Views on Families and Marriage

Given the high value placed on the issue of family, it’s not surprising Hispanics take a socially conservative view of family on many counts. Almost eight in 10 (78%) agree family is the basic building block of a healthy community; seven in 10 (69%) agree a child is better off if he or she has married parents; two-thirds (66%) agree with the “traditional definition of marriage”—that it is between one man and one woman; and six in 10 (60%) agree sex should take place in the context of marriage. These are socially conservative viewpoints, and they generate majority support within the Hispanic community.

Hispanics’ generally conservative view of family issues extends to divorce and separation as well. When asked about legitimate grounds for divorce or permanent separation, the top two acceptable reasons were adultery (70% agree) and abuse (68% agree). Lack of mutual love was the only other reason that garnered support from more than half of Hispanics, with 53% agreeing this was an acceptable reason for divorce.

These fairly traditional views bend just a little on the issue of single parenthood and abortion. While most Hispanics agree a child is better off with a mom and a dad who are married, most (71%) also agree there is nothing wrong with an unmarried woman having a child. They are more or less opposed to her aborting that child if she were not ready to be a mother: Only 21% agree she should have an abortion instead of having an unwanted child. Yet overall, Hispanics are evenly split on the issue of abortion—the same percentage (46%) of Hispanics think abortion should be legal in most or all cases as think it should be illegal in most or all cases (the remaining 8% aren’t sure of their views). The extremes are the same size, too—one in five (20%) Hispanics think abortion should be legal in all cases, and the same percentage thinks it should be illegal in all cases.

Challenges Facing Hispanic Youth

With families as such a high priority for Hispanic communities, the issues facing children and youth are extremely important to Hispanics. When asked to rank the challenges Hispanic youth face, respondents named the following three as the “very big problems”: high school dropout rates (63%), drugs and alcohol (62%), and teen pregnancy (61%).

The second-tier problem is gangs; 58% of Hispanics say gang violence is a very big problem for Hispanic youth. Third-tier youth problems are spiritual development (48%), pornography (47%), and a lack of male role models (46%).

Who or What Influences the Next Generation?

When it comes to the various “influencers” impacting Hispanic youth, most Hispanics say relationships are the predominant source of impact. At the top of the list, two-thirds of Hispanics say parents and family (66%) impact the lives of Hispanic youth “a lot,” followed by friends (62%). Other sources of relational influence on Hispanic youth include teachers, educators and coaches (43%) and gangs (41%).

In terms of media and cultural influences, social media and Internet figure into the top three perceived influences, with almost half of Latinos (49%) saying this has “a lot” of influence over Hispanic youth. This was followed by video games (40%), movies and television (38%), and popular music (38%). It is interesting to note that “newer” forms of media—digital, social, and interactive gaming—are perceived to be stronger influences than “older” formats, such as television, movies and music.

Role of Churches in the Lives of Youth

Hispanics rank Christian influencers—church programs for children and youth (35%) and Bible (29%)—as last on the list of perceived influences. Hispanic adults do not generally give high marks to churches when it comes to “addressing the unique challenges facing Hispanic youth.” Only one-fifth of Hispanics (21%) think churches in their communities are doing “very well” addressing the challenges faced by Hispanic youth. Even among Protestants and Catholics, there are still relatively few who would say their local churches are doing very well in this area (23% and 24%, respectively). However, when it comes to their own children and grandchildren, Hispanics are more optimistic about the influence of their local church. About half of parents with kids at home (52%) and about three-fifths of grandparents (58%) say the church is very important to their own children who live with them, or to their grandchildren.

To read more about Hispanic Americans’ views on marriage, family and youth, order a copy of the Hispanic America: Faith, Values & Priorities study.

Find out more about the survey and methodology.

Bible Engagement

In Barna Group’s work with the American Bible Society, we have developed a four-part engagement typology, ranging from the most to the least Bible engaged. Only 8% of Hispanics qualify as Bible Engaged (believe the Bible is the actual word of God or inspired with no errors and read the Bible at least four times weekly), which compares to 21% of adults nationally. Yet, this gap is more than made up by the fact that 53% of Hispanics qualify as Friendly toward the Bible (have a similar “high” of the Bible but read the Bible less than four times a week), which is significantly higher than the national norm. Hispanics are equally likely with the U.S. average (28% versus 31%) to be Neutral toward the Bible (see the Bible as inspired with errors or not inspired and rarely or never read it, and are less likely (11% versus 16%) to be Antagonistic toward the Bible (believe the Bible is just another book of advice written by men and rarely to never read it).

