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I was born in Mexico City, I am married with Josefina Cervantes and I have two children, Jessica Iveth of sixteen and Josué Ricardo of fourteen years old
I was 17 years old when I received Christ as my Savior and Lord in a moment when I needed answer to the existential dilemmas of my teen life. In July 1976 Jesus Christ entered in my life and changed it forever. Then, I started to attend church plant mission in a suburban area of Mexico City where I received my first discipleship training. Only few weeks later I received Christ, I felt the God’s call to ministry. I did not know how the Lord would use me, but I was sure since that moment that the purpose of my life was to live and to serve for Him.
The Pastor of that church was a man with vision and passion for the Lord’s work and He was a model of leader and godly man for me. He helped me to discover my gifts and practice them. I served the Lord in that congregation by ten years where I became part of the staff as Youth Pastor.
Later, while I was doing my university studies, I participated actively in the Christian student ministry, Inter-varsity Christian Fellowship of Mexico. My existential questions and paradoxes about faith, reason, science, ethics and social issues found solid biblical and theological answers during my student ministry under the tutoring and pastoral care of Christian workers. I was part of the student leadership of the IVCF Mexico, and some years later, I became full time staff as a national leader. I received my first formal biblical, theological and ministerial training through several seminars organized by the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students in countries of Latin America and Europe. During my service in IVCF I coursed a graduate studies by the Theological Community of Mexico. In 1986 I got married with my loved wife Josefina who has been my ministry partner and who also was part of student movement staff. I served in the student ministry a total of eight years and then in 1987, I started to work planting the first Evangelical Free Church in Mexico. Serving under part time bases while I was working in my professional field as an engineer, a team of missionaries and nationals we planted a the first EFC local Church “La Roca”, and established a community center in one of marginal areas of Mexico City. I served with the EFC Mexico by eight years performing pastoral duties and serving with the Pastoral Leadership Team in the foundation a church plant movement called “FIEL”, Evangelical Free Churches Fraternity of Mexico that now count with more than fifteen churches around the country.
In 1996 the Lord moved us to come to the United States pursing further theological and ministerial formation. As soon as we arrived to the seminary in Lombard, Illinois, the Lord guided us to Bensenville Bible Church where I have been serving as church Planter Pastor of the “Iglesia Biblica Hispana” EFC.
In 1999 I graduated from my Master of Divinity program, and my wife and I felt the God’s call to continue serving extending His Kingdom between the Mexican and the broader Hispanic community in the United States.
I am a former member of the Hispanic Leadership Team (HLT) serving the Hispanic churches of the Great Lake District since more than five years ago while I was studying and planting the church.
Three years ago I started to collaborate with the Hispanic National Leadership Team “MHIEL“, which is working under the Urban and Intercultural Mission serving the Hispanic pastors and churches of the EFCA in several areas like credentialing, theological training and the organization of national events.
Last April I was invited to serve with the Great Lakes District’s team work as Coordinator of the Hispanic Ministries. |
