The North American Mission Board named Samuel Rodriguez the 2009 Hispanic Church Planting Missionary of the Year at the annual Church Planting Missionary Forum held Feb. 24-27 in Atlanta.
Presenting the award to Samuel Rodriguez (center) was Ken Weathersby (right), vice president of church planting for NAMB, and Van Kicklighter, NAMB’s church-planting team leader for strategic planning and people groups.Rodriguez is a church-planting strategist with the South Carolina Baptist Convention. He helped plant seven new Hispanic churches and one multiethnic church in South Carolina last year. In 2010, his goal is to see 15 new churches planted – 10 Hispanic and five other-language congregations.
“There are so many people working hard in the field. I just facilitate and help. We are a team, and this is an award for everyone here at the convention,” Rodriguez said.
“Samuel also has a desire to help Hispanic congregations identify unreached groups of people in order that they can become multiplying churches,” said Wayne Terry, associate executive director of the church multiplication team, SCBC. He also noted Rodriguez’s leadership in supporting church-planting pastors, helping to ensure their success in sharing the gospel.
“Samuel Rodriguez continues to effectively encourage and equip our Hispanic churches in personal evangelism, spiritual development, and church planting. He does this because of his personal convictions and through his tireless witness,” said SCBC executive director-treasurer Jim Austin. – SCBC