Send Network
Xavier Torrado
Director, Send Puerto Rico
Iglesia Gracia Redentora
Vega Baja, Puerto Rico
Xavier Torrado
Director, Send Puerto Rico
Iglesia Gracia Redentora
Vega Baja, Puerto Rico
Xavier Torrado serves as Director for Send Network Puerto Rico. He has served as a pastor for the past 13 years and currently serves as pastor of Iglesia Gracia Redentora, planted in 2016 in Vega Baja, Puerto Rico. He holds a bachelor's in Sciences from the University of Puerto Rico, a master's in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix and a master of Divinity from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. Xavier and his wife, Neysha, have two daughters, Victoria Sofia and Anna Catalina. He enjoys family time, running and good reading.
THE CHURCH PLANT
Gracia Redentora Church is a community of followers of Christ who are committed to living in the light of the gospel. We continually strive to build a faith community that lives to worship God. Our commitment is to impact the city of Vega Baja with Christ and His gospel so its people can experience a change in every dimension—spiritually, socially and culturally.
Junior Martinez
Church Planting Catalyst
Iglesia Bautista La Gracia
Yauco, Puerto Rico
Junior Martinez
Church Planting Catalyst
Iglesia Bautista La Gracia
Yauco, Puerto Rico
Junior Martínez serves as Church Planting Catalyst for Send Network Puerto Rico. He was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico. He has been married to his wife, Maylee Pérez, for 25 years. They have two children, Dealan and Joyce, in college. He came to the knowledge of the gospel and the grace of God in 2003. He has served as a youth leader in his local church and at the Southern Baptist Convention in Puerto Rico. He has been the pastor of Iglesia Bautista La Gracia since August 2010. Martínez has a bachelor's degree from the Dominican Baptist Theological Seminary and holds a master's degree in Christian Ministry from the Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.
THE CHURCH PLANT
Founded in 1992, Iglesia Bautista La Gracia is in the southern part of Puerto Rico, in the city of Yauco. In 2010 the church began a revitalization process. God has showed us through His Word the importance and need of church planting. Since then, our goal has been living for the glory of God, reaching the lost, making disciples and multiplying ourselves. In order to plant and revitalize churches, we've learned the Christian life is not about attending events but is a life of growth in the love of God and obedience to God to go where God sends us. By the grace of God, in these two years, our church has revitalized two churches and has planted one church. At this time men are being trained to continue fulfilling God's mission.
Christian Acevedo
Iglesia Bautista Castillo Fuerte
Gurabo, Puerto Rico
Christian Acevedo
Pastor
Iglesia Bautista Castillo Fuerte
Gurabo, Puerto Rico
Christian Acevedo was born on April 21, 1994, in Ponce, Puerto Rico. He has been married to Valeria since January 2017, they are parents to Caleb and Luna. He has a bachelor's degree in Theology from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. As a Puerto Rican, I have been able to see the great spiritual needs of our people on a daily basis and with those whom I have develop relationships. As Christians, we know that this spiritual need has always existed. But I must admit that since what happened with Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, that spiritual state of decadence has been increasingly visible before our eyes, and in one way or another, before their own eyes.
THE CHURCH PLANT
It is for this reason that we've planted in 2020 Iglesia Castillo Fuerte in the town of Gurabo. We have a committed membership with a desire that more lives can be reached by the gospel, discipled, prepared, and sent out.
Carlos Cajigas
Iglesia Bíblica La Comunión
Bayamón, Puerto Rico
Carlos Cajigas
Pastor
Iglesia Bíblica La Comunión
Bayamón, Puerto Rico
Carlos Cajigas was born on January 10, 1979 in a Christian home. At 14 years old, God called him to salvation. He is married to Keren Morales with whom he has 2 children. In 2018 while listening to the sermon at his church he felt God's call to serve as a pastor. After a confirmation process by his pastors at the Iglesia Comunidad Cristiana de Adoración in Arecibo, he was sent to the Iglesia Gracia Redentora in Vega Baja in December 2020. There, under the direction of Pastor Xavier Torrado, he began ministerial discipleship. In August 2023 he was ordained as a pastor. In December 2023 he completed his church planting residency.
