Guatemala is a tropical climate Central American country that borders the North Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of Honduras. It’s filled with coastlines and mountainous regions pot marked with volcanic craters and inhabited by warm and hospitable people. One of those people is Carlos Linares, FCA’s Regional Director of Ministry Advancement.

Highly relational, Carlos will meet someone and a minute later ask questions and connect like he’s known the person for years. There’s a warmth and ease about him that allows people to open up to him quicker than most. Carlos is a networker at heart, always looking for ways to connect people with people or organizations for the betterment of God’s Kingdom. This has proven providential as God invited Carlos into a meaningful and connective journey with FCA.

Carlos started with FCA as a volunteer in 2015, when he was in Guatemala City working in city dump communities and part of a group that developed school programs.

In 2018, he joined FCA to help serve then-country director Julio Gomez. His heartbeat was building relationships and bringing the Word of God to his community.

“I preach on the fields, gyms, or wherever a sport is playing,” he said, “and I share the Gospel there.”

In 2021, Carlos moved from Guatemala City to Jocotenango, a town just outside of Antigua, to begin developing ministry in the area. As roles reshuffled, Julio became the West Global Vice President, Osmar Jimenez the Guatemala Director, and Carlos moved into serving as the Regional Director of Ministry Advancement. He’s seen God move through the ministry and finds joy in discipleship and developing leaders.

One example of discipleship involves a community coach called Victor, who works with Reindom Ministries helping youth in the city. Soccer was seen solely as a side activity in the center, but as Carlos began engaging relationally with him and their friendship grew, he was able to share about opportunities Victor had to utilize soccer to reach kids for Jesus. Carlos encouraged him to look into the possibility that he, too, could have an influence on the lives of athletes by his presence and willingness to walk with them.

As Carlos equipped him with resources offering ways of implementing sport and spiritual connections, Victor began engaging with the youth he worked with. One day, Victor came to Carlos full of excitement—he was beginning to see transformation in his youth and how they were understanding God’s love while playing sports!

Victor has continued to develop his sports ministry, currently considering how to include basketball, and he began investing his time and energy into one of his athletes who has become a leader who now invests his time into the younger kids in the program. Engage, equip and empower is happening.

Carlos stressed the importance of ongoing relationships that are invested in even after a person is empowered.

“It doesn't matter if the coach or the athlete is already empowered if you just leave them there,” he said. “The discipleship, the walking together and the accountability together can keep going forever.” 

There’s an empowering and a letting go rhythm Carlos adheres to that makes a more freeing life. “We hear about adding—adding staff, counting numbers—but if you give the ministry away and let go to multiply disciples, you will see fruit beyond what you know, and God receives glory. It’s not about planting the flag but passing the baton.

“I can only reach so far, but if I invest in one, that one is going to invest in five, and those five are going to invest in others,” he added.

Ever the connector, Carlos has seen God close the gap in his heart from restlessness to deeply connected.

“God has shown me that I belong,” said Carlos. “As a networker, sometimes I feel like I connect people together and then slip away unseen. I am always looking to find space for others, but God has space for me.”

God has also shown him that he belongs not only in God’s family, but in the family of FCA. “Working with Julio has been great; I’ve learned so much from him and see that it’s not about myself, but about something greater. It’s all God’s Kingdom: His connections, His resources, everything.”

Before he begins one minute of ministry, Carlos makes an earnest effort in keeping his priorities in place.

“There’s going to be a time that we are all going to be accountable before the throne,” he said. “Like Psalm 27:4, I want to be found faithful, and I want to dwell in His presence.”

“One thing I ask from the Lord,
    this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
    all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the Lord
    and to seek him in his temple.” –Psalm 27:4

Please pray for Carlos to keep relationship with God first in his heart, and for continued wisdom in his role as he connects people and develops leaders.

To learn more about what is happening in Guatemala and other areas in the West Global Division, visit their website.




-FCA-

Photos courtesy of Carlos Linares