Tilling the Soil and Discovering Jesus' Heart for the World

ENLACE Church Coach Julio Figueroa was hired in February of 2010. He has planted roots in his new job by cultivating strong relationships with both his colleagues and the residents of the Abelines/San Miguel region. Even though his life has not been easy, his new life of service is one for which he has always longed--a life that cultivates both the soil of people's hearts and of their own backyards.

Although Julio's work now leads him to harvesting, watering, and soil preparation, Julio's experiences and academic degrees were not in agriculture. When he was young, he was selected to play for a prestigious athletic team. Later he received a degree in marketing from the University of Central America José Simeón Cañas and also a degree in Ministry Studies from the Biblical Baptist Institute in the U.S. However, his passion for people and his desire to share his life with them ultimately led him to a region close to Abelines where he was already working when he heard about ENLACE.

Upon learning more about ENLACE Julio decided that ENLACE was a perfect fit and applied for a job. He loved the idea of identifying simple and creative ways to help communities resolve problems of food security, access to clean water, and the need for adequate housing.

Julio gives a vaccination to a goat in the Abelines region 

According to Julio...

"ENLACE brings transformation to the community by means of the relationships created by the gospel. The work that God has left to his church is not to have endless services and meetings, but to take the good news of Christ’s love to others...This is so important to the heart of Jesus that he is right there with them, eating, sleeping, baring the cold, enduring the hunger. The church is responsible to present this Jesus. 

 To see this process [of transformation] develop is a job that requires one to know the community and the culture, bringing the gospel as something practical and simple, but with a lot of creativity, passion, and sacrifice for others."

Julio has two adult sons who, according to him, define his other passion; to be a good father. Julio sees his work with ENLACE as ways to show God's faithfulness and heart for the world.