Washington—In a time when the Hispanic community is growing not only in size but also in influence and electoral importance in the United States, the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference (NHCLC) is expanding its operations in Washington, D.C. The organization will do so by appointing long-term NHCLC executives, Dr. Gus Reyes, Executive Committee and SVP Rev. Tony Suarez to lead the group’s activities on Capitol Hill.

“I am grateful for the trust and confidence the NHCLC leadership and President Rev. Samuel Rodriguez has placed in me,” says Dr. Gus Reyes. “I am eager to get started, hitting the pavement and working with representatives from both parties. Hispanics represent an increasingly important swing vote that aligns with aspects of both major parties. As such, we have an opportunity to be a bridge between conservatives and progressives on many issues that have perplexed and frustrated our legislative process for decades.”

“What an honor it is to serve the NHCLC in this capacity,” say Rev. Suarez on the new appointment, “I anticipate hitting the ground running with greater intensity than ever before. As both a Hispanic-American and as a Christian, it is incumbent upon our community to invest our energies and our resources in the hard work of advocating on behalf of immigration reform, religious freedom, criminal justice reform and education equality. To quote my mentor, Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, ‘Silence is not an option.’”

The NHCLC has long enjoyed a productive working relationship with Democrats and Republicans on the Hill, one that transcends the partisan gridlock so often associated with Washington. The NHCLC and their political partners are united by their concern for the well-being of America’s Hispanic and other minority and immigrant communities.

NHCLC President Rev. Samuel Rodriguez says, “I am confident that both Rev. Suarez and Dr. Reyes will continue to be tireless champions for Hispanics and minority communities as well as the broader faith community. Their expanded roles suit each of them perfectly as a natural extension of so much of what they are already engaged in. At our D.C. office, the NHCLC and the communities we represent, will be in good hands. The NHCLC does not follow the donkey or the elephant, but, insists on following the Lamb’s agenda.”

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Rev. Tony Suárez is an author, speaker, and pastor, and serves as the executive vice president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference. Newsmax has named Suarez as one of the 50 most influential Republican Latinos in the United States. Rev. Suárez is a sought-after media resource (featured on CNN, MSNBC, Telemundo, Univision, Mundo Fox and NBC Latino, to name a few) and also serves on various committees including the Faith Advisory Board for the White House. 

Dr. Gus Reyes serves on the Executive Committee of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference as well as the Director of the Christian Life Commission for Texas Baptists. Previously, Dr. Reyes served as the Director of Hispanic Education Initiative/Affinity Ministries for Texas Baptists and is the co-writer with Dr. Richard Ross of “30 Days, Turning the Hearts of Parents and Teens Towards Each Other.”

NHCLC is the world’s largest Hispanic Christian organization. It serves as a representative voice for Hispanic Evangelicals assembled in over 40,000 U.S. churches.

Website | www.nhclc.org                       Twitter | @nhclc