Dr. Sammy Alfaro was born in Phoenix and his involvement with the local church led him to begin his ministerial training at the Hispanic Institute of Ministry in Dallas, TX. In 2000, Dr. Alfaro graduated from Patten University with a Bachelor of Arts in Pre-Seminary studies. He continued his studies at Fuller Theological Seminary, earning a Master of Arts in Biblical and Theological Studies in 2002 and a Ph.D. in Theology in 2008. Sammy is an ordained minister with the Church of God. In 2008, Sammy and his wife began planting “Iglesia Nuevo Dia/New Day”, a Hispanic church in Phoenix, AZ. In 2010, he was named Assistant Professor of Christian Studies in Grand Canyon University. Dr. Alfaro’s most recent accomplishment is being named the recipient of the 2011 Hispanic Theological Initiative's Annual Book Prize Award for his published dissertation, “Divino Compañero: toward a Hispanic Pentecostal Christology”. Sammy's mission in life is to help raise a new generation of church pastors and leaders who are academically trained and anointed by the Spirit.