CALLED
CALLED: ISRAEL RODRIGUEZ
10
SIM Ecuador member Israel Rodríguez serves as team leader of the El Sendero Youth Ministry, which reaches young people with the gospel and disciples believers aged 15 to 25. Working with schools and universities, El Sendero offers many activities including sports, art, English classes and Bible studies. Born in Guayaquil, Israel gave his life to Christ at the age of 18. One night as his pastor was preaching, the Lord opened his eyes to his sinfulness. He began to grow in faith and see in scripture how love for God leads to preaching the gospel to those who have not heard it. In 2010, he heard about leastreached peoples for the first time at a mission conference. God showed Israel that he is worthy to receive praise from all people and that every follower of Christ is called to The Lord did not speak audibly to him. He started more missionary the Great Commission. This began Israel, but to his heart: “Israel, this is and Bible training. In 2012, Israel his missionary calling. a fallen and lost world and the gospel joined SIM. In 2013, the Lord As he served the Lord at church, is the only message of salvation. allowed Israel to serve in China, his burden for the lost grew. He read Money won’t give eternal hope to home to almost 100 million missionary biographies, including the hopeless. Go and preach.” So, Muslim and Tibetan Buddhists. that of Hudson he went on the Israel served for two years, Taylor, who was mission trip learning the language, making His desire is to see a missionary to to Haiti. disciples among university young disciples of Jesus China and became In Haiti, students and leading Bible studies a hero of the faith Israel saw God in a house church. There he saw making disciples. for Israel. move in people’s the church’s great need for biblical Later, he hearts. His disciple-making. signed up for a missions trip to Haiti. team led Bible studies, worked Today, Israel serves with SIM Then he thought: “My family is not in orphanages and built homes in Loja, Ecuador, as leader of El doing well financially, and I am going alongside local people. On his last Sendero Youth Ministry. His desire to spend all this money? I will just day in Haiti, he prayed: “Here am I. is to see young disciples of Jesus send money to the people in Haiti.” Send me!” making disciples. He wants to see However, he didn’t have peace. Back home, his pastor, church young people catch God’s vision for One morning on the way to work, elders and family confirmed his Ecuador and the nations. his motorcycle broke down. As he calling, prayed for him and blessed Cesar.rodriguez@sim.org waited for it to be fixed, he saw a man standing nearby on the sidewalk. PLEASE PRAY: Suddenly, the man threw himself under a truck, dying instantly. Israel For young people to hold the faith, walk with God daily, and share the was shocked. Later, he drove his gospel and make disciples of other young people. motorcycle away and started crying. For finances to develop the ministry in 2020. The image of the man taking his life For receptive hearts among relatives so they would return to God. played over and over in his head. He For a worker to help us communicate the gospel through social asked God: “Why did you allow me to media and technology. This is a great need during COVID-19. see such a horrible thing?” WWW.SIM.ORG
