wfn.org | ABCUSA: Cruz Appointed International Ministries' Team Leader for U.S.

["SCHRAMM, Richard" <Richard.Schramm@abc-usa.org>]

Partnerships

by Eleanor P. Lundy, American Baptist International Ministries

American Baptist News Service (Valley Forge, Pa. 11/5/03)--The Rev. Eddie
Cruz has been named International Ministries' team leader for U.S.
Partnerships, effective Jan. 1, 2004. The appointment was announced today by
the Rev. Hictor Cortez, executive director of International Ministries.
Responsibilities of the new position include Mission Explosion initiatives,
Missionary Partnership Teams (MPTs) and Volunteers in Global Mission.  

Cruz has served since 1998 as director of Hispanic and Portuguese-speaking
Ministries for National Ministries (The American Baptist Home Mission
Societies). He completed the implementation of Vmsion 2001, a movement begun
by National Ministries in 1995 to plant 100 Hispanic American Baptist
churches and promote evangelism and discipleship as well as increase
financial support for these churches. 

When National Ministries' NEW LIFE 2010/NUEVA VIDA 2010 initiative was begun
in 2000, the Hispanic Ministries office spearheaded the Hispanic Church
Planters' Institute, as part of a commitment to start 200 new Hispanic
churches, reach 30,000 new believers, and educate Hispanic pastors to begin
a host of social programs promoting social and economic development.
Hispanic churches are leading American Baptist church planting efforts, with
55 new churches having been started so far. 

Another effort under Cruz's leadership, begun with a grant from NEW LIFE
2010, was the Urban Hispanic Initiative, which trained 42 pastors and
leaders in responding to socioeconomic needs by proposal development,
demographic studies and developing 501C3 corporations.

During his tenure with National Ministries, Cruz led the centennial
celebration of Hispanic ministries in the United States and Puerto Rico. He
administered the Spanish American Baptist Seminary (SABS) Fund, which
provides some $50,000 in annual scholarships for those studying for
full-time ministry, and a salary support program to supplement the salaries
of pastors in churches that are struggling financially. 

Cruz, a graduate of Judson College, Elgin, Ill., earned a M.Div. degree from
Northern Baptist Theological Seminary. He previously served as the pastor of
several churches in the greater Chicago area. He was assistant director of
the Minority Engineering Program, University of Illinois, Chicago, and also
served in community development projects in Chicago and Milwaukee, Wis. Cruz
and his wife, Priscilla, are the parents of three children, Gina, Jonathan
and Michele.

"Eddie Cruz is a dynamic, inspirational speaker and leader whom God has
gifted with a wealth of multicultural leadership experiences," Cortez said.
"We are excited to be able to incorporate these gifts with those of the rest
of International Ministries' leadership as we continue to join with churches
in establishing transformative global partnerships."

K/2003ABNS/03ABN134

American Baptist News Service: Office of Communication, American Baptist
Churches USA, P.O. Box 851, Valley Forge, PA 19482-0851; (800)ABC-3USA x2077
/ (610)768-2077; fax: (610)768-2320; www.abc-usa.org;
richard.schramm@abc-usa.org