Photo/Leinner Corrales
By Simon Baker, student news writer, Office of University Communications
CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – Rodrigo Rodriguez was born in a “musical family” in Quito, Ecuador, South America, and from an early age had a desire for music. Now, he performs globally, praising the Lord and sharing the Gospel through every song.
He spoke recently at Campbellsville University during the university’s weekly chapel service in Ransdell Chapel.
Rodriguez started playing the guitar at nine, and at 12 years old, he recorded his first extended play.
He shared with students how the love of God dramatically transformed his life and gave him a new purpose once he accepted Christ as his Savior.
“I came to this beautiful country of the United States 36 years ago,” Rodriguez told the audience at chapel, “invited by Eastfield College in Dallas to teach classical guitar, and then my agent, 30 years ago, the guy in charge of my music business and my birthday, gave me a Bible as a gift.”
Rodriguez said he was very surprised when he was given a Bible as a gift.
“In South America and Ecuador,” he said, “nobody gives you a Bible as a gift. They give you a nice bottle of wine.”
He added that his life changed forever when he heard from a pastor about God’s love and believed in Christ. He received a new purpose, and that purpose was to serve, praise and honor God.
“This man was speaking every day about God’s plans in my life, about God’s restorations and about God’s amazing love,” Rodriguez said.
“I came to the Lord 31 years ago,” Rodriguez noted, “and that day, I was sitting in an auditorium of 3,000 people, and I asked God to speak to my heart. I said, ‘Reveal Yourself to me because I don’t know You,’ and when the pastor came, the first thing he says is Matthew 16:26: ‘For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?’ and that spoke to my heart in an amazing way.”
“I said, ‘God, I’m going to surrender my life to You. I’m going to give my life to you,” Rodriguez added, recalling the day of his salvation.
Rodriguez said he placed a little cross inside his guitar case to “remember that the music God gave me is a gift that I want to use in his kingdom.”
Touring worldwide, Rodriguez has traveled to Cuba four times, Venezuela, Europe, Asia, Korea and China.
He closed with his song “Street of Pain,” named for the Biblical account of Christ carrying the cross to Calvary.
“God loves me with my mistakes,” he proclaimed. “God loves you with your mistakes, and Jesus paid on the cross all our sins past, present and future when He said, ‘It is finished.’”
Chapel is designed to provide opportunities for corporate worship and exposure through a variety of informative speakers and presentations.
Chapels can be viewed on YouTube by searching “Campbellsville University Chapel Playlist.”
Chapels can also be found on the Campbellsville University Facebook page.
Campbellsville University is a widely acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university that offers over 100 programs including doctoral, master, bachelor, associate and certificate programs. The website for complete information is www.campbellsville.edu.