“My name is Rosa Margarita Soto (Rosa M Soto). I am Puerto Rican, born in San Juan, PR, but I have lived in the United States of America since I was about 3-4 years old. I was raised/adopted by my maternal grandparents.”
Rosa continues by talking about the religious freedom she has so she can pursue a Hispanic Ministry in the United States.
“Being in America, there are so many opportunities to do ministry, because of the freedom we have here; which in other countries is not possible. But in that same freedom, it also makes it very challenging to do outreach to a people that tries to take “God out” it’s seems to me at times that world around us is more willing to accept God into their lives than we as nation founded on God.”
Rosa’s journey to Hispanic Ministry began relatively young.
“I came to accept the Lord as my Savior when I was about 18-19 years old. We were raised Catholic although we were not always practicing it. We started to open the doors of our home to a Spanish Pastor: Jose Velez. He was the pastor at (“Iglesia de Dios Pentecostal M.I – Pentecostal Church of God International Movement)” He would come to our house and hold small services 1-3 times a month. My grandparents accepted the Lord as their Savior one year prior to me. I was fighting it. I would always get uneasy when they would come to the house. The reason now I know was because I was in darkness. Although I never was in drugs, running the streets, parties, but I was lost, I did not have the Lord Jesus as my personal Savior. I finally gave my life to the Lord on a Tuesday night bible study. I clearly remember Pastor Velez teaching out of Revelations and the beast with the ten horns. I didn’t completely understand but I know enough that I did not want be here with Satan. I knew I was missing something in my life. I gave my life that night and have never turned back. There are so many times that God has shown me again and again that my life would be far worst now, if I rejected Salvation.”
Rosa sees how a Hispanic Ministry can bring light to those stuck in darkness.
“I have seen and had friends that haven’t received Jesus as their Savior, going through some situations, along, desperate for answers. I have had some that have taken their lives because they could not deal with life. It is so sad! How does that song go? “we fall down but we get up” Yes, as Christians, we do go through perhaps the same twists and turns that life has a way of throwing at us but the difference is that we have CHRIST! That when things look their darkest, Jesus always shines a light to show us the path we should go. We are never alone!”
She has a dream of a Multicultural Hispanic Ministry.
My passion is to see my church become and multicultural ministry. My assignment is to help Consolation become a bilingual ministry; by evangelizing the Latino population near and around my church in South Philadelphia. Our Bishop Gaines has commissioned Minister Damian Benitez and myself to help him make this part of the vision for the ministry come true. Currently we are working on coming up with a mission/vision statement for the future launching of the “Consolation Baptist Church – Hispanic Ministry”. The development of the Hispanic Ministry is still in the embryo process
I also want to train as a Chaplain. I am looking into some programs in my area and online to see what is out there. I would love to be able to work with patients.”
Rosa Closes by mentioning the impact Christian Leaders Institue has had on her Hispanic Ministry training.
Having a Scholarship would help me in so many ways to reach the goals that God is slowly revealing to me. I want to thank you all for your love of God’s word. For begin in position to help so many future leaders to impact their lives, families, neighborhoods and countries.
I want to thank you all for making it possible for so many of us to be able to further our knowledge and growth in the our Lord Jesus Christ. I can’t begin to express in words how your kindness impacts the lives of all that enroll with CLI.
God bless you!
Rosa M Soto.”
Rosa has completed the Christian Basics Certificate. She continues to expand her education for Hispanic Ministry thanks to generous donors of Christian Leaders Institute.