THE CHURCH PLANT
Located in the north metro area, Bayamon is one of the busiest cities in Puerto Rico. In summer 2024, Carlos planted Iglesia Bíblica La Comunión in Bayamón in neighborhood that is mostly populated by elderly people.
Ben Canfield
Table Church
Aguadilla, Puerto Rico
Ben Canfield
Pastor
Table Church
Aguadilla, Puerto Rico
Ben Canfield was raised to love Jesus and seek first the kingdom of God. At age 9 he was converted from spiritual darkness into the kingdom of Jesus. After graduating from Moody Bible Institute in 2008 he traveled with Life Action Ministries as a youth speaker and worship leader. He met his wife Maria and they got married in 2009. Ben and Maria served at Gospel Hope Church and moved to Aguadilla, Puerto Rico with their 4 kids. Ben has an M.A. in Church Planting from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.
THE CHURCH PLANT
The Lord connected us with Send Puerto Rico to be partners together in working toward the first English-speaking church plant in the Northwest region of the island under the Southern Baptist Convention. We call ourselves Table Church because we want to be known as a people who "make room at the table."
Joshua Herrera
Iglesia Coram Deo
Aguada, Puerto Rico
Joshua Herrera
Pastor
Iglesia Coram Deo
Aguada, Puerto Rico
Joshua Herrera was born in 1988 in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. He did not have the opportunity to hear the gospel during his childhood or adolescence. It wasn't until he was 21 years old that he heard the gospel for the first time, felt conviction of his sin, repented, and placed his faith in the person of Jesus. He spent 10 years in Dallas, Texas, where he and his family were part of a new church plant in Mesquite, TX. There, he served as one of the pastors and enjoyed being part of a church focused on the expansion of God's Kingdom. Pastor Joshua, his wife Madeline, and their three children—Justin, Marjorie, and Joniell—returned to Aguadilla, PR, along with two other families, to plant new churches in the western region of Puerto Rico, where there is a great need for the true gospel— not only preached but also lived out.
THE CHURCH PLANT
Currently, they have begun their work in Aguada, PR. In November 2024, they officially launched Iglesia Coram Deo, located in the northwest region of Puerto Rico. Please pray for this mission—to reach, equip, and send. May the Lord help us reach the West for Christ and be a church focused on God's mission.
Víctor Mateo
Iglesia Bíblica Metro
Carolina, Puerto Rico
Víctor Mateo
Lead Pastor
Iglesia Bíblica Metro
Carolina, Puerto Rico
Víctor Mateo is married to Yamaira Sánchez and is to father of Hosanna and Julieta, who now dwells with the Heavenly Father. God saved him at a young age, and he grew up in the church, actively serving in the music, youth, and teaching ministries. In August 2023, he was called to ministry as the interim pastor of the church, and in January 2024, he was officially established as the Lead Pastor of Iglesia Bíblica Metro. In 2020, he completed a bachelor's degree at the Dominican Baptist Theological Seminary, and he is currently pursuing a Master of Divinity at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky.
THE CHURCH PLANT
Iglesia Bíblica Metro was planted in 2017. Its mission is to make disciples grounded in Scripture who believe, love, obey, and share Christ and His gospel. As a church, we are committed to being a beacon of hope, preaching a solid, Christ-centered biblical message.
Camilo Méndez
Iglesia Bautista Comunidad de Gracia
San Germán, PR
Camilo Méndez
Pastor
Iglesia Bautista Comunidad de Gracia
San Germán, PR
Camilo Méndez was saved by the grace of God. He is a servant of Jesus Christ, husband to Gladys Damaris Rosario and father to Adrian and Kamil.
