Christian Latina Leadership Blog

As you read this blog, we are days away from the CLLI’s 20^th anniversary celebration event on October 25 in San Antonio, Texas, birthplace city of the Christian Latina Leadership Institute (CLLI). Twenty years! Little did two Latina leaders who met in 2004 would know that they were to be used by God to plant the seeds for the beginning of an international movement to train Christian women leaders from a Latina perspective.

Briefly, for those who do not know the story of the beginnings of the CLLI, Dr. Nora O. Lozano and I met at the Baptist University of the Américas (BUA). After pursuing higher education, obtaining my license as a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW), and serving in other social work fields, I had returned to work for Buckner Children and Family Services. One of my roles for Buckner was to serve as an instructor of social work at the university. With no teaching experience in higher education, Nora was assigned to be my mentor in her calling as a university professor. A friendship soon developed.

Normally, social workers and systematic theologians do not “hang around” with each other. God had other plans. We found commonality as sisters in Christ and as Latina leaders. As leaders in our respective fields, we were sought after to serve on state, national, and international committees, task forces, and boards. As we pondered these invitations and declined some of them, we realized there was a huge need to fill gaps in these areas of leadership. Latinas were needed to be at the table where important discussions took place and decisions were being made that affected churches and communities.

Through much prayer, discussions with each other, and consultation with other Latina leaders in our circles, the seeds of the institute were planted. Dr. Albert Reyes, then president of BUA approved our going forward with this initiative. It took 15 months of preparation to start the first training in January 2007 as an intensive class at the university. Unique to this January term class was that alongside BUA students taking the leadership course for credit, select community-based women were also invited to enroll. These women were church and state leaders. Together, they participated and studied side by side in an intensive weeklong (9 AM – 9 PM) course. Faculty consisted of BUA professors and state/national women leaders. Also unique was that the course was held at Camp Buckner near Marble Falls, Texas with the help, again, from Dr. Albert Reyes, who by then had moved to serve as president of Buckner Children and Family Services. We wanted to create a setting where the students would connect with each other without home responsibilities and where they could concentrate on learning, networking, and resting in a camp setting.

There is so much that can be said about the incredible experience that BUA students, community women, and faculty shared at the evaluation time at the end of the week. Nora and I were blown over by their enthusiastic responses and their insistence on continuing with more material and classes. I can remember it as if it was yesterday, the conversation that Nora and I had on the way back to San Antonio. We knew that this was more than an intensive class. We knew that this movement had to be God’s plan and that God was using us to take it to the next level.

Since then, we became an Institute of BUA and with a group of other Latina leader advisors, expanded the academic program and developed the CLLI curriculum. In 2015, we applied and received a 501©3 non-profit status from the state of Texas. Our advisors became board members. Now within these 20 years, we have formally trained leaders in cohorts located in the United States of America in Texas and North Carolina, in Mexico in Monterrey, Metepec, and Mexico City, and in Barranquilla, Colombia.

As co-founder, I write this teary eyed. I am humbled. In the back story of these verses, Joshua had instructed leaders from the 12 tribes of Israel to each take up a stone from the middle of the Jordan River while the priests held the Ark of the Covenant during the crossing of the river. The stones were to serve as a remembrance to the Israelites regarding God’s powerful actions, faithfulness, and provision.

My tears come from the remembrance of my symbolic “stones”, the countless women who have been students and graduates of the CLLI trainings. The privilege of hearing their stories then and now. Stories of empowerment because of the classes and connections they have made with the women they have met, both faculty and fellow students. I have witnessed their journey of discovery of freedom from stereotypes and a release of bondage that as a woman they are not a second-class citizen in God’s kingdom. Many stories with a “Si Se Puede” encouragement and motivation where CLLI students take courage to pursue schooling and higher education, to identify or fine-tune their calling in the church or secular world, to develop new friendships and sisterhood, and to nurture a stronger relationship with God.

All this because of a divine appointment 20 years ago that God orchestrated; a connection between two Latina leaders who operated in different circles. It was risky because we challenged many norms in creating the CLLI but God had already “parted the Jordan River” and said “Adelante”! And we followed.

Thank you, God, for your faithfulness and provision as we continue the journey of the Christian Latina Leadership Institute. Thank you also to all of you who have supported this ministry with your prayers and resources. You are also a part of this story and we also celebrate your faithful support.

Finally, we are grateful for all the CLLI students and graduates who have been a part of the CLLI trainings. Thank you for entrusting us with your leadership education and development.

As we continue with the celebration of these 20 years of service, we are also looking forward to seeing the great things that God will do in the future with this ministry.

We invite you to join us in this ministry as we anticipate the next 20 years of transforming women’s lives in the name of Christ. Please consider including us in your prayers, as well as contributing with financial resources. To help us reach our fundraising goal of $20,000, please click here: https://www.christianlatinaleadershipinstitute.org/friends-donors

Adelante in God’s name!