ASSEMBLIES OF GOD
DENNIS: Greetings and welcome to the July video portion of the Office of Hispanic Relations Creating Connections digital newsletter.
We have changed the format this month and we are honored to have William Rodriguez join me today to have a conversation about a new educational initiative for Hispanic pastors that will be launched at General Council in Columbus, Ohio, July 31-August 4th.
William, thank for joining me today.
WILLIAM: It’s a pleasure to be here.
DENNIS: One of the concerns we all share in serving the Hispanic church is how to build healthy churches and ministries that thrive beyond the founding generation. Many of our churches are founded by first generation immigrant pastors, other are founded by second and third generation pastors who are U.S. born and are bilingual. Every pastor faces the challenge of leading their church through changing cultures and generations.
William, you both currently serve as an officer in your districts.
What do you both believe pastors need today, that possibly twenty years ago was not as critical to pastoring in our Hispanic communities?
WILLIAM: Nowadays we have many challenges. One of them being the social issues that we currently live. Another one is the development of technology. Pastors constantly need to be educated in all of these new frontlines. As ministers we have to. Education is so important nowadays.
DENNIS: I would agree. You have mentioned the need for pastors to have access to more education, which could be a combination of practical vocational preparation, and also pastoral and Biblical theology.
God has blessed you with opportunities to receive higher theological education. Briefly share with us how this happened? Did you have mentors that encouraged you? What doors opened up for you and did you receive any financial scholarships?
WILLIAM: As far as mentors, I think one of the persons most influential was Jesse Miranda. He always encouraged all the pastors to continue their education, to go for higher education. I was blessed. I live on the west coast, so I was blessed to be near Fuller Theological Seminary, which at that time had a scholarship and great opportunities Hispanic pastors. Not only did Full give me a scholarship but other entities blessed me. I was basically able to go through school with zero debt, which is a miracle these days in education, and get a Master’s of Divinity. I see the opportunities that are now and the new opportunities that are opening up. Those are great. A pastor needs them.
DENNIS: Absolutely. Thank you for sharing some of your story with us. We are grateful that God used other people to encourage you and invest in your future by providing financial resources to help you accomplish your educational dreams and goals.
I am very pleased to announce today that out of a conversation I have had with the 14 Hispanic Superintendents we together have caught the vision of sowing into our future. At General Council in Columbus on Wednesday evening at 5:30 p.m. the Office of Hispanic Relations will host a dinner where we will introduce the Jesse Miranda / Nino Gonzalez Legacy Scholarship. Both Jesse Miranda and Nino Gonzalez have impacted and influenced many leaders and pastors to excel in ministry. Dr. Nino Gonzalez will be our special speaker at this gathering.
In order to have the pastors and leaders that we will need in the coming years, should Jesus tarry, we need to invest today in the education of those who will soon fill the roles of every local, district, national leader. Someday someone else will be doing what you and I do today.
How will we raise these scholarship funds? We have a plan to invited churches across our fourteen Hispanic District to partner together to raise the first one million dollars. Individual will also have the opportunity to give. Some have already given the first seed offerings for this scholarship. These scholar funds will be grants that Hispanic pastors can apply for to attend any of our AG Colleges and Universities to work on their Masters or Doctoral degrees. Many pastors of small to medium size congregations, and have the dream to continue their education, but do not have the financial resource.
WILLIAM: If you are planning to go to General Council in Columbus, when you register online to attend, you can also register to attend the Hispanic Dinner. The registration link is on the screen. There is a cost, but we hope you will join us. The time has come for the Hispanic church to invest in our own future. You personally can participate in raising the first $1 million for the Jesse Miranda / Nino Gonzalez Legacy Scholarship.
Our District has purchased a table of eight for the Hispanic Dinner. Jesse Miranda impacted the Southern Pacific District by sowing in our future years ago, now it’s our turn to sow into the next generation of leaders. Pastor, your church can buy a table for eight people and give at the same time. To purchase tickets for a table, use the link on the screen. We will look for you in Columbus!
DENNIS: We will see you there!
