COEUR d'ALENE -

Spanish-speaking Christian churchgoers in North Idaho will soon have a weekly opportunity to practice their faith together, in their native language.

Beginning Jan. 5, Candlelight Christian Fellowship in Coeur d'Alene will offer a new Sunday morning church service called "Candlelight Hispanic Fellowship: The Love of Calvary."

Pastor Paul Van Noy said he receives many inquiries from people seeking Spanish-language church services in the community.

"We want to serve and meet the needs of this community, and there are quite a large number of people that are interested," Van Noy said.

For the past few years, the only regular Spanish-language worship option in the area has been a Catholic Mass held twice a month at St. Pius X Church in Coeur d'Alene.

To begin serving the Hispanic community at Candlelight Christian, Van Noy turned to longtime staff member Ray Duran.

Duran, who is originally from New Mexico and was ordained in California, works at the church as a pastoral counselor.

He has worked in ministry for 40 years, and prior to his move to Coeur d'Alene 20 years ago, he spent time flying to Mexico to train pastors.

"I have always had a love for Hispanic people," Duran said. "There are quite a few Latin people moving to the area and there are people looking for Spanish Bible studies."

When Duran was approached three months ago about leading the services, he said he needed some time to think it over.

"I prayed about it a lot and finally said 'OK let's go ahead and do it,'" Duran said. "It's a challenge, but it's also a blessing and an honor to teach the Bible to Hispanic people."

Duran said his services will take a "systematic" approach to studying the Bible by going chapter by chapter through the various books, adding that the services will also be bilingual.

"We didn't want to hinder anyone from attending the service," Duran said. "So the worship and message will be in both Spanish and English."

The Spanish language services will be held at Candlelight Christian Fellowship at 10:45 a.m. Sundays at the church, 5725 North Pioneer Drive.

St. Pius X Catholic Church's Spanish-speaking worship services are held at 12:30 p.m. on the first and third Sundays of each month.