LITHONIA, Georgia (AP) — Sprinkled among the black faces at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, Hispanic worshippers listen intently to Bishop Eddie Long.It is an unusual scene for a predominantly black church, but the area’s Hispanic population has grown from just one percent in 2000 to nearly nine percent today. And New Birth is acknowledging its new neighbours in a way most historically black churches have not.

Long is trying to attract Hispanic members by hiring a Hispanic band, adding Spanish-language Sunday services, hiring a Hispanic pastor, and even by learning Spanish.

“My message has been geared to challenging African-Americans, but I have to be culturally sensitive,” said Long, whose congregation draws more than 25,000 worshippers. “Now, I focus on using biblical principles that are relevant to everyone.”

Long’s services are already translated into Spanish, among other languages, but Long wanted to do more.

It is a challenging plan. Most Hispanics in the United States attend churches that started in their own neighbourhoods, or they worship at predominantly white churches with large missions to Spanish-speaking immigrants.

But Long says black churches have a special lesson. Like blacks before them, new Hispanic arrivals are struggling with poverty, finding work, getting a good education and getting a say in public policy.

“We were there,” Long said. “Because we’re beginning to turn the corner, we can reach back to our brother. This is about people working together and using faith to improve themselves.”

The idea of attending a black church seemed strange at first to Julio Alberto Rodriguez, who had watched Long’s services on television from Florida. Still, when Rodriguez moved to the Atlanta area a few years ago, he visited.

“Initially, you feel kind of out of place because you’re a Hispanic among so many black folk. I was like, ‘What am I doing here?”’ Rodriguez said. He joined anyway, and now works as a personal trainer with the church’s fitness ministry.

The Rev. Eddie Velez, a 13-year member of New Birth who was recently appointed pastor to lead Spanish-language worship, has been courting the new Hispanic residents, spreading the church’s new motto: “Nuestra casa es su casa,” or “Our house is your house”.

“We’re all the same. We’re all family,” said Bernardo Reyes, who plays guitar in New Birth’s Hispanic band and has attended the church for about six months. “It makes me feel important that they’re thinking about me.”