In general, Hispanics have a high opinion of the Bible—seven in 10 (70%) say that it is the inspired word of God, and more than half (59%) believe it is true in all it teaches. In fact, on both counts Hispanics actually have a “higher” view of Scripture than is true of non-Hispanic Americans (65% and 51%, respectively). The non-Christian Hispanic audience maintains more respect toward the origin and authority of the Bible than is true among other non-Christians in the U.S.

Bible Ownership and Readership

The vast majority of Hispanic households own a Bible (87%). Almost three-quarters (73%) own more than one. The picture is mixed when it comes to integrating the Bible into Hispanics’ lives. While Hispanics value the Bible, most are not reading it very often. More than four in 10 (42%) read it less than once per year. On the other side, more than a quarter of Hispanics are reading their Bibles once a week or more (28%), but this percentage is about the same as those who never read it (26%). Protestants are more likely than Catholics and non-Christians to read their Bibles more than once per week. Millennials were more likely than other generations to say they never read the Bible. The youngest generation is also less likely than other generations to own a Bible.

Some common barriers prevent Hispanics from reading the Bible: One-third say they do not have enough time to read it (31%), and one-fifth (20%) indicate they find the language difficult to relate to. Another 12% say they simply don’t experience any excitement about reading the Bible. About one-fifth (22%) say they do not have any frustrations that prevent them from reading the Bible more.

For Hispanics who read the Bible regularly, this happens in the context of personal reading rather than family Bible reading. Of regular Bible readers with children still at home, half (50%) read it as a family less than once per month, and only 14% read it as a family daily. However, after accounting for the 27% who read it daily as a family, about four in 10 (41%) of these households—regular Bible readers with children in the home—read the Bible together as a family at least once per week.

Applying the Bible to Life

Hispanics who are reading the Bible say they take it seriously. Of those who read the Bible once a week or more, more than half (52%) report giving “a lot of thought” to how it applies to their lives, and an additional 40% give it “some thought.” Protestants were more likely than Catholics or non-Christians to give what they read a lot of thought. This means very few Hispanics are reading the Bible regularly just out of habit or ritual.

Those who read the Bible at least once per month were also asked about how the Bible impacts the decisions they make in various areas. The top two areas for biblical influence were marriage and parenting, with 46% and 42% of Hispanics saying the Bible has “a lot” of influence over their decision-making in these areas. Unfortunately, these were the only two areas where more than two-fifths of Hispanics say the Bible has more than a little influence over their decisions. The next-highest life area was sexuality, for which 24% of Hispanics say the Bible influences them a lot. After that are education (23%), work (18%), and social issues (16%). The areas where the fewest Hispanics say the Bible has a lot of influence are financial decisions (14%) and media choices (13%).

Millions of Hispanics own Bibles and respect biblical values. Overall, Hispanics show willingness for the Bible to play a greater role in their lives, but also an apparent lack of clarity on how it might do so. This pattern is indicative of a community that has developed a cultural experience with the Bible rather than a personal one.

In some ways, the Hispanic community’s latent comfort with Christianity shows up in their high regard for the Bible. Hispanics don’t just see the Bible as a book of valuable teachings (which is becoming more common among the general population); they see it as the very Word of God. If anything, Hispanics’ high regard for Scripture suggests they could be more easily “tipped” toward Bible engagement than is true among non-Hispanics. The foundation is there—what’s missing is a clear understanding of how and why the Bible can generate personal and community transformation.

To read more about Hispanic Americans and Bible engagement, order a copy of the Hispanic America: Faith, Values & Priorities study.

Con estos cambiantes datos demográficos en mente, Barna Group lanza Barna: Hispánicos. En las próximas décadas, los valores, las creencias, los comportamientos y la cosmovisión de los hispanos afectarán cada vez más las fibras de la vida americana. Una comprensión del pueblo hispano y su impacto es importante para cualquiera interesado en entender los tiempos y aplicar una cuidadosa interacción con las tendencias culturales, sociológicas y espirituales. Las investigaciones que conducen Barna: Hispanics procurarán proporcionar un cuadro básico de la población latinoamericana en los Estados Unidos y las circunstancias que enfrentan en su diario vivir. La investigación es accesible en Hispanics.Barna.org.

