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ENCOUNTERS
Issue 23 - March 2025
Issue 23 - March 2025
EXILE TO ENTREPRENEURIAL EVANGELIST
Blanca and her son Jonathan at the 30th anniversary of the República Church
In 2016, Josue Romero faced a father’s nightmare—he couldn’t buy diapers for his newborn daughter. An engineer from Venezuela, his prestigious degree meant nothing on the streets of Quito, Ecuador.
Josué and Sheila landed in Quito in March of that year. They carried two suitcases and a dream of a brief travel adventure. Two months pregnant with their first child, they had no idea that turmoil in their home country would turn this vacation into a permanent relocation.
“Moving to Quito and starting from zero was hard,” Josue recalls. “I was a professional engineer, and suddenly I’m selling trinkets on the streets. My pride as the provider was shattered.”
For three months, they sold whatever they could—fruit, yogurt, clothes—to survive. When their daughter Daniela was born that September, their situation grew more desperate. Then came the moment that changed everything: while selling items on the street with Sheila holding their baby, a stranger approached with an unexpected gift—a basket full of baby supplies.
“When I got home, I was completely wrecked,” Josue remembers. “I couldn’t even provide basic necessities for my daughter.” But Sheila’s response transformed their perspective: “You need to decide now that God is and will be your provider.”
That surrender led them to the República Church, a CMI partner church. But attending sporadically was the best they could do as they recently received employment in an artisan market store.
Despite this demanding job, they were grateful for more stable income. More importantly, that job taught them what they needed to know to start their own business called Griffinn Hats. This new business quickly flourished into multiple stores across Quito and provided freedom to commit more fully to church life. Together they joined the church’s Bible Academy in 2019.
Four years later they were asked to lead the church’s outreach ministry that touches hundreds of people. Whether it is evangelism in parks or visiting hospital patients, every Saturday, the team share hope with the hurting.
But the business success and demands of the outreach ministry brought another pivotal moment in their faith journey. Sheila and Josué started to feel burn out. At first they opted to step out of church leadership for six months, but God used this time to bring a new perspective.
“I realized that if I put 100% into the business, I could secure my family’s future,” Josué reflects. “But at what cost? Leaving Jesus aside? What’s the point of that?”
Josué realized that the hat business is just a means of God’s provision for the greater purposes He has for them.
Today, they’re scaling back their business in order to focus more on ministry. And encouraged by the República Church leaders, Josué has even begun seminary studies, pursuing a degree in intercultural missions.
“We are not primarily business people,” they explain. “We are God’s children and it all belongs to Him." This transformation has revolutionized their marriage too. “I see how my husband has become the support I need,” Sheila shares, “all because he has surrendered completely to the Lord.”
Through CMI partner churches like República, professionals like Josué and Sheila find not only a spiritual home, but a transformative community that helps them discover God’s larger purpose for their lives.
Your support enables these churches to disciple the next generation of ministry leaders who will reach Latin America’s cities with the gospel, one surrendered life at a time.
Josué and Sheila landed in Quito in March of that year. They carried two suitcases and a dream of a brief travel adventure. Two months pregnant with their first child, they had no idea that turmoil in their home country would turn this vacation into a permanent relocation.
“Moving to Quito and starting from zero was hard,” Josue recalls. “I was a professional engineer, and suddenly I’m selling trinkets on the streets. My pride as the provider was shattered.”
For three months, they sold whatever they could—fruit, yogurt, clothes—to survive. When their daughter Daniela was born that September, their situation grew more desperate. Then came the moment that changed everything: while selling items on the street with Sheila holding their baby, a stranger approached with an unexpected gift—a basket full of baby supplies.
“When I got home, I was completely wrecked,” Josue remembers. “I couldn’t even provide basic necessities for my daughter.” But Sheila’s response transformed their perspective: “You need to decide now that God is and will be your provider.”
That surrender led them to the República Church, a CMI partner church. But attending sporadically was the best they could do as they recently received employment in an artisan market store.
Despite this demanding job, they were grateful for more stable income. More importantly, that job taught them what they needed to know to start their own business called Griffinn Hats. This new business quickly flourished into multiple stores across Quito and provided freedom to commit more fully to church life. Together they joined the church’s Bible Academy in 2019.
Four years later they were asked to lead the church’s outreach ministry that touches hundreds of people. Whether it is evangelism in parks or visiting hospital patients, every Saturday, the team share hope with the hurting.
But the business success and demands of the outreach ministry brought another pivotal moment in their faith journey. Sheila and Josué started to feel burn out. At first they opted to step out of church leadership for six months, but God used this time to bring a new perspective.
“I realized that if I put 100% into the business, I could secure my family’s future,” Josué reflects. “But at what cost? Leaving Jesus aside? What’s the point of that?”
Josué realized that the hat business is just a means of God’s provision for the greater purposes He has for them.
Today, they’re scaling back their business in order to focus more on ministry. And encouraged by the República Church leaders, Josué has even begun seminary studies, pursuing a degree in intercultural missions.
