Incarnational Ministry: An Interview with Elizabeth Hernandez

In this article, David Powlison interviews Elizabeth Hernandez on her work at the ministry of Esperanza, located in an inner city Hispanic neighborhood. Hernandez discusses severe material, medical and social sufferings often characterize the people who seek help: “There are times when people are tempted — myself, those I counsel — when you see so much suffering, not to look at God for who He is.” Hernandez discusses the toll that ministry can take: “People come to me and it seems like they’re drowning…I didn’t realize I would have to pour myself out so much. I believed that if I just gave people models and paradigms, if I just worked with Scripture, I wouldn’t have to give myself.” She concludes, “The Lord loves to help people who suffer and who are trapped in sin.”