Introducing Members of the Felix Response Team

When a disaster strikes, our response is only as good as the men we have on the ground. Word & Deed, together with MINTS, is very blessed to have six gifted men on the Hurricane disaster response team in Nicaragua. They need our prayers as they, together with others, work long hours to help the many victims of the storm.

The Hurricane Felix response is being coordinated through the local MINTS Study Centre in Nicaragua which is known as SETIMN-MINTS where:

SETIMN = Interdemoninational Theological Seminary of Miskitia-Nicaragua

MINTS = Miami International Seminary

Pastor Héctor Willians: He is the older gentleman in the above picture, the one in the green shirt. He is the Director of SETIMN-MINTS. He is serving as the Resource person of the disaster relief program. He is widely known in the Miskito indigenous community and considered to be one of their most respected community leaders. He knows key community leaders and has contact with government officials. He is also serving as the pastor of mother church of the Assembly of Christian Churches in Puerto Cabezas of which Carlos is a member. He was in his home village of Dakur when the Hurricane struck. Tragically, eight members of his family lost their lives in the storm and he conducted their funerals before joining the rest of the response team.

Carlos Coffin: He is the younger man in the above picture, the one in the white shirt. He is the secretary of the board of SETIMN-MINTS. He is serving as the Coordinator of the disaster relief program. Carlos is student of MINTS and a key leader in the “mother church” of the Asamblea de Iglesias Cristianas (Assembly of Christian Churches) which has 12 daughter churches in the Puerto Cabezas area. The church he attends is the supervising church of SETIMN-MINTS. In May, 2007 Carlos received a Bachelors degree in Business Administration. He is currently employed as an administrator in the public school system in Puerto Cabezas.

Pastor Jonatan Radiz (above): He is a student of MINTS and the pastor of a church in Puerto Cabezas area. He is on the board of SETIMN-MINTS. He is serving as an assistant to the coordinator of the disaster relief program.

Pastor Joseph Lacayo (above far right) – A student of MINTS and pastor of the Church of God in Puerto Cabezas. He is one of the three team members who will be doing the “well-cleaning” project in the affected communities. He has been helping out with the project “full time” since the first day.

Pastor Santiago Curbelo (above far left) – A student of APOYO and pastor of one of the AIC churches with which Hector is serving as pastor of the “mother church”. He is one of the three team members who will be doing the “well-cleaning” project in the affected communities. He has been helping out with the project “full time” since the first day.

APOYO – APOYO is a partner training ministry MINTS is working with among the Miskito population. They provide informal studies through seminars for church leaders. It is through their invitation that Rev. Eric Pennings was able to introduce MINTS as a formal leadership training program of studies.

Pastor Nieves Benjamin (no picture) – A student of APOYO and pastor of one of the AIC churches with which Hector is serving as pastor of the “mother church”. He is one of the three team members who will be doing the “well-cleaning” project in the affected communities. He has had other commitments during the first three weeks, so he has not been as involved so far. However he has committed himself to be part of the “well-cleaning” team.