About Samuel Rodriguez

One only needs to pick up the daily newspaper to witness the profound impact of la herencia Hispana (Hispanic heritage) on our society. From the look and language of our marketing campaigns to the form and function of contemporary fashion; from the music that is crossing over cultural and linguistic barriers to the outcomes of our political elections; the contributions of the Latino community are changing the very fabric of this land we all call home. We are reminded of this yet again … [Read more...]

What is justice? Justice is not the purpose of big government. Justice is the passion of a big God. Justice is not a political term to be exploited but a prophetic term to be lived out. What is justice? Justice does not result in pathetic attempts of expediency but in prophetic postures of activism. For justice will at times march, at times it will protest, at times it will sing but justice will always speak on behalf of those that cannot speak for themselves. The Hispanic population in … [Read more...]

As Evangelical Christians, our faith stands universally recognized by a simple symbol: a cross. The cross is both vertical and horizontal. Vertically, we stand connected to God, His Kingdom, eternal truth and glory. Horizontally, to our left and to our right, we stand connected to family, culture, society and community. Immigration reform lies along both the vertical and horizontal planes. Vertically, the heart of God stands moved by the plight of the immigrant and the suffering. … [Read more...]

by Samuel Rodriguez and Robert Gittelson Our commitment, as people of strong faith, is to reconcile conviction with compassion, truth with love, and righteousness with justice. At the end of the day, our number one objective is to reconcile the Rev. Billy Graham’s message with the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s march. In doing so, we advance not the agenda of the Donkey or the Elephant, but exclusively the agenda of the Lamb. Comprehensive immigration reform is about the right thing … [Read more...]

Faith is transparent, transcendent and transformational. Faith equips us to cross over obstacles, shout down walls, break through crowds and walk on the impossible, even in the midst of storms. Faith encourages us to survive the fires of life, overcome the den of lions, silence the serpents and outwit the fox. Faith empowers us to see the invisible, embrace the impossible and hope for the incredible. Faith exhorts us to care for the poor, speak for the marginalized and welcome the … [Read more...]

With a convicted spirit and a heart full of compassion, I look across the Charles River in Boston, Massachusetts. This historic city, known for her role in the narrative of our nation's Revolutionary War chapter, love of sports and birthplace of some of the world's leading educational institutions, now stands recognized as yet another victim of mindless terror. Yet in this region, over 200 years ago, a man by the name of Paul Revere sounded an alarm; an alarm prompting the colonists to arise … [Read more...]

"Our collective heart stands broken as a result of Pastor Rick Warren's loss; the passing of his son Matthew. We pray for healing and strength for the Warren and Saddleback family. Yet, this tragedy facilitates an opportunity if not an obligation for the Christian community to address mental illness. Mental illness exists in and outside of the church community. Christians struggle with depression and even suicidal thoughts. It does not make you less of a Christian. Just like heart disease or … [Read more...]

The tragedy of Newtown, Conn., the Colorado theater massacre and other egregious violations of our communal serenity demonstrate that in the 21st century, the spirit of Herod still lives. In the New Testament, the biblical narratives include the presence of three different Herods. The first Herod persecuted Jesus as a baby, the second Herod prosecuted John the Baptist and the third Herod executed disciples. Each embodied an unbridled commitment to mindless violence. To that extent, the spirit … [Read more...]

By Andrew Thompson es estudiante de último año con especialidad en comunicaciones en Wheaton College en Illinois Una nueva alianza de universidades cristianas quiere que el 25 por ciento de su estudiantado sea hispano para el 2015. Para algunos, la educación es una expectativa. Para otros, es un sueño inalcanzable. Unos la miran como la puerta al triunfo, mientras que otros la ven como una tarea sin valor. Pero para Andrea Reyes Ramírez, es mucho más que eso. Es su ofrenda a Dios y … [Read more...]

The National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, The Hispanic Evangelical Association, responded today to the unfortunate term Congressman Young engaged in describing Hispanic migrant workers. As Christ followers we stand committed to an agenda that replaces rhetorical pornography with the redemptive language of love, tolerance, compassion and reconciliation. The pejorative term "wetback," reminds us of a time in our Nation's history when racial epithets stood unchecked, while many of … [Read more...]