STAR OF BROOKLYN: Samuel Cruz, Senior Pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church

PERSONAL LIFE: Pastor Samuel Cruz, the spiritual leader at Sunset Park’s Trinity Lutheran Church, was three years old when his family decided to move to Sunset Park. He spent most of his young and adult life in Brooklyn, until his studies brought him to New Jersey. Cruz currently lives in New Jersey, but considers himself a true Brooklynite.

“[Sunset Park is a] wonderful community,” he remarked. “It has challenges like any other urban area, but I think the Latino community that lives there makes the community a better place. [They] work hard, and struggle to make life better [for themselves] and for their children.”

Cruz has a B.A. from the College of New Rochelle, a M.A. from New Brunswick Theological Seminary in New Jersey and a Ph.D. from Drew University, also located in New Jersey.

He’s married to Tania Stanchich, a clinical social worker, and has three daughters: Amber,17, Jovana, 14 and Naome, 11.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: Cruz – who is involved with Occupy Sunset Park and La Casita Comunal de Sunset Park, as well as helping the 46th Street rent strikers — admits that his community involvement comes from a sense of faith.

“As a Christian, Jesus is my role model,” Cruz said. “When I read the gospel, I realize that Jesus’ time was mostly spent with the neediest. To get involved in the community, drug abuse, the addiction, the housing problems, and the lack of food and education, that’s my mission being a pastor.”

Cruz said he is proud to see that Trinity Church is opening up to the community as he continues to address real social issues of racial, gender, sexual and class oppressions.

CAREER: Besides his post at Trinity Lutheran Church, Cruz is assistant professor of Church & Society at Union Theological Seminary, an affiliate of Columbia University.

Cruz has also written three books. He loves teaching, he said, because of the impact he can have on future religious leaders. “Even when I was a young man, studying at Union Theological Seminary seemed like a dream. I couldn’t even enter as a student, and to find myself teaching there, it’s surprising,” he remarked.

INSPIRATION: His wife and children are the “most important thing right now,” in his life, said Cruz. He says that “Being a father, and working for social justice issues through his Church and [his] academic career,” is what keeps him constantly focused and motivated.

BIGGEST CHALLENGE: “Negotiating life in a society where sometimes there is structural racism,” said Cruz, who also cited, “The obstacles that Latino men, especially Black Latino men are having, to prove themselves.”