Barna: Hispanics se lanza con tres socios y colaboradores: American Bible Society, OneHope, y National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference.

Hispanos americanos

El primer estudio importante —Hispanos Americanos: fe, valores y prioridades, 2012— revela las actitudes de los latinos sobre fe, familia y cuestiones sociales y da ideas sobre cómo sus opiniones afectarán el clima espiritual, social y económico en los Estados Unidos. Este estudio incluye a adultos de Estados Unidos de origen latino o hispano y se llevó a cabo por internet y teléfono con un total de 2.046 entrevistas que se realizaron en agosto y septiembre de 2012. Para más información sobre la metodología de la investigación.

Este informe pionero, Hispanos Americanos, abarca una amplia gama de cuestiones sociales, cuestiones de fe y política pública, incluyendo:

• La fe de los hispanos. La fe y la religión —principalmente el cristianismo— siguen ejerciendo fuertes influencias en millones de hispanos, pero son un grupo en transición espiritual.
• Puntos de vista sociales e inquietudes. Hay muchos temas apremiantes en la vida de los hispanos, desde la educación y el empleo a la inmigración y la disolución de la familia.
•  Trabajo y vocación. Los hispanos se sienten muy orgullosos de su ética de trabajo y el valor que aportan a la fuerza laboral estadounidense.
•  Dinero y finanzas. La comunidad hispana presentan una imagen de autosuficiencia, pero muchos también se sienten aislados cuando se trata de finanzas personales.
•  La Familia.  Los hispanos le dan un valor alto a la familia, y lo mencionan como la contribución más significativa que los latinos hacen a la sociedad americana hoy.
•  Los Niños y la Juventud. Los retos que se percibe que enfrentan sus jóvenes suelen producir energía y frustración en las comunidades hispanas, y terminan determinando agendas políticas y sociales.
•  La Influencia de la Biblia.  Los hispanos por lo general están menos comprometidos con la Biblia que los adultos a nivel nacional, y es algo que tiene que ver con la afiliación religiosa (ser católico o protestante) más que con su origen étnico.
•  Cosmovisión. La fe es un componente muy importante de la vida y la cultura de los hispanos y en gran forma moldea sus perspectivas del mundo, sus actos y su compromiso social.
•  Los que no asisten a la iglesia. Muchos latinos desconectados de la iglesia expresan opiniones tibia o negativas hacia el cristianismo y las iglesias cristianas en general. Su desilusión es particularmente pronunciada entre los católicos
•  Datos demográficos, psicográficos. ¿Cómo se describen los hispanos a sí mismos? Sus respuestas dependen mucho de su edad, patrimonio, lugar de nacimiento y residencia.

Aprenda más sobre el informe Hispanos Americanos.

As the nation’s largest minority group—and one of the fastest-growing segments—Hispanics are an increasingly powerful force shaping our society. And with 84% identifying themselves as Christians, Hispanic Americans are also shaping the face of American Christianity.

With these shifting demographics in mind, Barna Group is launching Barna: Hispanics. In the coming decades, the values, beliefs, behaviors and worldview of Hispanics will increasingly affect the fabric of American life. Understanding the Hispanic audience and their impact is important for anyone interested in understanding the times and carefully engaging with cultural, sociological and spiritual trends. Research conducted by Barna: Hispanics will seek to provide ongoing snapshots of today’s Hispanic American audience and the real-life issues they are facing.

Barna: Hispanics is launching with the help of three partners: the American Bible Society, OneHope, and the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference.

Hispanic America Study

The first major study—Hispanic America: Faith, Values and Priorities, 2012—reveals Hispanic American’s attitudes about faith, family and societal issues and gives insights into how their views will impact the spiritual, social and economic climate in the U.S. This study includes U.S. adults who are of Latino or Hispanic background. The study was conducted online and by phone for a total of 2,046 completed interviews in August and September 2012.

