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Evangelical Hispanics, often Pentecostal or charismatic, tend to be aggressively evangelistic. "If you are a Hispanic immigrant to America, you're going to get hit by the evangelical message," Rodriguez says. "Somebody at work, somebody in your neighborhood will talk to you."

The NHCLC aims to represent this low-profile evangelical community. Rodriguez has built on a foundation of Hispanic networking laid in the 1990s by Jesse Miranda, founding president of the National Alliance of Evangelical Ministries (amen: Alianza de Ministerios Evangélicos Nacionales). Of course, not all Hispanic evangelicals support the NHCLC's work. But the organization is trying hard to draw others in. A board was formed: one representative from each state, plus a representative from each denomination or network that takes up membership. Rodriguez was chosen as president, and an office was set up in Sacramento.

In addition to annual state congresses in all 50 states and Puerto Rico, NHCLC organizes task forces and roundtable forums on key national issues. They seek alliances with other national organizations, including the NAE. "We don't want to be ethnocentric," Rodriguez says. "We want to work within the evangelical church." He believes Hispanic evangelicals will lead their community into the American mainstream.

In that respect the immigration controversy could be a godsend. "We want to facilitate a dialogue. We are an oracle of truth, shouting, 'Don't fear the Hispanics, they share your values!' If I were one of the Founding Fathers hearing about a brown-skinned people who would come to settle in America with a strong Judeo-Christian worldview, with a Calvinistic work ethic, law-abiding peaceable citizens with a love for America, for family, for church, I would surely embrace them. Our elevator speech is, 'We will preserve the Judeo-Christian ethos of the Founding Fathers.'"

Rodriguez says that Hispanic street demonstrations suggest that political apathy has ended. "Hispanic Americans have never had a viable civil-rights movement," he says. "This is it—the catalyst for the mobilization of the Hispanic community in America."

Felix Posos, chair of the NHCLC board, says, "Hispanic evangelicals are not out there on the street raising banners. They are silent. But they are voters." A political and social agenda is increasingly evident, as the Pentecostal message widens from personal piety to community transformation. Evangelical pastors see themselves as leaders for the whole community.

"I think Sam is destined to be a national figure," says former ServiceMaster executive Richard Armstrong, who serves with Rodriguez on the board of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. "People are attracted to him. He's a deeply spiritual man."

When asked whether he expects Hispanic evangelicals to influence the wider church, Rodriguez says, "Yes, yes, yes! We're the fastest growing!" He has a classic evangelical confidence growing partly out of sheer numerical vitality. He also believes Hispanics offer a unique perspective. "In the culture wars, Hispanics are on the values side. But social justice is more a part of our ethos [than for other evangelicals]," he explains. "We're attuned to poverty, homelessness, AIDS. We have a more complete vision of the gospel."

That's not a complaint; it's a vision Rodriguez seeks to share. He holds out the palm of his hand. "From day one we made a commitment. None of this." He nods toward his open palm. "No paternalism. No junior partners. We never ask for help. We always say, 'How can we help you?' Man, we need to change the mindset that our white brothers will take care of us. We're committed to helping the white evangelical church, the African American evangelical church, the broad evangelical church. We are committed to give more than we take. That's the only way there can be equity and mutual respect.

"I love our people," Rodriguez says, "and 'our people' is not the Hispanic people. I love the church so much."

Tim Stafford is a senior writer for CT.

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September 2006, Vol. 50, No. 9