FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE. Philadelphia, PA – August 7, 2019. The Esperanza community mourns the loss of Rev. Raúl LeDuc, founding board member of the Hispanic Clergy of Philadelphia & Vicinity and Esperanza, where he served for close to two decades as board member and secretary.
Rev. LeDuc devoted over five decades of his life to serving “the least of these” evangelizing at educational institutions, hospitals, and prisons as well as advocating for Hispanics in City Hall. He will always be an esteemed senior minister of the Hispanic faith community of Philadelphia and remembered for his profound dedication to others, regardless of denomination or ethnicity.
“He was a devoted father, husband, and pastor. I personally will miss him for his patience, wise counsel, and friendship,” said his friend and mentee Rev. Luis Cortés, President and CEO of Esperanza.
Rev. LeDuc was a member of the Spanish Eastern District of The Assemblies of God and was known for taking numerous mission trips over many decades to villages in Honduras to share the gospel. He earned his Master’s degree in Theological Studies in 2017 from Palmer Theological Seminary.
Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, church, and community. His commitment and service to his family and neighborhood were unmatched and he will be greatly missed.
—-
About Esperanza. Esperanza is a national non-profit organization founded in 1986 by Rev. Luis Cortés Jr., and the Hispanic Clergy of Philadelphia & Vicinity with the biblical mandate to serve and advocate for “the least of these” (Matthew 25:40). Beginning with a local initiative, with programs targeted to address the unmet needs of North Philadelphia’s Hispanic community, Rev. Cortés is now sought by national and international leaders alike on issues of economic and workforce development, housing, immigration, and education. Under his leadership, Esperanza has grown from a small operation to a $40 million organization with more than 450 employees. Visit www.esperanza.us or follow us on social media @esperanza_us on Twitter and Instagram, EsperanzaUSA on Facebook and Esperanza US on YouTube.
###