The groundbreaking report covers a wide range of social issues, faith matters and public policy, including:

• Expressions of Faith
• Social Views & Concerns
• Work & Vocation
• Money & Finances
• Families
• Children & Youth
• The Bible
• Worldview
• Unchurched Latino viewpoints
• Demographics & Psychographics
• Politics

Reliable, authoritative data and insightful analysis come together to create a useful tool for those who want to help shape the Church of tomorrow.

Available in both PDF and print editions.  Buy Now.

“This is one of the best comprehensive studies on our Hispanic population. I commend you for the wide scope and depth of the information.”
Dr. Fermín A. Whittaker
Former Director, CEO, California Southern Baptist Convention

See what others are saying about the Hispanic America report.

Some of these dimensions of transition include Hispanics’ willingness to change denominations or faiths, their transitory connections with congregations and the softening allegiance of Millennials to Catholic and charismatic identity.

The Three C’s of Hispanic Faith

Three “C’s” cast long shadows on the faith of today’s Hispanics in America—Christianity, Catholicism and charismatic faith. As for the first “C,” more than four out of five Hispanics (84%) describe themselves as part of the Christian faith.

The second “C” is the largest element of Christianity among Hispanics—commitment to the Roman Catholic Church, an identity that describes nearly 7 out of 10 Hispanics (68%). In contrast, about one-sixth identify as Protestant (16%) and a similar proportion as having another or no faith (16%).

The final “C” is charismatic and Pentecostal elements of faith, which are a defining factor for many within the Hispanic population. While only 5% of the Hispanic population aligns with a traditionally charismatic denomination (such as Assembly of God, Foursquare or Pentecostal churches), there are other indicators of increasing spirit-filled influence on today’s Hispanics. For example, half of all Hispanics strongly to somewhat agree the charismatic gifts (such as tongues and healing) are valued and active today, including 49% of Catholics and 67% of Protestants. Additionally, 41% of Christian or Catholic respondents self-identify as charismatic or Pentecostal, saying the terms accurately fit their faith; this includes 39% of Catholics and 50% of Protestants.

Faith Journeys

The Hispanic population is especially likely to experience faith “journeys,” or transitions in their spiritual profile. To explain this pattern, keep in mind that the vast majority of Hispanics have some type of formative Christian or Catholic experience during their early years. Seven in ten Hispanics say they were Christian as a child. And the overwhelming majority of respondents attended a Catholic church as a child. While the majority of Hispanics have remained with their childhood faith (27%, on par with the national average of 28%), there is a pattern of religious migration among Hispanics from Catholic to either Protestant or non-Christians. Four in ten (41%) Protestants say they have changed their faith views since childhood and just over one-third of those who now align with other faith groups or have no faith say their faith views have changed significantly in their lifetime.

Since their “early years” most Hispanics have taken steps to distance themselves from church in some fashion. Two out of every three Hispanics (67%) say they have gone through a period of life when they dropped out of attending church, after having gone regularly. This is higher than the national norm of 59% among all U.S. adults.

The Changing Faith of Hispanic Millennials

The three prominent “C’s” of Hispanic faith are undergoing change when it comes to younger, Millennial Hispanics (those ages 18-28). As many Hispanic Millennials distance themselves from Catholicism (only one third of Millennials describe themselves as Catholic, down from three quarters of Boomers), they are moving in one of two directions—either toward Protestantism or away from Christianity. Currently, one-fifth of young Hispanics identify as Protestant (19%), which is edging higher than previous generations (17% Busters, 15% Boomers and 11% Elders). Similarly, one-fifth of Hispanic Millennials (21%) say they are part of a faith other than Christianity or they have no religious faith at all (as compared to 16% of Busters, 11% of Boomers and 16% of Elders). Furthermore, allegiance to spirit-filled forms of faith may be losing steam among Millennial Hispanics. Only 31% of Millennial Catholics and 48% of Millennial Protestants qualify as charismatic in this research, well below that of the Boomers and Busters.

What emerges then is that Millennial Hispanics are increasingly a mixture of religious perspectives and traditions by comparison to older Hispanics.

