Rev. Dr. Adolfo Carrion

Carrion, Rev. Dr. Adolfo

The Carrión Family is sad to announce the death of Rev. Dr. Adolfo Carrión, who passed away on Friday, September 5, at 11:39pm, at the home of his daughter Elizabeth, in Montebello, NY. He was surrounded by his immediate family. Adolfo was 79 years old and had been diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer only two months prior. He is survived by his wife Elisa; his four children Elizabeth, and her husband Kevin Stevens, Adolfo, and his wife Linda Baldwin, Damaris, and her husband Isham Harris, and Lizette; and his ten grandchildren, Jacqueline, Raquel, Alexandria, Rebeccah, Sara, Brittney, Olivia, Benjamin, Christiane, and Adolfo James "AJ".

Adolfo Carrión was born in Juncos, Puerto Rico on December 8, 1934, to Adolfo Carrion, II, and Carmen Garcia de Carrión. He was the tenth of twelve children born to this marriage. In 1950, Adolfo moved to New York City and worked in a variety of jobs, including diamond setting in New York City's Diamond District. Within a few short years, Adolfo gave his life to God and the ministry. In 1962, he became a pastor of a church on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, and by 1967, was elected the leader of that church's organization, the Spanish Eastern District of the Assemblies of God, as Superintendent. He went on to serve in this capacity for almost 40 years. Rev. Dr. Carrión shepherded and grew the organization from 47 congregations in the NYC metro area to more than 360 congregations in Eastern United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. While Superintendent, he envisioned and brought to fruition a 120 acre camp in the Catskills, Camp Manahaim, which served as the home for a new Bible college, ministers' retreat, and summer camp for children.

In recognition of his life's leadership, work, and service, Rev. Dr. Carrión was awarded, among other recognitions, honorary doctoral degrees from Fuller Theological Seminary, New York Theological Seminary, Valley Forge Christian College, and Nyack College, and was also presented with the Keys to the City by then New York City Mayor Koch.

In the course of his long career, he presided over the Association of Interdenominational Pentecostal Leaders, Radiovisión Cristiana, the Assembly of God Bible College of Puerto Rico, and the NYC Christian Children's Parade. He also served on numerous executive boards, including NY Theological Seminary, the NY Council of Churches, Teen Challenge, Esperanza USA, Valley Forge Christian College, New Hope USA, Concerts of Prayer, and the National Prayer Breakfast. He was also founding chairman of the National Latino Evangelical Coalition.

At the time of his death, Rev. Dr. Carrión was serving as Pastor of Ebenezer Church in Newark, NJ.

Viewing and Memorial Service: Tuesday, September 9th (Viewing 12-5pm, Service 7pm), The Christian Cultural Center, 12020 Flatlands Avenue, Brooklyn, New York. Private Interment: The historic Woodlawn Cemetery in The Bronx, NY.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Christian International Relief Organization, World Vision, specifically for Latin American and Caribbean efforts. Kindly indicate in honor of Rev. Dr. Adolfo Carrion.