Christian Latina Leadership Blog

By Anna Rodriquez

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This season I have been thinking much about life and what brings us life. The context of my thoughts, to a certain extent, has been the relentless and challenging heat in Texas.

Last month, on a hot sunny summer morning, I came inside from working in the yard. I was disappointed with my garden. Nothing was growing like it should. The summer heat continued in the triple digits drying up my veggies. 

In my disappointment, I mentioned to my mother that I would like to take a trip to the Pacific Northwest to get away from the heat. I continued by saying, “Wouldn’t it be great to visit each state’s capital?” Not long after the conversation, my mom said, “When do we leave?”

We started out from Odessa, Texas, my hometown, and headed to Santa Fe, New Mexico, our first capital on the list. Off we went to Phoenix, Arizona, Carson City, Nevada, Sacramento, California, and made our way up to the Golden Gate Bridge. We continued into Salem, Oregon, upward to Olympia, Washington, on to Boise, Idaho, and ending in Salt Lake City, Utah. The drive was absolutely gorgeous. 

During our visits to the state capitals, I immediately took interest in the trial blazing women and the rich culture of each state. As I explored these places, I noticed a trend in the crown molding. Each capital was unique, but they all had a type of crown molding that displayed an egg and an arrow or dart.

In Olympia, the tour guide was well educated on state capitals and was familiar with my curiosity. I asked about the pattern that resembled the egg and the arrow. He replied, “The egg represents life, and the dart represents death, so that legislators, judges, and others will remember how the decisions they make affect people of their state.”

Life or death. I continued thinking about what brings us life, and how we also have opportunities to be sources of life or death to those around us with our words, decisions, and actions.

As we continued on our journey, I received an email from Dr. Nora Lozano, Christian Latina Leadership Institute Executive Director. After reading it, I said, “Mom we need to head home, I have to be in San Antonio for a board meeting.” As we traveled back to Texas, she told me, “I know you have been involved with this Latina Leadership Institute but, what is it that you do?”  

I explained that I started with the Latina Leadership Institute in 2008, and graduated in 2010. Since then, the name changed to Christian Latina Leadership Institute (CLLI). As I talked to her, I referred back to the idea that we had just heard about the egg and the dart as symbols of life and death.

The CLLI has been a source of life for me. It is rich in diversity. Women from all parts of the world meet and talk about building strong communities while giving honor to our Creator. It was because of the Christian Latina Leadership Institute that I became motivated and returned to school to complete a master’s degree in public administration.   

The women in CLLI are educated women serving their churches and communities, and looking for ways to expand God’s Reign. The CLLI was created by two Latinas, Nora Lozano and Patty Villarreal, seeking ways to develop Christian women leaders (Latinas and Latinas-at-heart). They brainstormed and by God’s grace and favor they, together with other qualified women, have been teaching those who have a teachable spirit and seeking after God’s heart. The teachings are rich, and the knowledge women gain coupled with God’s purpose, makes this program unique and set apart from other secular programs. I continued, “Just think Mom, when I started the CLLI we met at Camp Buckner for almost a week in January. Now the program is international with groups in the United States, Mexico, and Colombia. It is a big deal!”

As I answered my mom’s question about what it is that I do, I reminded her of my passion and my profession of helping people. The CLLI has found favor in me and offered me an opportunity to sit at the big table providing my skill set where needed. I try to serve, praying that I will be able to do it through God’s lens as the organization moves forward with its vision: Empowered women in leadership impacting the world from a Christian perspective.

The CLLI has been an avenue to help Christian women (Latinas and Latinas-at-heart) to experience more profusely the abundant life that Jesus offers. As I think about this, I am reminded about a verse that I learned during my first years at the CLLI:

“I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live.”

Ecclesiastes 3:12

The CLLI participants learn that we need to be the best women that we can be as we heal from previous wounds and acquire new and vital knowledge and skills. Then, we are encouraged to invest that “transformed self” in doing good while we live. All this sounds to me like a source of life for all these women and their circles of influence.

I invite you to pray fervently for the CLLI’s ministry as it continues to grow and serve more women. If you are a Christian woman with a desire to hone your leadership skills, please visit the Christian Latina Leadership Institute website to learn more about what we offer. 

Finally, I also want to invite you to consider ways in which you can be a source of life to those around you. Like the state legislators and judges, we should all use words and make decisions that are life-giving for our families, churches, and communities.

Our trip was truly a blessing: To be able to see a glimpse of what God has given life to in more ways than one. As we arrived home, I had a chance to see that once more: My garden had lots of peppers growing!