Engaging Faith
Describing yourself as Christian and living like a Christian are, of course, two different things and judging the latter is much more difficult than the former. About one-third of Hispanics qualify as “practicing Christians,” meaning they attend church at least once a month and say their religion is very important in their lives (one-quarter of all Hispanics are practicing Catholics and one-tenth are practicing Protestants). This means that about 32% of Catholic Hispanics have a practicing faith, while 51% of Protestant Hispanics do so.

Another way of defining religious activism is to look at various religious behaviors. In terms of faith participation in the last week, two-fifths of Hispanics have attended a church worship service (40%); one-quarter have read the Bible (27%); one-fifth have received Holy Communion (21%) and prayed the Rosary (20%); one-sixth have attended Sunday school (17%); and one-seventh have attended faith-related small group or Bible study (15%). Catholics are more likely to pray the Rosary (26% to 1%), but otherwise they are less likely than Protestants to attend worship (38% versus 59%), attend Sunday school (12% versus 40%), or attend a Bible study (12% versus 37%).

It is pretty rare to find someone among the Hispanic community who sees his or her faith as something on the sidelines. Only slightly more than one in ten Hispanics holds this view, which is that their faith just hasn’t made that big a difference in their lives. In fact, more people say that they aren’t sure (17%) than say that their faith doesn’t matter that much to the rest of their lives (12%).

To read more about the shifting faiths of Hispanic Americans, order a copy of the Hispanic America: Faith, Values & Priorities study.

Find out more about the survey and methodology.

In the coming decades, the values, beliefs, behaviors and worldview of Hispanics will increasingly affect the fabric of American life. Understanding the Hispanic audience and their impact is important for anyone interested in reading the times and carefully engaging with cultural and sociological trends.

To read more about the social views and concerns of Hispanic Americans, order a copy of the Hispanic America: Faith, Values & Priorities study.

Find out more about the survey and methodology.

All Hispanics

Gender: Male

Gender: Female

Age: Mosaic

Age: Buster

Age: Boomer

Age: Elder

Education: High School or Less

Education: College Grad

Household Income: Less than $40k

Household Income: $60k+

Employment Status: Employed

Employment Status: Un-employed

American Generation: 1^st Gen

American Generation: 2^nd Gen

American Generation: 3^rd Gen

American Generation: 4^th Gen

Registered Voters: Democratic

Registered Voters: Republican

Registered Voters: Independent

Registered Voters: Not Registered

To read more about the shifting faiths of Hispanic Americans, order a copy of the Hispanic America: Faith, Values & Priorities study.

Find out more about the survey and methodology.

The National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference
The National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference es la mayor organización de cristianos de habla hispana de Estados Unidos, y representa a millones de miembros de la comunidad hispana de personas que han nacido de nuevo. En su trabajo con más de 40,000 iglesias, la Conferencia Nacional de Líderes Cristianos Hispanos tiene varias facetas de programas que incluyen 7 Directivas de Vida, Familia, Gran Comisión, Mayordomía, Justicia, Educación y Juventudes.

OneHope
Fundada en 1987 por el misionero Bob Hoskins, OneHope está alcanzando a los niños y jóvenes del mundo con el mensaje de la Biblia de una manera que aborda inquietudes culturales específicas. En colaboración con iglesias y ministerios —y con gobiernos locales, escuelas y organizaciones no gubernamentales— OneHope ha alcanzado a más 775 millones de jóvenes en 125 países con un mensaje de esperanza y el amor de Dios a través de revistas para niños, películas de dibujos animados, clínicas deportivas, juegos interactivos, teléfonos inteligentes, conciertos y más.

What is the Single Most Pressing Challenge?

When asked to identify the “single most pressing challenge” for the Latino community, employment and education were at the top of most respondent’s list. Half of Hispanics say one of these two issues is the most pressing for their communities. They are nearly split on which one: 27% say employment and 24% identify education.

The issue with the third most “votes” is the break-up of Hispanic families; almost another one-quarter (22%) indicates this as the most pressing challenge. Women are more likely than men to say that family break-up is the most important issue, and Hispanics in the West are more likely than those in other regions to be most concerned about family dissolution. First-generation immigrants are more likely than others to identify education and employment as key issues.

