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This weekend, the First Hispanic Church of LaGrange turns 25. In honor of its sliver status, the church will be hosting a weekend-long celebration.

Hugo Oropeza, pastor of the church, said there will be regular services on Friday and Sunday. On Saturday, a community recognition ceremony will be held.

The celebration will be held at Unity Baptist Church located at 715 South Greenwood St. On Friday, service will begin at 7 p.m., Saturday at 5 p.m. and at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Oropeza said.

“During our community recognition ceremony, we want to recognize all the great, great support we have from the city, to the county, to the Sheriff’s sheriff’s Departmentdepartment, from the LaGrange Police Department, to the school system and more,” Oropeza said.

Helping celebrate the church’s anniversary, Oropeza said Mayor Willie Edmondson will be attending.

“We feel very honored to have the new mayor of LaGrange come celebrate with us. Mr. Edmondson has been in the community for a long time and always so active. It’s exciting to have a gentleman who knows and loves LaGrange, and has the power and abilities to lead this city to the best,” Oropeza said.

While the services will be in Spanish, Oropeza said everyone is welcomed to join the celebration.

“We always have the ability to honor our guests and try to interpret the service for them,” Oropeza said. “We are glad to help anybody, any race and any church. This is a big celebration, and we’d love to have you join us.”

Since 1998, the First Hispanic Church of LaGrange has been a place of community and worship for individuals of Hispanic descent. 

Oropeza said currently the church has a membership of approximately 130 people.

“The Latino community is continuously growing, and we wish to serve our community in the spiritual aspects, first of all, as a church and then as a resource to help them adapt to a  new community and country,” Oropeza said.

In the churches church’s 25-year history, Oropeza said it has been an honor to not only be a place of worship but to be a resource to help Hispanic individuals learning English, get transportation, jobs, housing and more.