CALLED: Israel Rodríguez

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 off ers 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 fi rst 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 Great Commission. Th is began his missionary calling.

As he served the Lord at church, his burden for the lost grew. He read missionary biographies, including that of Hudson Taylor, who was a missionary to China and became a hero of the faith for Israel.

Later, he signed up for a missions trip to Haiti. Th en he thought: “My family is not doing well fi nancially, and I am going to spend all this money? I will just send money to the people in Haiti.” However, he didn’t have peace.

One morning on the way to work, his motorcycle broke down. As he waited for it to be fi xed, he saw a man standing nearby on the sidewalk. Suddenly, the man threw himself under a truck, dying instantly. Israel was shocked. Later, he drove his motorcycle away and started crying. Th e image of the man taking his life played over and over in his head. He asked God: “Why did you allow me to see such a horrible thing?”

The Lord did not speak audibly to Israel, but to his heart: “Israel, this is a fallen and lost world and the gospel is the only message of salvation. Money won’t give eternal hope to the hopeless. Go and preach.” So, he went on the mission trip to Haiti.

In Haiti, Israel saw God move in people’s hearts. His team led Bible studies, worked in orphanages and built homes alongside local people. On his last day in Haiti, he prayed: “Here am I. Send me!”

Back home, his pastor, church elders and family confi rmed his calling, prayed for him and blessed him. He started more missionary and Bible training.

In 2012, Israel joined SIM. In 2013, the Lord allowed Israel to serve in China, home to almost 100 million Muslim and Tibetan Buddhists.

His desire is to see young disciples of Jesus making disciples.

Israel served for two years, learning the language, making disciples among university students and leading Bible studies in a house church. Th ere he saw the church’s great need for biblical disciple-making.

Today, Israel serves with SIM in Loja, Ecuador, as leader of El Sendero Youth Ministry. His desire is to see young disciples of Jesus making disciples. He wants to see young people catch God’s vision for Ecuador and the nations. Cesar.rodriguez@sim.org

PLEASE PRAY:

• For young people to hold the faith, walk with God daily, and share the gospel and make disciples of other young people.

• For finances to develop the ministry in 2020.  For receptive hearts among relatives so they would return to God.

• For a worker to help us communicate the gospel through social media and technology. This is a great need during COVID-19.