In a separate query, respondents were asked to rank their level of concern about six specific issues. The Hispanic community faces the same economic and social challenges as other Americans, but these challenges are often exacerbated by language and culture differences that can alienate Hispanics from opportunities or solutions available to other groups. This study examined six social and economic issues. Overall, Hispanics show a moderate amount of concern for how these issues are impacting the Hispanic community: for all six issues, between 49% and 58% of Hispanics are “very concerned.”

Dropout rates of Hispanic youths generate the most concern, followed closely by unemployment (58% and 57% of Hispanics are “very concerned”). Health care (54%), immigration (53%), and housing (52%) are also very concerning to a majority of Hispanics. The break-up of Hispanic families is the lowest issue on the list by a slight margin, though almost half (49%) indicate they are very concerned about this factor.

The concern over dropouts is notable for a number of reasons—first, it is not a mainstream social issue in America; it doesn’t impact all other ethnic groups to the same degree it does Hispanics. Second, it is not part of the public discourse in the same way as “popular” issues like immigration or health care. For these reasons it is a bit unexpected for this issue to be of the highest concern, considering some of the other issues that were presented.

Who Is Concerned?

Family immigration history matters when it comes to concern about social issues. First- and second-generation Americans are more concerned about all of these issues, compared to third- and fourth- generation Americans.

Surprisingly, political ideology does not appear to drive different levels of concern over these issues. As a rule, liberal, conservative and moderate Hispanics share similar levels of concern over each issue, with the exception that liberal Hispanics are more concerned about health care than either conservative or moderate Hispanics.

Different age cohorts express differing levels of concern over social issues as well. Busters (ages 29-47) and Boomers (ages 48-66) tend to be more concerned about social issues in general, such as unemployment, health care, immigration, and housing. Millennials (18-28) are the least concerned age group. These differences are most likely due to life-stage. Boomers and Busters are more likely to have children at home or just leaving the home—they and their children are in positions where these issues may have a tremendous amount of impact on their lives. Millennials’ optimism may stem from the natural optimism that marks their generation, or it may be the unrealistic optimism and sense of invulnerability of youth.

Views on Immigration

To get a sense of Hispanics’ underlying attitudes toward immigration reform, the survey probed two different concepts tied to biblical responsibility. The first asked if Hispanics agreed or disagreed with the statement “we have a biblical responsibility to show hospitality to strangers and immigrants.” Overall, two-thirds of Hispanics (65%) said they agreed, with the number being even higher among Protestants (74%).

In the second instance, the survey inquired about whether “we have a biblical responsibility to follow the laws and rules of the government.” In all, 55% of Hispanics agreed, with the largest supporter of that perspective being Protestants (85%). It is clear the Hispanic community would favor the integration of these two ideals.

Conclusions

As much as the Hispanic community—similar to any minority community—has some social and cultural concerns that are unique, the broad strokes are very similar to the rest of the population: They are worried about a good education and good jobs. These concerns are more intense than concerns about social ills or immigration policy.

Overall, Hispanics seem to have a positive view of their lives and communities. Relatively low percentages are “very concerned” about each of the issues presented. Hispanics tend to see themselves as productive members of society who are improving their communities through their work and families.

To read more about the social views and concerns of Hispanic Americans, order a copy of the Hispanic America: Faith, Values & Priorities study.

Find out more about the survey and methodology.

“The Barna: Hispanic study is the profile of a community reaching a threshold or tipping point in aspects of faith, socio-political attitudes, and lifestyles. It reveals the numbers of a critical mass and the dynamics toward significant change that begs to be acknowledged in the American church and society”
Rev. Dr. Jesse Miranda
Executive Presbyter, Executive Presbyter for the Assemblies of God Hispanic West Region

“Hispanic Millenials have an influential voice today and will continue to play a major role in American society.  The Study reveals insights on how their faith, values, and priorities shape their worldview.  As a Roman Catholic engaged in ecumenical interfaith work, I am aware of how valuable this information will be for churches, schools and educational organizations like ours.  This comprehensive Study will guide critical discussions on how to help this generation address the challenges and opportunities of their daily lives through a Christian-biblical paradigm.”
Jennifer Roback Morse, Ph.D.
Founder and President, The Ruth Institute

“This is one of the best comprehensive studies on our Hispanic population. I commend you for the wide scope and depth of the information.”
Dr. Fermín A. Whittaker
CEO California Southern Baptist Convention

