Mere Missions

170 • M ere M issions : M oving F orward to M ultiply

She was not exaggerating. For years Hector had been heavily involved with alcohol and drugs. He had been homeless and had lived as an addict on the streets. At that time, Hector was selling drugs to support his habit in MacArthur Park, a center for all kinds of crime in downtown Los Angeles. Completely broken, Hector finally listened to his wife, and turned his life over to Christ. From that night on, he was completely freed from alcohol and drugs. He had a new hunger for the Word, showing up to church hours early, and one day read his Bible from 6:00 am until 5:00 pm. Hector was discipled for two years by a retired missionary, and then began to take classes at a local Bible Institute. One Sunday in the fall of 1999 he returned to Macarthur Park to share his faith with any who would listen. Eventually he met World Impact missionary Ricardo Hong. Ricardo had been prayer walking in that neighborhood for six months looking for the right person to partner with in planting a new church. Immediately a bond was formed, and over the next four years Ricardo and Hector worked together to plant The Church by The Lake, a church where the weekly attendance consists of about fifty percent homeless, alcoholics, and drug addicts. The Church by the Lake planted its first church in 2004. Hector is believing God for at least 343 (7x7x7) daughter, granddaughter, and great granddaughter churches to be planted before he dies. Hector’s disciples [apprentices] and TUMI students have been involved in sixteen church plants. More than twenty leaders from the Church by the Lake have become TUMI students, and as of the end of 2014, Hector and his TUMI students have seen 16 church plants commissioned in five countries. He sees a whole army of leaders in the men and women around him, individuals who many in our world have given up on. Many of the leaders who are being raised up through his ministry have testimonies similar to his own.