Steve Lytle, a former IM missionary, honors and reflects on the life of Benito Rodríguez, who just passed away at the age of 103.

Today, another servant/soldier of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has gone home to glory: This morning, Brother Benito Rodríguez left this earthly tent forever at the age of 103.

Benito was one of the early converts and disciples at the beginning of Thomas Sr. and Mabel Willey’s fruitful ministry in Cuba. He studied in the seminary in Pinar del Río, became a pastor and leader in the work there. After the Cuban Revolution, Benito and his family came to the United States and settled in Miami, where he also pastored the Ebenezer Free Will Baptist Church for many years. He attended Free Will Baptist Bible College (now Welch College) and frequently traveled with the Willeys when they were on deputation. Because he was more fluent in English than many of the other Hispanic pastors, he was used in numerous churches, and was preaching in Michigan the day that missionary Paul Robinson was converted.

Benito was a friend, a colleague, a translator, a mentor, an effective pastor, teacher, and preacher, who, in the words of the Apostle Paul in Acts 13:36 concerning David, “served his own generation by the will of God…” As a young missionary on deputation in the 80s and 90s, I can personally testify to Benito’s kindness and generosity, and he and Carmen were the consummate hosts and encouragers to a host of people, both English and Spanish-speaking. One of his final projects when he was well past 100 years of age, was to help fund the building of a new church in San Juan y Martínez in the westernmost part of Cuba to help revitalize one of the oldest congregations in the FWB work there, a church that meant much to Benito in his early life.

We rise in praise to the God of Heaven for the life of Benito Rodríguez. “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.” Psalm 116.15

Adolfo Pamdiello wrote:

Estimados hermanos: Hoy día 9 de diciembre del 2025 ha pasado a las manciones eternas el Veterano Mayor de los Bautistas Libres, Rev. Benito Rodríguez, a los 103 años de edad. “Descansarán de sus trabajos, porque sus obras con ellos siguen.” Bendiciones y consuelo para la familia.

December 9, 2025