September 5, 2009
New Castle family offers unique story
By DR. DONALD CHARLES LACY
Often we are slow to celebrate those in our midst, who bring to us backgrounds that are unique for most of us but needed to enhance our lives. I believe this is true with the Espiritu family that lives in New Castle.
Rev. Rex Espiritu is senior pastor of First Presbyterian Church in New Castle. Now in his fifth year, he shared with me his amazingly wonderful life and family. I was especially impressed with his humility and openness.
He was born in Manila, Philippines, and baptized by a Methodist minister as an infant. At the age of 8, he and his family moved to the United States, near New York City. At 14, he became a naturalized U.S. citizen.
Celebrating he has grown up in the Presbyterian Church USA, he is grateful for the early shaping of his Christian faith in the First Presbyterian Church of Mount Vernon, N.Y. It was a multicultural congregation, predominately African-American.
Rex is an "Ivy Leaguer." His undergraduate work was done at Columbia University and his seminary work was at Princeton. In addition to his pastoral ministry, he is a classically trained pianist, giving leadership at ecumenical gatherings nationwide.
It is apparent he is a strong Biblical preacher who takes the holy scriptures seriously. One can sense his strong desire to be faithful to what God has tried to communicate to us through His Word.
A great joy was the recent meeting of the National Association of Filipino American United Methodist Biennial Convocation in Dallas. At that event, the Espiritu-Velasco Clan performed a praise concert with five generations of the family participating.
There is more to tell. His wife, Melissa, is a trained physical therapist, now a full- time mom and doing home schooling. They have six lovely daughters. He enjoys his place in the family and loves to brag about "his girls!"
The "girls" are Christina, 19 and a nursing major at Huntington University; Hannah, 17; L. Grace, 15; Tabitha, 12; Priscilla, 9; and Sara, 6. Christina, Hannah and Grace have been a part of the marvelous show choirs at New Castle High School.
Rex's mother, Natividad, is a retired professor of nursing. She is a graduate of the Teachers College at Columbia University and the University of the Philippines. His sister, Marina Lutz, is a professor of nursing at Neumann University, Philadelphia.
Donald Charles Lacy is the author of 14 books and hundreds of newspaper columns and magazine features.
Inserted from <http://www.thestarpress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090905/LIFESTYLE/909050309&template=printart>
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