Thursday, 8.17.23
Fresh Starts <Multi-Ethnic Ministry> Exchange
Fresh Starts Exchanges are in-person collaborative spaces where people share, explore, and generate contextual ministry solutions together. Each Exchange will feature guest practitioners in-person from the specific contexts.
Participants may choose either a morning session from 9am - noon or an afternoon session from 1-4pm to dialogue in community with each other.
To create more time and opportunity to Exchange, each session is limited to 20 people. Both clergy and laity are invited. A free opt-in lunch will be offered between 12-1 thanks to the Christian Family Credit Union.
Tickets are $40/person. Financial assistance is available, if needed. Please contact Terri McClain.
Special Guest | Rev. Dr. Rodrigo Cruz | The Nett Church in Gwinnett County, GA
Rev. Dr. Rodrigo Cruz was born and raised in Monterrey, Mexico where he practiced criminal law for several years before transitioning into full-time ministry in 2006.
After moving to the United States with his family, he received his Master of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary in 2012, became an Ordained Elder of the United Methodist Church in 2015, and received his Doctor of Ministry from Wesley Theological Seminary in 2016.
On Easter of 2016, Rodrigo and his family launched a multi-ethnic movement of faith called The Nett Church, located in Gwinnett County, Georgia. The vision of the church is for Nations to Experience Transformation in Jesus Together, while reflecting on Sunday mornings the diversity of the school systems from Monday through Friday.
In 2019, Rodrigo was voted by the Georgia Chamber of Commerce as one of the 50 most influential Latinos in the State of Georgia.
In 2020, Rodrigo was appointed also as the District Superintendent on the Central East District in the North Georgia Conference overseeing over 70 churches in Gwinnett, Barrow, Walton, Oconee, and Clark County, while continue to lead The Nett Church.
In 2022, The Nett Church was voted by the Outreach Magazine as one of the top 100 reproducing churches in the country. Currently the church is doing ministry in 5 campuses across Gwinnett County.
Rodrigo is married to Kelly, a California native, and together they have 5 children RJ (17 years old), Natalia (14 years old), Gabriel (11 years old), Benjamin (8 years old) and Jona (3-year-old).
Rodrigo’s hobbies are his children and is constantly trying to pick up whatever interest and passions they have so he can stay constantly engaged in their lives.