Ebenezer Reformed Church in Shafter, CA has long been mission minded. With the population of Shafter being predominantly Hispanic (currently over 82% Hispanic), it made sense to have a Hispanic outreach. Under the pastoral leadership of Rev. Vernon Pollema, Ebenezer began investigating the concept of a Hispanic work over 20 years ago, attempting to contact Mexican missionaries who could help to start a Reformed work in Shafter. Ebenezer and the Western Classis explored this opportunity with Rev. Dr. John Paul Roberts of the Independent Presbyterian Church of Mexico, and Oscar Porras of Texas.
Our Pastor Emeritus, Rev. Vernon Pollema, relates the following experience relevant to the foregoing point:
On Oct. 5, 1986, while serving at St. John’s RCUS, Lincoln, NE, I received a pastoral call from the Ebenezer Reformed Church, Shafter, CA, one of the older, predominantly German/Russian congregations in the RCUS. I accepted the call with the provision that I and the family would not relocate to Shafter until June, allowing the children to complete the current school year at Lincoln. Soon after settling in Shafter with the family, the experience occurred that is quite relevant to the subject of this article. The Ebenezer church building is conveniently located directly across the street from a grocery store at that time called “Budget.” On one of the first trips of many to that store, my wife came home quite distraught, almost to the point of tears, saying, “Where have we come to? I did not hear one word of English spoken in that store.” That language barrier has been significantly broken as this article will indicate, especially with the arrival of Missionary Pastor Rev. Valentin Alpuche and more recently Rev. Ruben Zartman.
In 2009, Rev. Pollema retired from the ministry and became Pastor Emeritus for Ebenezer, and Rev. Paul Henderson received a call and was installed in August of 2009.
While looking into the opportunity to start a Hispanic work in Shafter, Ebenezer had the opportunity to provide oversight of the new home missions work in Los Angeles, Rehoboth Chapel. In 2000 Classis recommended Ebenezer take oversight, and the Spiritual Council decided to accept that responsibility. The Elders and Deacons would visit Rehoboth on a monthly basis, typically bringing lunch for the Rehoboth congregation, and the fellowship was very sweet. This oversight continued for about 13 years.
With that work completed in 2013, Ebenezer was ready to support another home missions work. At the annual congregation meeting, one of our members, Mark Kirschenmann, suggested that it was time to seriously consider starting a Reformed Hispanic work in Shafter.
The Consistory started discussions on how to bring such a ministry to fruition, and with the help of Dr. Cornel Venema, then President of Mid-America Reformed Seminary, Elder Ryan Spitzer and Rev. Paul Henderson were put in touch with Rev. Valentín Alpuche. Rev. Alpuche came to Shafter to talk with our Consistory and the congregation about what was involved with starting a Hispanic work. In God’s providence, the Alpuche family visit was during Cinco de Mayo, so there were a lot of festivities going on. Rev. Paul Henderson remembers Rev. Alpuche asking, “Pastor Paul, where are all the white people?” I told him, “You’ll see them on Sunday!” Then, after driving around the town, he said: “This looks just like Mexico!” We can clearly see the Lord’s perfect, remarkable and most gracious providence!
In June 2014 the Alpuche family moved to Shafter to start the Hispanic work. The name Valle de Gracia (Valley of Grace) was suggested by Mrs. Betty Alpuche. Rev. Alpuche started his evangelistic work immediately. He started doing street and door-to-door evangelism and setting up an evangelism table in front of the church. He also began teaching English as a second language in the public library and in the fellowship hall at the church. He also taught citizenship classes.
Rev. Alpuche worked tirelessly to get the word out to the Hispanic community about the new work, and to bring God’s Word to that community. In 2015 the Dorantes family was the first family welcomed into membership, baptizing their three children. Rev. Alpuche also started a Spanish radio program called Reformando tu Vida (Reforming your Life), and then also in 2015 began a prison ministry in McFarland, CA.
In 2016, Rev. Paul Henderson received and accepted a call from Hope Reformed Church in Pierre, South Dakota.
In 2017, Ebenezer called Rev. Ruben Zartman to be their Pastor. Our former pastor, Rev. Paul Henderson, explains how we got connected with Rev. Ruben Zartman who is the current Pastor for Ebenezer Reformed Church:
With regards to Rev. Ruben Zartman becoming a vital part of this entire work, it was after a very tiring day of labors for Rev. Alpuche that we had a talk about how best to help him. He mentioned this ‘white’ student at M.A.R.S who could speak better Spanish than he, and who was an excellent theologian, who might be interested. So, after a wonderful discussion about obtaining help for Rev. Alpuche in the form of an Associate, or other Missionary Pastor, the Shafter Consistory sought the man who became their Pastor and a tremendous help for Rev. Alpuche, and a leader in seeing this work grow!
God’s amazing providence is clearly seen in Rev. Ruben Zartman’s call to be the Pastor at Ebenezer. Being fluent in both English and Spanish, he is able to step in as needed to help with Valle de Gracia. Both pastors are dearly loved by both congregations.
In 2019, the Mendoza family was welcomed into membership, and their three children were baptized, in 2022 Jose and Lisbeth Garcia were welcomed into membership, and in 2023, Arlen Becerra was welcomed into membership with her six children being baptized. There are many visitors who come and go, and the congregation is very active with Sunday morning and evening services, as well as Bible study and catechism classes on Wednesdays and Fridays. Valle de Gracia’s first Elder, Julio Mendoza, was ordained on January 21, 2024.
Valle de Gracia and Ebenezer thank God for the Consistory and congregation of Grace Reformed Church at Bakersfield for their loving and generous support in this calling to minister to the Hispanic community. Both congregations also deeply appreciate the unwavering commitment and financial support from the Western Classis and Synod of the RCUS. The laborers continue to labor, and the Lord continues to bless Valle de Gracia.
“Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!” John 4:35. And we read in Revelation 7:9, “After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands”.
An anniversary celebration was held on August 11, 2024 to commemorate a decade of the Lord’s faithfulness. Rev. Rudy Rubio brought a meditation, children from Valle de Gracia and Ebenezer sang in both Spanish and English, and Rev. Alpuche was honored with a memorial plaque and a gift from the congregation, and the congregations of Valle de Gracia, Ebenezer, Grace Reformed Church in Bakersfield, and Grace Reformed Church of Antelope Valley, and other friends enjoyed a meal and time of fellowship.
Greg Williams