Tal Como Soy

A Special Ministry in the Dominican Republic

Jochy and Tammi Hernández have developed a thriving community ministry on the outskirts of Santiago, Dominican Republic (DR) on the island of Hispaniola. Tammi started with the Covenant in 2005 as a short-term missionary. She led mission trips through Merge Ministries to the DR.  Jochy was an entertainer and hip-hop artist on the island.  After a medical heart event that led to surgery, the doctors told him he wouldn’t be able to break dance anymore, he felt God was telling him he could use his gifts to reach young people in the community.

Tammi and Jochy met because a mutual friend asked her to come to a video shoot where Jochy was the choreographer. Someone asked Jochy his story and Tammi was intrigued so she reached out to him on Facebook.  They started talking about how their talents would meld together—her skills and his skills, her capacities and his capacities. They were both passionate about reaching people, about pastoring people who have no place in the traditional church. They both had a heart for being bridge-builders.

Eventually, out of this partnership, the Tal Como Soy (Just As I Am) church emerged. There is a lot of legalism on the island so a vast majority of the community to which God has called them feel like they don’t belong or are wanted. God has filled Tal Como Soy with young men! About 75% of the congregation are young men, 12-25 years old. They use a blend of hip-hop/rap along with more traditional praise and worship songs. The Church meets in a large home, with a seating capacity of close to 50. However, they need to find a larger worship venue. The church is in a community of approximately 5000 residents.  Tammi and Jochy feel that they could easily reach 5% of these people. So, the church has the capacity to grow exponentially if they were to find a larger venue. This is one of their top priorities.

Alan Tumpkin (Director of Church Planting in the GLC) visited the church in May 2023 and feels that there is a committed core of people that have taken ownership of the ministry. He feels it is beneficial that Jochy and Tammi do not have to participate in every detail of the worship experience. There is a solid leadership core that runs the service from set up to tear down, as well as the elements surrounding the service which include children’s ministry and hospitality. One of the signs that can signify that there is “life” at a church is in the congregation’s desire to remain after the service is over. Everyone in attendance stays a few hours later just to “be together.”

This fall, Faith Covenant Church in Farmington Hills, MI will be sending several volunteers (through Merge Ministries) to the DR in partnership with Tal Como Soy (Sept. 30-Oct 7, 2023). Many of the volunteers are medical and dental personnel (to further the partnership between Tal Como Soy and the local medical and dental clinic). They will also bring volunteers to help with a construction project. In May 2024, LifeChurch Southfield, MI also hopes to send a mission team. Any church that is interested in forming a mission partnership with Tal Como Soy or needs more information can contact Jody Eidnes at [email protected].

Please see the following ways to financially support this wonderful ministry:

• Click here to give to the general living and day to day expenses of the Hernández family
• Click here to give to the ongoing ministries of TAL COMO SOY and IronHeart, or mail your gifts to Evangelical Covenant Church, PO Box 773420, Chicago IL 60677-3420 marked “Urban Church Planting in the DR”
• Click here to give through the GLC (to designate your giving, choose “other” in the drop-down box and type in Tal Como Soy in the “special notes” box).

To read more about Tammi and Jochy Hernández click here for the January 17, 2023, Covenant Companion article by Jelani Greenidge.