Heralded by CNN as “one of the most influential leaders in the Latino community,” Reverend Samuel Rodriguez, president of the National Hispanic Leadership Conference, came to Biola University in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. Rodriguez thoroughly enjoyed the Biola community and reminded students, staff, and faculty of their role in the world.   

“Biola is not standing or sitting behind. It’s moving ahead and pressing forward,” said Rodriguez, “Biola looks more and more like the kingdom of God, like the body of Christ. That speaks accolades to a university that is poised…to impact our nation.”

Rodriguez started off a chapel series called Perspectives in Latino Faith, which took place from September 28-30. Being a charismatic speaker and preacher, he got students laughing at his definition of the term “Hispanic Evangelical.”

“If you want to know what the term ‘Hispanic Evangelical’ means, just take Billy Graham and Martin Luther King, Jr…put them in a blender, then pour some salsa over it,” said Rodriguez.

As president of the NHCLC, the largest Hispanic Christian Organization in America with 30,621 member churches, Rodriguez has spoken and presented at the White House, U.S. Congress, Princeton University, Yale University, Liberty University, the Trinity Broadcasting Network, CNN, FOX News, ABC, and NPR. He is also a part of President Obama’s White House Task Force on Fatherhood.

Written by Elizabeth Mak, Media Relations Intern. For more information, please contact Jenna Bartlo, Media Relations Coordinator, at jenna.l.bartlo@biola.eduor via phone at 562.777.4061.