“Hispanic America: Faith, Values and Priorities is a serious and critical attempt to better understand the U.S. Latino population, offering keen insight of the social, political and spiritual dynamics that influence everyday life of this major minority group. The profound analysis, serious considerations and critical evaluations of the findings of this study will prove important for the Hispanic church, Christian educators, pastors, and leaders in the political, sociological, religious and theological arenas. The implications of this study will prove to be of critical importance in educational, theological, economic and political program design and its implementation.”
Samuel Pagán, Ph.D., Hebrew Bible Professor and Dean of Hispanic Programs
Jerusalem Center for Biblical Studies, Jerusalem Israel and Lakeland, FL

“Hispanic America: Faith, Values & Priorities inspires a compelling case for a catalytic movement to help Hispanics apply biblical principles to the issues that matter most in their lives. This unprecedented study offers a road map to designing strategies that address the challenges facing Hispanic families, Millenials, and—in effect—Christianity in America. Simply put, God sent.”
Robert Cruz, Senior Pastor
Casa de Alabanza, Miami FL

“As the President of a New Hampshire-based Catholic College, I see how the Bible is essential in helping our students use their God-given faculties of both faith and reason. As a Christian and an academic, I see the acute need to read and apply Scripture in helping young men and women live their lives in the Truth of Jesus and joyfully engage in a world that is an increasingly hostile to people of faith. Hispanic America: Faith, Values and Priorities confirms both concerning and hopeful trends in the U.S. Latino community.”
George A. Harne, Ph.D.
President, The College of Saint Mary Magdalen

“The discoveries and observations yielded by the research become the basis for a national “wake-up” call for the family of faith with respect to the Hispanic community. The findings are overwhelming with conviction, yet at the same time offer opportunities for the evangelical Christian community to develop initiatives for spiritual impact in the lives of Hispanics across our country and beyond. I recommend this study to strategic ministry leaders. This study will help shape ministry direction, programming, and resource allocation for years to come. Congratulations for this comprehensive update on the Hispanic community!”
Gus Reyes, Ph.D.
Director, Hispanic Education Initiative, Texas Baptists

“This research study provides great insight into the beliefs and praxis of faith within the Hispanic/Latino Christian community. The data can potentially influence the way Hispanics do church now and it examines the trends that will allow us to forecast and prepare for the future of the Hispanic Church. This is a necessary tool for pastors, Christian leaders, seminarians and the community at large, Hispanics and non-Hispanics. Adelante…”
Rev. Joanne Solis-Walker, Director of Latino Latina Education
Wesley Seminary at Indiana Wesleyan University

“With the on-going emergence of America’s Hispanic population as a major force in the public square, more than ever we need to understand how this community thinks not only about politically and economic controversial issues in relation to their religious faith, but also how they think about themselves. Readers of this survey will find some of their preconceptions about these subjects confirmed, but others radically challenged. I recommend this study to anyone interested in understanding how Hispanic understand their faith and connect it to their moral, political, and economic lives in America.”
Samuel Gregg
Director of Research, Acton Institute

“The Barna Group has given us the latest and most detailed glimpse into the hearts, minds and spirits of Hispanics in America today.  Our challenge is to harness these Hispanic values – their work ethic, the value of education, and the significant importance of the traditional nuclear family. These insights will prove invaluable to the spiritual, academic, financial and political sectors of our country.”
Jesse Rincones
President, Hispanic Baptist Convention of Texas

“Hispanic America: Faith, Values and Priorities is an insightful research study that provides an understanding of the growing Hispanic population and their faith.  The future of the church, and of this country, depends on how well we decipher and respond to the complexities of the ever changing Hispanic population.  This report is essential for all leaders.”
Josué del Risco,
North American Mission Board, Southern Baptist Convention

“Barna: Hispanic’s research shows that Hispanic Evangelicals are not only on the rise but have strong, focused opinions on faith, family, education, and of course immigration. These findings will also help us address and advance these issues better and wisely from a biblical perspective.”
Eliezer Bonilla, M. Div.
Senior Pastor, Abundant Life Church of God, San Antonio, TX

