Pastor José Nater

In September 2006, Pastor José Nater became the Pastor of Primeria Iglesia Bautista Hispana. For Pastor Nater and his wife of 22 years, Mayra, this call reflects the culmination of more than two decades of Christian service. The couple was involved with various youth and drama ministries in their native Puerto Rico. They also participated in a church planting effort on Good Friday in 1987 sponsored by the Christian Missionary Alliance. They were overjoyed to have 65 people attend services on the first day!

Pastor Nater acknowledges feeling God’s call upon his life for many years and struggling with the fact that work commitments often got in the way. The struggle was most notable during a five to seven year period when he worked for Motorola on the night shift. Although he was still working with various churches, he struggled with the fact that he was not doing what God called him to do.

That changed when he switched careers to the hotel industry and, in June 2002, was transferred to the Hyatt Resort in Cambridge. Pastor Nater, Mayra, and their two sons Josean (now 18) and Joam (now 14) settled in Trappe. They became involved in various ministries and a Hispanic congregation in Easton. Although the position at the Hyatt ultimately did not work out, God’s plan was accomplished in placing the Nater family on the Eastern Shore.

On April 15, 2006, at a community outreach event in Cambridge, a conversation between Pastor Wilfredo Rodriguez from Immanuel Baptist Church in Salisbury, a local couple Bernando & Carmen Torres, and trustees of First Baptist Church led to the founding of Primera Iglesia Bautista Hispana. Pastor Nater was called to lead the new church in September 2006. He notes that the call has been confirmed for him in many ways. Most notably was the fact that his current employer responded to the new, additional requirements on his time with acceptance.

Through Primera Iglesia Bautista Hispana, the Nater family is reaching out to the approximately 2,000 Hispanic residents in Cambridge. Most of these residents are young (under 25 years old), single, and isolated. We rejoice in the fact that 30 to 40 are attending regularly. Pastor Rodriguez’ congregation from Immanuel Baptist Church in Salisbury also joins them for worship on Saturday evenings, providing support which Pastor Nater notes has been key.