Samuel Rodriguez

Samuel Rodriguez

president, National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference.

The "On Faith" panelist is a well-known evangelist, author and founding pastor of Third Day Worship Centers. He was born in Newark, N.J., and grew up in Bethlehem, Pa. He attended Penn State University and graduated from Kutztown University of Pennsylvania with a bachelor's degree in education. He earned a Master's degree in educational leadership from Lehigh University. He's also a graduate of Bethany Bible Institute. Ordained by the Assemblies of God at the age of 23, he was elected to oversee the Assemblies of God Hispanic Youth Ministries for the 17 states in the Northeast and Mid Atlantic Region. In 1997, Rodriguez assisted in a church planting initiative where he founded and provided pastoral oversight to churches in Pennsylvania and New York City. In August 2000, the Assemblies of God invited Samuel to speak at the World Pentecostal Congress, Celebration 2000, in the RCA Dome in Indianapolis. In the spring of 2001, he helped start the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, which is affiliated with the National Association of Evangelicals. He is a regular speaker for Promise Keepers, the Assemblies of God, other organizations and a regular contributor to Ministry Today, Outreach, Connexion, and Enrichment Journal. He lives in Sacramento, California with this three children and his wife of 18 years, Eva. Eva is the Senior Pastor of an Assemblies of God Church, Christian Worship Center Close.

Samuel Rodriguez

president, National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference.

Rev. Samuel Rodriguez is president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference. more »

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A Doctor's Prescription

“Take two pills and call me in the morning”, said the Doctor. Today’s moral, political and social climate demands a more viable prescription in order to address the ills inundating humanity today. Regardless of one’s faith experience or lack thereof, the undeniable presence of the revolutionary and transforming figure, Jesus Christ, continues to permeate the 21st century narrative 2000 years after his death. Why?

Dr. Luke in the book of Acts incorporates with surgical precision and accuracy a simple truth in the spiritual body of our journey; Acts 17:28 “For in Him we live and move and have our being”.

This simple yet powerful truth guides us to an unshakeable reality. In Him, not in religion built around him, wars fought in his name, exercises in grandeur, dogmatic systems or hierarchical bureaucracies, but in Him we live. In his humility, love, mercy, grace and compassion, we live. We live when we embrace his nature, his mission and his sacrifice. We live in his purpose to turn the other cheek, love thy neighbor and our enemies while above all, we walk justly before our God.

We move in his character, his holiness, his righteous indignation against the pharisaic spirit. We move in his journey from Bethlehem to Golgotha and all points between. We move in his encounters with the rich and the poor, fishermen and political leaders, we move in his passion for all God’s children to be free. Every opportunity to forgive, assist and heal presents an invitation to move in Him.

Finally, In Christ we have our being. Descartes declared “I Think therefore I am”. Pascal countered with “I believe therefore I am”. My response in the midst of moral relativism, social, political and economic uncertainty is simple; “Christ, Therefore I am”.

Prescription: Live in His nature, Walk in His Spirit and Exist in His Grace.

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