THE CHURCH PLANT
Iglesia Bautista Comunidad de Gracia, is a church plant in the Minillas neighborhood of the town of San Germán, Puerto Rico. We want to make Christ known to those who think they believe in Him but do not really know Him, —without limiting ourselves only to our community, but also going to neighboring towns such as Sabana Grande and Lajas. We are committed to living for Christ, reaching out to the lost and serving our neighbors while we make disciples who in turn make disciples. Our commitment is also to preach exclusively the Word of God, the Word of Truth.
Oscar Ortiz
Iglesia Bautista Esperanza Eterna
Canóvanas/Río Grande, Puerto Rico
Oscar Ortiz
Pastor
Iglesia Bautista Esperanza Eterna
Canóvanas/Río Grande, Puerto Rico
Oscar Ortiz was born in 1981 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He grew up in a church environment, however, he was convicted of sin and called to repentance in 1991. In 2019, after finishing his master's degree in Christian Education with a concentration in Pastoral Ministry at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and serving as a pastor for 7 years in Fort Worth, TX; Oscar returned to Puerto Rico to join NAMB in its mission to make God known through the planting of a new church. He is married to Wendy, and they have two children, Owen and Marina.
THE CHURCH PLANT
Canóvanas/Río Grande are located northeast of Puerto Rico. In these cities there are many individuals and religious groups that offer answers to the physical and spiritual needs of the people. However, they are not based on the one true hope found in the gospel of Christ. Our prayer is that Iglesia Bautista Esperanza Eterna will be a church that reaches out to the lost and empowers believers to live in community in the light of eternal hope, Jesus Christ.
Gil Ramos
Iglesia Bautista Renacer
Ponce, Puerto Rico
Gil Ramos
Pastor
Iglesia Bautista Renacer
Ponce, Puerto Rico
Gil Ramos was born in the city of Ponce, Puerto Rico. He is married to Stephanie Torres. He had the blessing of participating in the church life from an early age with his parents. After understanding the gospel and the grace of God, he had the opportunity to begin serving in the local church in areas such as the Youth Ministry and the Ministry of Education. Since February 2018, he has been serving full time in Iglesia Bautista Renacer in a revitalization process of the church. He has a Bachelor from the Dominican Baptist Theological Seminary and a B.S. in Liberal Studies of the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico. He is currently studying in the Hispanic Master's program at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.
THE CHURCH PLANT
Iglesia Bautista Renacer is located in the southern part of Puerto Rico in the city of Ponce. The work in the Mercedita community began on August 13, 2004. In 2018, the church began a process of revitalization. Through the revitalization of our church, we desire to better enable us to impact our community with the glorious truth of the gospel. As part of this process, we have established a vision as a church that is summarized in these three words: know, love and serve. Know God through His Word. Love God and our neighbors. Serve as a necessary result of our knowledge of God and our love of God and our neighbor. We want to be a church that preaches the gospel faithfully to the lost and that lives the gospel in our life as a congregation—a congregation that not only preaches the gospel but also makes it evident with each one of its acts in the city where God has placed them to glorify Him.
Reinaldo Reyes
Iglesia Bautista Buena Vista
Cayey, PR
Reinaldo Reyes
Pastor
Iglesia Bautista Buena Vista
Cayey, PR
Reinaldo Reyes was born and raised in Cayey, Puerto Rico. Being raised Roman Catholic, he was able to learn some things about the Bible as a child but it was not until visiting the Iglesia Bautista Buena Vista in Cayey where He was able to hear what the gospel truly is. Reinaldo and his wife Coralys attended this church since 2014 but it wasn't until August 2017 that Reinaldo repented from his sins and surrender his life to the Lord. Reinaldo has a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Management. In 2021 after being discipled by his pastor he felt the call to ministry. His desire is to plant churches in places where they are not perceived healthy churches.
THE CHURCH PLANT
Currently, he is working alongside the mother church (Iglesia Bautista de Buena Vista in Cayey) to plant a church in the town of Cidra soon. Both Coralys and Reinaldo have been blessed with their first child, Reinaldo David, and are expecting a baby girl in the summer of 2025.
