Noe Canales: ENLACE Church Coach Serving God and His Neighbor

"With God's help, I will do my best to serve God, my church, and my fellowman... "  Noe Canales repeated this pledge many times as a teenager and as a member of the Royal Rangers,  Assemblies of God wilderness for youth. The program strengthened and focused his passion to serve and work for Christ. He now shares this passion with other young men as a volunteer leader for the Royal Rangers, and we are happy that he has recently joined the ENLACE staff as our newest Church Coach.

Despite his deep desire to serve in the ministry, Noe earned a living in a variety of secular jobs after finishing High School. A strong call to serve God eventually led him to study theology. After finishing his third year of school, he was able to get a job with the World Vision.

As a World Vision Christian Commitment Coordinator, Noe gained experience in community development. Through his experience, Noe saw a glimpse of what the rural church can accomplish when it begins to work with its community. He says, “The church is the answer to the problems in our country because the church is the key for the transformation of a nation.”

The World Vision program concluded in 2010, and Noe began to search for a local ministry that empowered churches. During this time he encountered ENLACE, and was seleceted to be part of the ENLACE staff in June, 2011.

His role at ENLACE reflects Noé's desire to work alongisde churches that are involved with real, sustainable community transformation. “I’m excited to be part of this process... walking with the children, with the pastors...walking down the streets of their communities, meeting with them, talking about the challenges in their communities and coming up with solutions, and discussing how the Word of God helps bring development and change.”