Mark Crear, Ph.D.
President of the Multicultural Division of AACC
In the United States, the period from September 15th to October 15th is National Hispanic Heritage Month. It was approved by former United States President Lyndon Johnson. It was expanded to a month by President Ronald Reagan and enacted into law in 1988. National Hispanic Heritage Month begins on the anniversary of the independence of Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador and Costa Rica. It is also meant to celebrate the long history of Latino and Hispanic Americans in North America, as well as their heritage. In honor of the National Hispanic Heritage Month, we celebrate two anointed Hispanics that are making a difference in their culture and community they represent.
Rev. Samuel Rodriguez
As president of the largest Hispanic Christian organization in the nation, Rev. Rodriguez is likely the most well known of Hispanic evangelicalism’s leaders. He blends the evangelistic vision of Billy Graham with the social justice activism of Martin Luther King, Jr., the result being a number of NHCLC ministries like Free Indeed, which aims to mobilize “born-again” Christians to join the movement to end human trafficking, and Imago Dei, a social media campaign committed to “recognizing that we are all made in the image of God, without exception.” CNN named Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, “The leader of the Hispanic Evangelical movement”. The Wall St. Journal identified him as one of America’s 7 most influential Hispanic Leaders and the only religious leader on the list. Charisma Magazine Identifies Rev. Samuel Rodriguez as America’s most influential spirit-filled Christian Leader in the political sphere. Rev. Rodriguez is an Assemblies of God Ordained Minister since the age of 23 serves as Senior Pastor of New Season Christian Worship Center in Sacramento, CA where he resides in California with his wife of 22 years, Eva and their three children.
Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño
The first Hispanic woman to be elected to the episcopacy of The United Methodist Church (UMC), the second-largest Protestant denomination in the United States. She was elected in 2004. Her first assignment was as Bishop of the Phoenix Episcopal Area of Desert Southwest Conference of the UMC. She currently serves as Bishop of the Los Angeles Episcopal Area, California-Pacific Conference for the UMC. She serves as the official spokesperson for the United Methodist Council of Bishops on the issue of immigration. Bishop Carcaño was raised in Edinburg, Texas. Her early years of humble economic circumstances influenced her lifelong commitment to persons who face poverty and discrimination. Her ministry has included work with the poor, farm workers, immigrants, and refugees – including community organizing through the Industrial Areas Foundation. Congratulations and thank you for doing all you do to for the advancement of Gods people.