Luis Rivera
Iglesia Bíblica del Señor Jesucristo Gracia & Verdad
Fajardo, Puerto Rico
Luis Rivera
Pastor
Iglesia Bíblica del Señor Jesucristo Gracia & Verdad
Fajardo, Puerto Rico
Luis Rivera was born in 1964 in Fajardo, Puerto Rico. He grew up in Barrio Paraíso where he met the Lord Jesus Christ at 11 years old. In 2012, the Lord called him to ministry. He married Maribel Gotay Encarnación in 1993, and by the grace of God they have two children, Ruth and Luis Arturo.
THE CHURCH PLANT
Our goal is to develop and establish a church that fulfills the Great Commission, bringing the good news of salvation, making disciples, baptizing and teaching them to make disciples. Our vision is to reach the communities of Fajardo and the neighboring towns with the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ through discipleship.
Luis Rodríguez
Iglesia Bautista Raham
Aibonito, Puerto Rico
Luis Rodríguez
Pastor
Iglesia Bautista Raham
Aibonito, Puerto Rico
Luis Rodríguez was born December 3, 1988 in Ponce, Puerto Rico. He grew up in a home with Christian parents, but the Lord called him to salvation at the age of 15. Luis worked for 12 years as a teacher at Coamo Christian Academy in the town of Coamo and as a youth leader at Iglesia Bautista Raham de Coamo. Luis married his wife, Kiara Yelixa, in 2016, and both seek to do the will of God, grow daily in the grace of the Lord and glorify the name of Christ. They are parents to Rubén Alejandro.
THE CHURCH PLANT
Located in the center of Puerto Rico, Aibonito is known as the Garden of Puerto Rico. The city, either too religious or too liberal, needs the compassion that offers the gospel and the love of Jesus Christ. We pray that Iglesia Bautista Raham Aibonito will serve as a church that reaches out to the lost. We hope to train and disciple believers to live as a spiritual family amid an earthly family, focused on the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Rubén Rodríguez
Iglesia Bautista Misionera
Ponce, Puerto Rico
Rubén Rodríguez
Pastor
Iglesia Bautista Misionera
Ponce, Puerto Rico
Rubén Rodríguez was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Since his childhood his mom taught him the Word of God, and by the grace of God he was saved at age 17 (1996). He is married to Rebeca Garayalde. God has blessed their marriage with Ellah and Mikel. He served as teacher of a Christian Academy and as youth ministry leader in his local church. He has been the pastor of Iglesia Bautista Misionera since July 2015. He has a bachelor's degree from Puerto Rico Baptist College.
THE CHURCH PLANT
Iglesia Bautista Misionera is located in the southern part of Puerto Rico, in the city of Ponce. The work in the Bélgica community began on May 25, 1970. In 2019, the church began a process of revitalization. Through this process we desire to have an impact in our community, trusting in power of the gospel to save and transform lives. As part of this process our church has established a vision that consists of three elements that have the gospel at their core: know the gospel, live the gospel and proclaim the gospel. Our aim is to glorify God by knowing and understanding what God has done for us through Jesus Christ, by living every area of our lives according to the truth of the gospel and by proclaiming the powerful gospel of the grace of God to the lost.
Jorge Santiago
One Church
Comerío, Puerto Rico
Jorge Santiago
Pastor
One Church
Comerío, Puerto Rico
In November 2012, after more than 10 years of drug addiction, I, Jorge Santiago was called to salvation and Jesus saved my life. In February 2013, I was baptized by Pastor James L. Benson at the Primera Iglesia Bautista de Groveton in Alexandria, Virginia. I began to grow in the faith and fell in love with the Word of God, seeking God's guidance for my life. I am a native of Comerio, Puerto Rico, and Rebeca, my wife, was born in El Salvador. In January 2013, we got married. We now have two children, Sebastian and Sofia. We are a family who loves God and demonstrates that love by serving. Our family has experienced moments of joy and peace, as well moments of sadness and tribulation. Each moment has been a tool to build the love of our family in faith.
