Name:

Enelsido “Elido” Mendez Nunez

Job:

Pastor

Location:

Hato del Yaque

Family:

Modesta…Amalia, Eliani, Alfari, Lidiani

Bio:

Elido first learned about Christ at age six while attending a Christian school. His parents were not believers at the time, yet they were thankful when a woman generously paid for Elido’s tuition and uniform so he could attend. Although he heard about God regularly in school, he admits it was fear that finally drove him to Christ. When Iraq invaded Kuwait in 1990, Elido thought it was the start of a third World War and he heard enough about heaven and hell to know that he didn’t want to die without Christ! At age 15, he decided to become a Christian and was soon kicked out of the house for that decision.

Elido then lived with different people from church, and sometimes slept on an outside bench. His pastor believed in him and gave Elido many opportunities to learn and serve. Later, he studied for four years at a bible institute and became an interim pastor in Hato del Yaque where he served for 12 years. Today, after ministering as an associate pastor at G.O.’s Central Church, Elido is back in Hato del Yaque, serving at a different church as a senior pastor and G.O. Ministries partner.

The people of Hato del Yaque live in severe poverty. Many are uneducated and their hearts are difficult to reach. Too often, he feels, they come to the church for what they may receive in way of material goods rather than because they seek Christ, but Elido is working to help change their mindset. For example, 90 children are fed food and the Word of God at the church’s nutrition center, but his goal is to offer more. He believes that by also giving the children the practical gift of education, the church can help sustain them and give them understanding of their spiritual need.

Another vision is to prepare the adult leaders already in place so they can pass on what they’ve been taught to other adults, and thus begin the cycle of discipleship.

Elido is married to Modesta (a school psychologist) and together they are raising their two daughters, Amalia (age 4), and Eliani (age 2), as well as Elido’s nieces, Alfari (age 19) and Lidiani (age 16).