ABOUT ME
ABOUT ME
I was nineteen, fresh out of my first year of university in 1999, when God called me to missions—and it came completely out of the blue. Growing up in church, I had never felt a specific calling, so I figured full-time ministry wasn’t part of God’s plan for me. I was in college, focused on a career in international business. I loved serving in my home church, but I never imagined anything beyond that.
Then the unexpected happened. I was at church camp, helping as a youth counselor, when one night God gave me a vision. In it, He showed me that He was sending me to take the good news to the nations. In that single moment, everything shifted. My calling, my purpose—it all came into focus through that divine encounter.
Looking back, I can see how God had been preparing me all along. At the time, I thought it was just coincidence that I had already arranged to spend my second year of university in Spain. But it wasn’t chance at all—it was the Spirit’s leading. God knew, and He was equipping me for the road ahead.
By the time I went on my first short-term missions trip to Mexico in July of 2003, I didn’t just arrive with excitement—I arrived already speaking the language.
After a few short-term trips, the time finally came to step out in faith. In October of 2004, I launched into full-time ministry. I said my goodbyes, packed up my car, and drove 2,000 miles in just two and a half days—so eager to begin that I could hardly stop along the way. My destination was San Luis Potosí, Mexico, where I would spend the next four years immersed in every facet of mission work.
Those years were both formative and unforgettable. It was during this time that I was ordained. God confirmed the calling on my life, rooting in me a deep love for the people. Leaving Mexico later on was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. The kindness and warmth of the Mexican people had become part of my own story, and the experiences I gained in that season shaped me and gave me proper direction for the next endeavor. To this day, I am forever thankful for the friendships, the lessons, and the apprenticeship that gave me direction for what was to come.
In 2008, God opened a new chapter for me in Nicaragua. I joined Abundant Life Missions International (ALMI) with the task of pioneering a national youth ministry. Armed with an ambitious vision and an earnest expectation, I stepped into it with faith, partnering with young people across the country to establish a Spirit-filled national youth ministry.
Looking back all these years later, it has been my delight and honor to have discipled such exceptional young men and women. They have have demonstrated a faith both steadfast and passionate. Many of them are now pastors, evangelists, and leaders in their local churches, carrying the fire of the Great Commission wherever they go. To watch God raise up generation after generation of servant-hearted leaders has been both humbling and deeply rewarding. They are truly extraordinary, and it has been my honor to walk alongside them.
By 2016, Abundant Life Missions International was stepping boldly into the future with a vision for the youth of this generation. That year, we launched the Missionary Apprenticeship Program—MAP—a four-month, immersive training designed to equip young people for cross-cultural ministry. Apprentices spend two months in training stateside, followed by two months living and serving alongside me in Nicaragua, gaining hands-on experience that challenges them and shapes them for a lifetime of Kingdom work.
Those months in Nicaragua are when the cross-cultural flavor truly comes alive. Apprentices are immersed in the rhythms of real missionary living, challenged to step beyond their comfort zones while discovering and developing their full potential. Lessons aren’t just learned in classrooms—they happen in the streets, in homes, in cell groups, and through daily service. It’s a hands-on, Spirit-led approach that equips young people to serve with confidence, compassion, and competence.
One of the greatest joys has been to see where God has led these graduates after their time in MAP. Many have gone on to serve around the world—in Armenia, Guatemala, Belize, Hong Kong, Vanuatu, Colombia, the Republic of Georgia, and even among Native American communities in the U.S. Each one carries the DNA of MAP with them, venturing passionately into the work God has prepared for them.
It is a true privilege to be part of this visionary team, shaping and mentoring the next generation of missionaries. Watching these young men and women grow, rise to the challenge, and flourish has been one of the most rewarding chapters of my own journey.
For more than two decades, I have worn many hats in missions ministry and gained invaluable experience in all aspects of the Great Commission. From my early apprenticeship in Mexico to the leadership roles I now hold nationally and internationally, one thing has remained constant: my dependence on the Holy Spirit for vision and guidance. Following His guidance has oftentimes meant undertaking new ministry endeavors in unconventional ways:
Start a cell group in my garage? Absolutely!
Disciple the youth by means of a radio broadcast? Count me in!
Be a mentor/father-figure to this generation? I'd be honored!
Travel the country by motorbike to preach the gospel as an itinerant missionary? I'm game!
Administer the Bible School in order to equip ministers for their calling? Gladly!
Train missionary apprentices for the Great Commission? Sign me up!
And, more recently: Pastor a pioneer work in the Mission in order to bring stability and growth to the congregation? Enthusiastically yes!
Serving in the Kingdom of God is remarkably thrilling!
And serving others in the Kingdom of God has been nothing short of exhilarating. And the invitation is not mine alone—it’s for you, too. The same call that echoed through the prophet Isaiah’s lips thousands of years ago still rings true today: “Here am I; send me!”