been able to find a common ground is in their churches.
Religion, for many, has a way of uniting people of all languages, incomes, households, and backgrounds. One Pico Union church that is seeing great success on this front is the First Evangelical Free Church of Los Angeles (EV Free LA). “We really see ourselves as one church and believe that differences are things that have been overcome by our faith. So we really make an intentional effort to do things together…to be an extended family together,” said lead pastor of the church’s English congregation, Scott Yetter.
Churches have taken steps to unite their church families by finding commonalities in their faith even if they speak a different language. Offering different language services has not further divided the church community, but has actually done the opposite. Pastors work to show that language, age, economic background, etc. do not divide people when they are all united in Christ. Many of the churches have a variety of ministries, weekly meals where people can get together, planted churches in other areas, and develop very tight-knit congregations.
Over the years EV Free LA has had services in many languages ranging from Spanish and Chinese to African languages like Swahili and Lingala. Shifting based on the needs of the community, it currently has services in Spanish and English.
Further illustrating the potential for division in the neighborhood, Yetter was originally hired to restore the English congregation which had begun to pale in comparison to the thriving Spanish congregation. He re-energized it by listening to what the people wanted. He has been able to focus on youth ministry in an effort to transform the neighborhood for Spanish and English speakers alike.
With so many foreign born citizens, founder of Cross Streets Church in Pico Union, Jeff Elzinga, argues that there is not only a disconnect between English and Spanish speakers, but also between older and newer generations of Latinos. “In a lot of cases the second and third generation Latinos are often marginalized by the first generation. They get criticized for their Spanish not being good enough, for dressing the wrong way, for listening to the wrong music.” This creates division because these second and third generations can be “too” American to the older generations and not American enough to the Americans.
The family atmosphere and services in multiple languages work to close this gap. EV Free LA is not alone in it’s wide variety of languages for its services. Angelica Lutheran is another church in Pico Union that has had services in over four different languages. However, EV Free LA is unique in how close the different language groups get. “It’s a wonderful place. It’s like an oasis in the desert,” said John, a longtime member of the church.
Yetter described their bread deliverer’s reaction to the familial atmosphere. “He says, ‘I’ve never seen this before in Pico Union…white folks and Philippinos and African American folks all hanging out together with Spanish speakers and looking like they’re all family,’” said Yetter.
There are many other types of churches in Pico Union including many small, Pentecostal, Spanish churches that meet five to six times per week, large old churches with equally large congregations, and “hipster” churches led by people who have relocated to Downtown. “Now in the culture of the city you see a need like I’ve never seen before for religion…for Christ,” said Yetter. As the city grows and changes language-wise and beyond, faith continues to play a large part in people’s daily lives.
