When insurance policies don’t translate
Ministry Pacific is closing insurance gaps for Hispanic ministries.
After Mexico, the United States is home to the second-largest number of Spanish speakers in the world. Although more than 40 million Americans consider Spanish their first language, many insurance and business resources have not caught up with its prevalence. In this interview, Gabriela Castillo, Hispanic Ministry Manager, explains how Ministry Pacific is seeking to serve the Spanish-speaking community.
Q: Why is Ministry Pacific invested in serving the Spanish-speaking faith community?
A: It’s not a secret that this group has been underserved in many areas of our society, including professional services for faith-based organizations. Regardless of our language or heritage, people of faith are striving for the same ideals. Our mission is serving all our clients with excellence.
Q: How does Ministry Pacific serve the Spanish-speaking community?
A: We have developed a network of experts in diverse subject matters to serve and educate our clients. We provide webinars, articles, email communications and e-books to help them succeed. Our goal is to offer the same resources in Spanish and English, providing an equal level of support regardless of language. We’re not there yet, but I can assure you we’re quite busy striving to attain this goal. Our mission is not to merely sell a product, but to make sure our churches and nonprofits are thriving and able to care for their members.
Q: What are some particular insurance-related challenges the Spanish-speaking community experiences?
A: The first and most important is the complexity of insurance terminology. Our English-speaking clients struggle with the same issue – and with good reason. Insurance language is based on legal contracts, which aren’t known for being reader-friendly. With Spanish speakers, the challenge increases. Because they sometimes don’t understand their policies, we often find churches lack coverage they need or are paying for policies they don’t require.
Q: How has Ministry Pacific worked to meet these challenges?
A: When we receive calls from potential clients, we take time to get to know them and to become aware of their insurance needs so we can quote accordingly. Every client is different and we don’t want to assume anything. We take the time to listen. Once we have the proposals, we review them with the client before binding a policy. We don’t want them to have unanswered questions about what they’re purchasing.
We work to build genuine relationships with our clients so they know we truly have their best interests in mind. Through articles, webinars, and educational materials, we help pastors steward well what God has entrusted to them. We are also excited about our initiatives focused on offering even stronger support to our Spanish-speaking clients through tailored resources and deeper connections.
Gabriela Castillo
Hispanic Ministry Manager at Ministry Pacific Insurance Services
1.866.870.2700, Ext. 108
About Gabriela Castillo
I have been married to my husband, Ariel, for 28 years. We are blessed with two children: Hiram, who just graduated with her B.A. in Family and Human Services; and Josue, who is currently in his senior year of college. We enjoy time together outdoors and traveling.
I earned a bachelor’s degree in education and also studied English as a Second Language, not knowing it would be one of the best investments in my career.
I work for Ministry Pacific as an interpreter and translator and develop educational resources that provide pastors with practical tools. As a lifelong Christian, I deeply value the role the church plays in building strong and healthy communities. I am passionate about supporting pastors, listening carefully to their needs, and equipping them with meaningful resources that strengthen their ministries.
I am also actively involved in my church and community, which continually expands my understanding of ministry needs. I believe we never stop learning, and that mindset fuels my love for reading, studying new languages, and teaching – one of the greatest blessings in my life.