“Hispanic America: Faith, Values, & Priorities is a valuable tool for those seeking to communicate with and minister to the rapidly growing Hispanic population in this country. Accurate knowledge about their faith, lifestyles, priorities, and challenges is absolutely essential if we are going to be effective in communicating the message of salvation, congregating believers, engaging them in discipleship, and developing the type of leaders that will bring glory to God and strengthen the moral fiber of our beloved nation.”
Daniel R. Sánchez, Ph. D.
Associate Dean, Professor of Missions, Director of the Scarborough Institute for Church Growth
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas

“The study’s responses are very interesting and telling. It drives me to the conclusion that the Church lives in a tension of the past and the present and, even more important, of its future. The Church is finding itself challenged to be relevant in changing times. This study is more important than ever to everyone that ministers to the Hispanics in the USA.”
Daniel de Leon, Senior Pastor
Templo Calvario, Santa Ana, CA

“Hispanic America: Faith, Values, and Priorities shines a light on the issue of access and opportunity to higher education and employment. These two issues will have a major bearing on the health of Hispanic families in the future. Consequently, the more access that Hispanic families have to education and employment in the future, the healthier and stronger America will become. Churches, denominations, ministries, and leaders that implement tangible solutions for Hispanics around these issues will be best positioned for relevance in the lives of Hispanic families in the future and will be able to speak in a credible way to a wide array of other issues among this growing segment of our population.”
Albert L. Reyes, D. Min., Ph.D.
President and CEO, Buckner International

“The Barna Hispanic America report makes it clear that we in the U.S. need to transform our stance toward Hispanics, especially with regard to jobs and educational opportunities.  We will not renew our claim to spiritual and moral vitality until we act justly toward the rich tapestry of peoples called “Hispanic.”
R. Mark Grace, V.P. Office of Mission & Ministry
Baylor Health Care System

“The future of our nation and our faith lies in our ability to defy the statistics and reach the Millennial generation with the gospel of Christ.  Empowered by the information provided by this landmark study, the Church can be much more intentional and relevant in their outreach Hispanics.”
Yvette Santana, Women’s Discipleship Coordinator
SW Region, Church of God

“The Barna: Hispanic study comes at a critical time when politicians and Hispanic religious leaders are primed for an unprecedented convergence which will certainly result in positive social change. At the fore of the issues identified in this document is the crisis of education in Hispanic/Latino communities, particularly the excessive high school drop-out rate and lack of engagement with higher education. I recommend that every leader, whether secular or faith-based, carefully review these findings for the common good.”
Daniel F. Flores, PhD
Senior Pastor, La Trinidad United Methodist Church
Fort Worth, Texas

“America: Faith, Values, and Priorities highlights some important insights and very concerning trends for the U.S. Hispanic community. On questions addressing the area of “Money Management and Economics” more than one-third of respondents feel that they have “no one to turn to” for financial problems. Financial literacy information gap can also encourage Latinos to seek assistance ‘from the government’ as a long-term solution for finances forcing the Latino community to make poor financial decisions, and bringing about a sense of despair and dependency. The Bible’s influence offers the change Hispanics truly seek and this major study underscores this profound truth.”
Daniel Garza
Executive Director, The LIBRE Initiative

“Hispanic America: Faith, Values, and Priorities is energizing. It shows Hispanic identity at a vibrant intersection of living faith strongly, in spite of changing family ties and common concerns for the strength of the American future. Good news America! Hispanic work ethic, family honor and spirited faith will be important cornerstones for our American tomorrows. Reflecting the diversity of Hispanics in America, this study indicates how each generation is contributing a unique voice to the American development of temporal and spiritual values that will shape our common future.”
Suzii Paynter
Director, Texas Baptist Christian Life Commission
Baptist General Convention of Texas

“Hispanic America: Faith, Values, and Priorities is a timely and valuable study which illustrates that we all need to read, hear and apply the Word of God to ensure that we maximize the full potential to ourselves, our families, neighbors and our U.S. society.  Drawing from immigrant and exile experiences, Hispanics can invigorate U.S. Christianity at this pivotal point in U.S. history.  The Bible offers guidance with key decisions ranging from family to finances. As a Christian of the Roman Catholic tradition, I believe the need to incorporate Biblical truths in all aspects of our lives is vital.  This Study will help focus our attention on key areas where this is most needed.”
Carlos R. de Quesada
Founder, VeraCruz Advisory, LLC