ANGEL REYES | Minister, Iglesia de Cristo
About Us
Angel was born in the village of Travesia on the north coast of Honduras, Central America. He came to the US with his parents in 1966 and settled in New York City in the South Bronx where he grew up. His parents were active in the Roman Catholic church. Angel attended William Howard Taft High School where he majored in music and played the saxophone and bass violin. He has always loved sports and became captain of his high school golf and swimming teams.
In 1975, Angel enlisted in the U.S Army, and after training at Fort Dix, NJ served in Bamberg, Germany. After his military tour he returned to the US and attended Farmingdale State University on Long Island, where he studied agriculture because he was hoping to work in farming both in the US and in Honduras.
Angel was searching for a relationship with God and was dissatisfied with what he had learned about religion to that point. He decided to continue his studies of agriculture in the south and went to Abilene Christian University in Texas because of their agriculture program and because he wanted a school with a strong Christian influence. At that time Angel knew little about the Churches of Christ. At ACU, Angel studied the New Testament and came under the good influence of a professor named Woodrow Wilson. Wilson studied personally with Angel and eventually baptized him on the basis of his new faith and commitment.
After his baptism, Angel returned to New York City to share his faith with his family and friends. In that process Angel's mother, step-father, and uncle all were converted. Though at first Angel became a member of the Harlem Church of Christ, he needed a congregation with a Spanish ministry. When he learned that Manhattan Church had a Spanish congregation he brought his family to this church.
Angel continued his studies at ACU but changed his major to Bible and Missions and graduated in 1986 with a B.A. After returning to New York, he travelled as a missionary to Honduras in order to share his faith with his family and friends there. During his time there, his grandmother was converted and a church was established in her house in Cortes.
After Angel returned to Manhattan, he met Belkis Vizcaino, who had come to the church through the International Mission ministry and had been baptized by Lloyd Rutledge, one of the elders here. They were married in 1989 and became very active in the ministry of the Spanish congregation. Angel and Belkis now (in 2003) have three children: Angel Jr. (13), Sarah (9), and Michael (5).
During the late 1980's Angel worked as a coordinator at the Mid-Bronx Senior Citizens' Council for Meals on Wheels. In 1991, he began to work as a teacher in the South Bronx, teaching science to 6th - 8th grade children.
Angel and Belkis continued to become ever more involved in the Manhattan Church, and Angel became a Deacon of the congregation in 1993. In 1996, the elders urged Angel to take on the responsibility of serving as full time minister for our Spanish congregation. With some trepidation, Angel left his teaching position to enter full-time ministry. He has served with Arthur James in leading the Spanish ministry, and since 2002, he has worked with Hugo Monroy as his associate. During this period Angel has also worked actively with John Tesseyman in guiding the establishment of a church in Travesia, Honduras. He continues to have a strong interest in the spread of the Gospel in Central America.
In 2003, the members of the Manhattan Church expressed their desire for Angel to become one of the elders of the whole congregation. After prayerful consideration, Angel agreed to take on this new level of responsibility and ministry. In August, 2003, Angel was ordained by the congregation as one of the elders of the Manhattan Church. Angel and Hugo share in their preaching and teaching ministry and in leading small groups within the Spanish congregation.
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ANGEL REYES
angel@manhattanchurch.org
Associated Ministries:
Iglesia de Cristo
International Missions
Sunday Sermons:
Bringing the Bread of Life to the World
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