Our Testimonies
Esteban
I grew up in a Christian home and was taken to church every time the doors were open. I was saved and baptized at the age of eight under the ministry of the Iglesia Bautista Emmanuel in Tijuana, Mexico. At the age of eleven my family moved to Escondido, California where I attended school until the end of high school. I was encouraged to attend West Coast Baptist College and planned to attend there for a year before studying architecture. After one month of attending college, God called me to serve Him full time for the rest of my life during a missions conference in 2004. Upon graduation, I served on staff at my home church under Pastor Ernie Merritt. I had the privilege of being the Youth and Music Director for 6 years before returning to West Coast Baptist College for my Master’s Degree in Biblical Studies.
While on staff at my home church and with the blessing from our parents and our pastor, Alejandra Mendoza and I began to date. We officially dated for about a year and a half before we got engaged on January 2015. A year later Alejandra and I got married. While at our church, I had the opportunity to serve in several ministries while praying for God’s direction for our lives; to include preaching, children’s ministries, choir, congregational music and special music.
On December of 2016 my wife and I were approved as missionaries through BIMI. We are excited about God’s calling in our lives to minister in Mexico and are looking forward to serving Him for the rest of our lives.
Alejandra
I was born in Mexico City, but raised in Escondido, California. I attended public schools from K-12 and received my bachelor’s in Elementary Education and an associate’s degree in Secretarial at West Coast Baptist College. I came to know the Lord when I was twelve through the ministry of Fundamental Baptist Church, our home church. It all began when my brother and I started riding the church bus when I was four. My Sunday school teacher came to our house to witness to my mom and both my mom and I received Jesus as our Savior that night.
After graduating from high school in 2011, I decided to go to West Coast Baptist College. After taking the One Year Bible Program, I was absolutely thrilled to discover what God had in store for me. During my sophomore year I surrendered my life to the Lord and was willing to do whatever He wanted for my life. After my sophomore year, I began dating Esteban Marquez. He had already received his bachelor’s in Missions and was on staff at my home church. We got engaged January 2015 and on January 23, 2016 we got married.
On December of 2016 my husband and I were approved as missionaries through BIMI. I am very excited and grateful to be on this deputation journey knowing God has called us to Mexico to serve Him, to learn from Him, and to build His church.