About Us

The National Latino Evangelical Coalition (NaLEC) is a trusted, Spirit-led voice for evangelicals in the United States and beyond, representing more than 3,000 churches, leaders, and institutions. We exist to serve and empower the Latino church, equipping it to thrive spiritually, lead prophetically, and engage society for the advancement of the gospel and the common good. Whether in pulpits or policy, neighborhoods or nations, NaLEC stands at the intersection of faith, formation, and justice, lifting up leaders for lasting impact.

Our Statement of Faith

A Letter from Our Founders

We greet you in the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ. When NaLEC was founded in 2011, it emerged from a deep sense of calling—a divine summons to lift up, serve, and walk alongside the vibrant and growing Latino evangelical Church. From the beginning, we believed God was inviting us into something holy: to recognize the wisdom, strength, and prophetic witness already alive within Latino congregations and to help fan that flame into a movement.

As pastors and public theologians, we hold fast to the words of the prophet Isaiah: “The Lord will guide you continually... you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail. Your people shall rebuild the ancient ruins... you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to dwell in” (Isaiah 58:11–12). We believe the Latino Church is a spring whose waters do not fail. Our communities carry a rich theological imagination, a resilient faith, and a Spirit-empowered call to engage both the Church and the world with conviction and compassion.

NaLEC was birthed to accompany, amplify, and equip that sacred calling. What began in a small apartment in New York City has become a Spirit-led, gospel-centered movement of more than 3,000 churches, leaders, and institutions across the United States, Puerto Rico, and beyond. God has opened doors for advocacy and theological formation, for disaster response and cultural storytelling, for equipping churches and forming leaders for the public square. Through every initiative—from Puentes to Avance, from Oikonomia to our forthcoming advocacy platform—we remain rooted in our pastoral identity and prophetic responsibility.

We draw strength from the Apostle Paul’s charge “to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ... until we all attain the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God” (Ephesians 4:12–13). NaLEC exists to serve and empower the Latino Church—not because we are missing something, but because we are bringing something vital to the Body of Christ and to the world: a faithful witness, a bold voice, and a future full of hope

Thank you for walking with us. Thank you for believing that the local church matters, that Latino voices matter, and that our time is now to proclaim the gospel with clarity, compassion, and courage. Let us continue together.

Rev. Drs. Gabriel & Jeanette Salguero, Presidents, NaLEC

The Birth of a Movement

The National Latino Evangelical Coalition (NaLEC) was born in August 2011 not simply as an organization but as a response to a divine calling. Following a pivotal gathering at Princeton Theological Seminary with Rev. Dr. Adolfo Carrión Sr. and co-founders Revs. Drs. Gabriel and Jeanette Salguero, the vision became clear: Latino evangelicals needed a unified, biblically rooted, Spirit-led voice—one that could empower the Church and engage the world with conviction and compassion. From the beginning, the vision was expansive: to raise up a generation of Latino pastors, leaders, and congregations who flourish spiritually, thrive institutionally, and lead prophetically.

NaLEC first emerged as a national voice for justice, mobilizing congregations to engage issues like immigration reform, poverty, and educational equity. With bold theological clarity, it became the first national evangelical organization to publicly oppose the death penalty, standing for life, mercy, and restorative justice. In the years since, NaLEC has advised multiple sitting U.S. Presidents, convened high-level policy conversations, and consistently elevated Latino concerns in national dialogues—grounded not in politics but in the gospel.

In 2012, just one year after its founding, Super Storm Sandy marked a turning point. What began as advocacy evolved into action. NaLEC helped distribute millions in aid, mobilized churches as response hubs, and partnered with FEMA to train Latino congregations in crisis readiness. This infrastructure became vital during Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico and again during the COVID-19 pandemic. Looking ahead, NaLEC and its partners will soon open one of the largest crisis centers in the Southeastern United States, serving as a hub for disaster relief, training, and service to underserved populations.

NaLEC’s influence extends beyond pulpits and policy; it also shapes culture. As a trusted theological advisor in faith-based media, NaLEC has consulted on major films and series including The Bible Series, A.D.: The Bible Continues, The Young Messiah, Ben-Hur, and Walking with Herb. These contributions ensure that Latino theological and cultural perspectives are represented in the stories that reach the world. NaLEC, alongside its partners, is now preparing to film its first docuseries, proclaiming the gospel through storytelling that will impact generations.

Today, NaLEC is no longer just an advocacy movement; it is a Spirit-led ecosystem for transformation. Through key initiatives like the Puentes Initiative, Avance, and the Oikonomia Initiative, NaLEC is cultivating strong, emotionally and spiritually healthy leaders and churches who are equipped for the demands of modern ministry. In partnership with trusted theological institutions, NaLEC now offers contextualized theological education grounded in Scripture and rooted in the realities of Latino communities.

As it continues to grow, NaLEC has entered the field of research and data development, partnering with major academic institutions to fill a critical gap. There is still far too little reliable data on Latino evangelicals. Through this work, NaLEC is helping ensure that the stories, struggles, and contributions of Latino evangelicals are understood not just anecdotally but empirically by scholars, policy leaders, and the broader Church.

NaLEC’s reach has grown from neighborhood churches to national institutions and global partnerships. Today, NaLEC serves as a principal member of the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) and was part of the founding team of the Alianza Evangélica Latina (AEL), a coalition representing more than 20 nations across Latin America, the Caribbean, the United States, and Spain. NaLEC is also a strategic partner of the World Evangelical Alliance and collaborates with a growing list of faith-based, academic, and civic institutions around the globe.

Today, NaLEC is more than 3,000 churches, denominations, and organizations strong—and growing. From Capitol Hill to crisis zones, from classrooms to cultural platforms, from pastorates to policy tables, NaLEC is fully present, actively engaged, and unwaveringly faithful to its Spirit-led mission. What began as a moment of holy discontent has become a dynamic movement revitalizing communities, empowering leaders, and shaping public witness across generations and geographies.