THE CHURCH PLANT
On September 20, 2017, Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico, changing history forever. Rebeca and I were heartbroken when we visited Comerío two days after. We were in the midst of suffering, destruction and lack of resources. We left our house every day, early in the morning in search of supplies to take to our people in Comerío. We prayed daily for God's provision, and He provided daily. Rebeca and I put together a washing machine project for the city. We focused on Matthew 22:37-39. Loving the community genuinely caused people to want to hear about God. That is how One Church Comerío was born, on the foundation of love.
Send Relief
Jonathan Santiago
Send Relief Puerto Rico
Ministry Director
Jonathan Santiago was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico, and felt God’s calling at the age of 16. After graduating high school, he left Puerto Rico as a North American Mission Board (NAMB) summer missionary. He served at the Mission Center in inner-city Houston while attending the Art Institute of Houston and University of Houston.
In 2001, Jonathan returned to his native country where he served as State Student Director, leading youth and collegiate ministry for the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) in Puerto Rico for six years. Jonathan also served at Iglesia Bautista Monte Sion as lead pastor.
In 2007, Jonathan was commissioned and appointed as a NAMB missionary and returned to the U.S. to serve with the Baptist Convention of New York as the Associate Director of Student Evangelism. In 2011 he was asked to lead the Evangelism and Partnerships effort for the Baptist Convention of New York, and he served in that role until July 2018. He has represented New York in the State Student Directors Association and Baptist Collegiate Network (BCNet). He chaired the committee for under-reached ethnic students and served as the Southern Baptist Chaplain at Syracuse University for five years. Jonathan has served as part of the SBC Hispanic Advisory Council appointed by the Executive Committee and on the national board of the Immigration Alliance as one of its founders.
He currently lives in Puerto Rico where he serves as the Puerto Rico Ministry Director with Send Relief, overseeing both ministry and operations. Jonathan and his wife Yesenia are blessed with three beautiful daughters, Alyah Raquel, Amayah Rose and Alyannah Rut.
Itamar Elizalde
Send Relief Puerto Rico
Ministry Coordinator
Itamar Elizalde was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico, and raised in Worcester, Massachusetts, where her parents moved to plant a Spanish-speaking church. She professed faith in Christ as a child and served in her local church for many years. In college, she was discipled by her campus minister and gained a passion for discipleship, student leadership development and missions. She holds a bachelor’s degree from The University of Massachusetts at Lowell and a master’s degree in criminal justice and criminology from Florida State University. After working in her field for a time, she responded to a call to collegiate ministry in New England and then a return to Puerto Rico to serve with Send Relief.
MINISTRY COORDINATOR
Itamar manages local volunteers and helps to oversee operations at the Ministry Center.
Send Relief began responding to the needs in Puerto Rico after the devastation caused by Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017. Thousands of volunteers were mobilized in the aftermath of the storms to rebuild damaged homes, distribute meals and share the hope of Christ through service. Send Relief, in partnership with Send Network (church planting), continues responding to the crisis of hopelessness by connecting mission teams with the needs of local church plants across the island.
Initially housed at the former Baptist seminary, the Ministry Center provides housing and meals to the steady stream of mission teams that come to the island to repair storm-damaged homes and to deliver food and goods to many in need. In March 2019, the Ministry Center was moved to a nearby temporary location as construction for the new permanent facility began. The facility can currently house approximately 80 volunteers.
Support Staff
Neysha Acevedo
HR Senior Consultant
Nancy Oyola
Send Relief Ministry Center Operation Assistant
Wendy Ortiz
Administrative Assistant
Valeria Acevedo
Financial Assistant
Send Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico is an archipelago among the Greater Antilles in the Caribbean Sea. East of Cuba, the region is over 2,000 miles away from the United States and includes the main island of Puerto Rico and a number of smaller ones, such as Mona, Culebra and Vieques. The population exceeds 3 million.
Planting churches everywhere for everyone
Are you committed to reaching your community with the gospel through church planting? So are we. Send Network is a partnership of people planting churches everywhere for everyone throughout the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico.