page_title: Rafael Cruz
hierarchical_section_title: Rafael Cruz
caption_attribution_description: English: Rafael Cruz Pastor, Professor, Father of US Senator Ted Cruz Rafael Cruz is the father of US Senator Ted Cruz. Rafael embodies the American Dream. Born in Cuba, he suffered under a cruel, oppressive dictator. He began fighting Batista’s regime as a teenager and was imprisoned and tortured – beaten nearly to death – simply to be free. Rafael arrived in Texas in 1957 with nothing but the clothes on his back and one hundred dollars sewn into his underwear. He got a job as a dishwasher, making 50 cents an hour, and worked his way through the University of Texas, while learning English. Ted Cruz’s father then built a small business in further pursuit of the American Dream. Rafael Cruz became active in conservative politics during the 1980 Presidential Campaign of Ronald Reagan. He also joined the State Board of The Religious Roundtable, a grassroots Judeo-Christian organization that had an important impact on the future of political dialogue. Today, he is a pastor based in North Texas serving as the Director of Purifying Fire Ministries, ministering in the U.S., Mexico and Central America. He is also a professor of Bible and Theology, and the president of Kingdom Translation Services. Welcome to the Southern Republican Leadership Conference May 21-23 promises to be a rendezvous with destiny in Oklahoma City. The unofficial start of the 2016 Republican Presidential campaign begins here, in the new energy capital of America! The 2016 election will be one of the most important in our lifetime. The choices we make in the next two years will define America for the next 50 years. On behalf of the Oklahoma Republican Party and the entire SRLC Committee, please join us as we begin our shared Republican journey towards capturing the White House and renewing our nation. It is our distinct privilege to invite you to attend the 2015 Southern Republican Leadership Conference, to be held at the Cox Convention Center and Downtown Oklahoma City Renaissance Convention Center Hotel on May 21-23, 2015. We hope you will join us! The SRLC has a star-studded history as one of the premier conferences for all Republicans and conservative activists. This year we anticipate 50 speakers, break-out sessions with energy, utility and manufacturing opinion leaders, and 75 partnering organizations. In addition, we are hosting the largest regional presidential straw poll of the year. We look forward to your participation in this historic conference as we energize the Grand Old Party and America together! SRLC 2015 Committee
context_page_description: Rafael Bienvenido Cruz y Díaz is a Cuban-American Protestant preacher, public speaker, and father of Texas U.S. Senator and 2016 presidential candidate Ted Cruz. He is described by various media outlets, including The Wall Street Journal, as an acting surrogate in his son's political campaigns.
context_section_description: Rafael Bienvenido Cruz y Díaz (born March 22, 1939) is a Cuban-American Protestant preacher, public speaker, and father of Texas U.S. Senator and 2016 presidential candidate Ted Cruz. He is described by various media outlets, including The Wall Street Journal, as an acting surrogate in his son's political campaigns.
caption: Cruz speaking at the Southern Republican Leadership Conference in 2015
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