“We are not primarily business people,” they explain. “We are God’s children and it all belongs to Him." This transformation has revolutionized their marriage too. “I see how my husband has become the support I need,” Sheila shares, “all because he has surrendered completely to the Lord.”
Through CMI partner churches like República, professionals like Josué and Sheila find not only a spiritual home, but a transformative community that helps them discover God’s larger purpose for their lives.
Your support enables these churches to disciple the next generation of ministry leaders who will reach Latin America’s cities with the gospel, one surrendered life at a time.
THE REPÚBLICA CHURCH CELEBRATED THEIR
30TH ANNIVERSARY IN QUITO, ECUADOR
30TH ANNIVERSARY IN QUITO, ECUADOR
On July 7th, the República Church celebrated their 30th Anniversary. The first daughter church in the Quito Movement, República was formed in 1994 when a team of missionaries, Ecuadorian pastors, and members from the Batán Church began services in a tent. The church grew very rapidly and pioneered a strong cell group ministry that served as a model for many other churches. Today, the church is the most visible evangelical church in Ecuador and is noted for its rich Bible Academy discipleship program.
1994: The church began in a tent, but quickly built a temporary auditorium.
1996: CMI’s then Executive Director Jim Murray visits the construction of the Christian Education building.
2007: With help from CMI, a 1,200-seat worship center is completed and grows to be one of the leading churches in Ecuador.
2024: Church members and leaders with connections to early years of the church received special recognition at the 30th Anniversary Celebrations.
2024: Mark Searing presenting a recognition to the República Church on behalf of CMI for their 30th anniversary.
EXTEND THE LIFE-GIVING LOVE OF JESUS CHRIST
IN LATIN AMERICA!
IN LATIN AMERICA!
Gifts to CMI will help develop churches and make disciples in Latin America’s most influential cities.
By partnering together, you’ve changed the forever future of over one million individuals who now belong to Christ.
By partnering together, you’ve changed the forever future of over one million individuals who now belong to Christ.
Being seen
In 1985, Wendy’s Restaurants released an iconic television commercial that I never forgot. It’s been almost 40 years, it still makes me laugh.
The ad came out at the height of the Cold War and portrayed a Soviet fashion show. As a violin plays an upbeat folk tune, an announcer dressed to the chin in a military uniform introduces a model that walks the runway three times displaying “daywear,” “eveningwear,” and lastly “swimwear.” The punchline was in the visual. Every single outfit was the same plain, gray dress.
The ad most certainly stereotyped Soviet life, but the humor landed because the Soviet image at the time was a place of bland efficiency. Functional, but cold and lifeless. And if we are honest, there is a part of us that is drawn to that kind of security, simplicity, and predictability. Even in the Church, when something works, we try to clone it.
But sameness just isn’t the way God works. God rarely does anything the same way twice. Snowflakes are snowflakes, but each one is different. Even genetically identical twins have different interests and personalities. While underlying principles of ministry can translate, they must be embodied differently in each context.
These thoughts have been on my mind since my most recent trip to Ecuador. As I met with leaders of the various churches we helped form, I recognized the shared DNA – a common mission, a common message, and a common vision for their city and nation. And yet, every one of these churches is unique. Each has beauty and gifts that stand out from the others.
Like a prism, each refracts the light of Christ in different ways. One stands out for its evangelistic work. Another for its discipleship. Others for their commitment to the poor or passion for global missions. They are elements existing in all the churches but shine with different brilliance in each. And in their diversity, they strengthen one another bringing greater hope of seeing cities and nations transformed for Christ.
In Christ,
Craig Murray
Executive Director
Church Ministries International
The ad came out at the height of the Cold War and portrayed a Soviet fashion show. As a violin plays an upbeat folk tune, an announcer dressed to the chin in a military uniform introduces a model that walks the runway three times displaying “daywear,” “eveningwear,” and lastly “swimwear.” The punchline was in the visual. Every single outfit was the same plain, gray dress.
The ad most certainly stereotyped Soviet life, but the humor landed because the Soviet image at the time was a place of bland efficiency. Functional, but cold and lifeless. And if we are honest, there is a part of us that is drawn to that kind of security, simplicity, and predictability. Even in the Church, when something works, we try to clone it.
But sameness just isn’t the way God works. God rarely does anything the same way twice. Snowflakes are snowflakes, but each one is different. Even genetically identical twins have different interests and personalities. While underlying principles of ministry can translate, they must be embodied differently in each context.
These thoughts have been on my mind since my most recent trip to Ecuador. As I met with leaders of the various churches we helped form, I recognized the shared DNA – a common mission, a common message, and a common vision for their city and nation. And yet, every one of these churches is unique. Each has beauty and gifts that stand out from the others.
Like a prism, each refracts the light of Christ in different ways. One stands out for its evangelistic work. Another for its discipleship. Others for their commitment to the poor or passion for global missions. They are elements existing in all the churches but shine with different brilliance in each. And in their diversity, they strengthen one another bringing greater hope of seeing cities and nations transformed for Christ.
In Christ,
Craig Murray
Executive Director
Church Ministries International
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