Although born into a Puerto Rican family, Manuel grew up as a “military kid” living in various countries. He came to faith in Christ in the first year of college through a campus ministry. Kim was born in the Boston area where she grew up and came to trust Jesus in her early years.

They met while preparing to serve as short-term missionaries to South Africa. Their shared faith and vision for the global church motivated them to further prepare for missions. Shortly thereafter, they married (September 1985) and attended Reformed Theological Seminary where Manuel earned his M.Div. in Missions and Kim commenced her teaching profession.

After being ordained in the Presbyterian Church in America, they served for 13 years as church planting missionaries in Spain where they had the privilege to evangelize, equip leaders and plant a church.

In 2005 they transitioned to church planting in El Paso, TX, on the US/Mexico border. By God’s grace Las Tierras Community Church (LTCC) was established with a DNA to serve the border community of El Paso and Ciudad Juarez, MX.

Having enjoyed the privilege of serving as LTCC’s first pastor, Manuel and Kim now have a call to once again serve the global church, particularly the Latin American church.

Through ELI, they look forward to leveraging their nearly 30 years of cross-cultural ministry to teach and disciple Latino pastors in the grace and truth of the gospel of Jesus.

Manuel and Kim, along with their dog Skye, reside in El Paso, TX where Kim is a dedicated middle school teacher. She loves reading, baking and crocheting. Manuel enjoys cycling, long hikes in the mountains as well as gardening.

They have three adult children who are all married, and two wonderful grandchildren.