FRESNO - Celebrating the 60th year of ministry in California, hundreds of California Southern Baptist Hispanics gathered in Fresno April 11-12 for Con-fraternidad Hispana Bautista de California's Congreso Anual.

Held at Crosspoint Church in Fresno, Congreso featured guest speaker Luis Gabriel Cesar Isunza, pastor of Primera Iglesia Bautista in Ciudad Satelite, Mexico. More than 400 participants enjoyed worship music, preaching, seminars and fellowship.

Isunza encouraged pastors to continue their ministry even if they've "hit bottom, because God can restore you for use in His Kingdom." Using Jonah as an example of a servant of God who ran away, Isunza said God was able "to change Jonah's heart and restore him."

Isunza added, "God allows u-turns" and encouraged those attending "to look to God and be ready to take advantage of the opportunity to make a u-turn when you see the sign."

Daniel Sotelo, president of Confraternidad, California Southern Baptists' Hispanic network, called the congregation to prayer and fasting during a Saturday morning sermon. He asked participants to commit to pray and fast for 40 days, noting later, "They don't have to fast completely from food, but maybe from one meal a day, or Starbucks, or an activity, which would provide time for prayer."

Sotelo distributed prayer guidelines divided into 5, 15 or 30-minute increments.

To conclude his sermon, he called members of the audience to make a commitment to obedience and to the Great Commission.

For more information about Confraternidad contact Danny Sotelo or Richard Vera.