Leo’s journey began in Ecuador, later becoming the backdrop of his mission. His encounter with the Lord at the age of 20 marked a transformative moment in his life. After completing his college education in Ecuador, he embarked on a new chapter in Rio Grande Valley, Texas, where he enrolled in Bible School at Rio Grande College, further deepening his faith.
Lourdes was born in Mexico and raised in Texas. She came to know the Lord through a Vacation Bible School when she was 14 years old. She has been actively serving in the local church.
Leo and Lourdes’ paths crossed in a way that could only be described as divinely orchestrated. It was during a short-term mission trip to Spain that they first met. Leo, deeply moved by the experience, returned to Rio Grande Institute in Texas to complete his studies. At the same time, Lourdes continued her studies and served in her local church, also assisting a mission agency with a ministry on the border with Mexico. Their journeys continued, but their hearts remained connected. They eventually married and relocated to the Northwest, where they served in a pastoral role at a church in McMinnville, Oregon, for seven years. It was during a short-term mission trip to Ecuador that God’s voice resonated in their hearts, calling them to begin a church-planting movement in Loja, Ecuador. Lourdes finished her bachelor’s at Corban College in Salem, and Leo earned his master’s and DIS degrees at Western Seminary in Portland.
Leo and Lulu arrived in southern Ecuador in September 2003 and started Mustard Seed Church in February 2004. Mustard Seed Church has been a hub for church planting in the area. Eighteen churches have been planted, and those fellowships are at different levels. Some are consolidated churches now, others are establishing leadership and gaining witness among their communities, and others are at the beginning stage.
Leo and Lourdes have two children. Pablo (19) is attending a university in Ecuador to get a degree in education, and Yanina (16) will be attending her junior year in High School.
Ecuador People and Land
Ecuador has been receiving many missionaries since the massacre of missionaries Jim Elliot and his four companions there in 1952. A missionary force enters Ecuador, and the country is reaching 10% evangelicals. The region of Loja, South of Ecuador, has been forgotten and is less evangelized; less than 2 percent of the population are evangelical believers. Many towns and villages have no evangelical church of any kind.
Poverty affects people; extreme poverty reaches 11%, and poverty in rural areas reaches 46%. Another aspect that affects people negatively is corruption and drug trafficking. In the last two years, crime in the largest city has increased abruptly, making the beautiful country dangerous. The main sources of the economy are oil, agriculture (bananas), shrimp, and flowers.
Ecuador has significantly grown in education, with more opportunities to study and many universities accredited worldwide.
Geographically, Ecuador is a land of volcanoes. It does not experience tornados, but it experiences earthquakes. There are four regions: coast, highland, jungle, and the gorgeous Galapagos islands.
Ecuadorians feel proud of their ethnicity. Their gastronomy is great, and their diet is based on white rice. A delicatessen meal is guinea pig, and for the coast, encebollado is a soup of fish and onion for breakfast.
Lojanos are a relational, friendly, family, and community-oriented people group. They are very proud of their culture, food, art, and music. Many of them are well educated due to the three major universities.
Ministry Summary
In Loja province, where the percentage of evangelical believers is too low, church planting is a great evangelistic tool for reaching those who don’t know the gospel. In the last twenty years of ministry, outreach, contacting new believers, gathering for Bible study, organizing the believers, equipping believers, and appointing the new leaders have been done, and a church plant has started.
We use the main church as a hub for church planting, from there equipping ministries, sending church planters, funding efforts to reach communities, praying for the workers, coaching them, and caring as pastor for those serving. A holistic approach to reach and serve the surrounding communities. The national church planters are doing great ministry, and the missionaries serving with us find ways to reach the nonbelievers and change the statistics.
Even when our main ministry is church planting and leadership development, we serve the evangelical community actively participating in the pastor fraternity. Leo has served as President and Vice President of the fraternity. Also, Leo is the regional coordinator of the Samaritans Shoe Box ministry. Lulu has been coaching some young ladies and encouraging pastors’ wives.
Prayer Focus
• That God guides us to keep the focus on the gospel-centered church planting movement.
• That God provides leaders to take the role of pastoring the new churches.
• That the Lord will help us, that new churches desire to reproduce themselves to plant other churches.
• That God help our family as we serve in the ministry together.
Blogs and Articles on WorldVenture.com:
* Travel the World Event
* Missionary Plants Seeds of Faith in His Home Country of Ecuador
