Mathew and Pilar

Matthew & Pilar

Matthew had the privilege of growing up in a Christian home and being in the Baptist church every time the doors were open. At the age of 7, after the Sunday morning service, I went to my dad and told him that I needed to be saved. That morning I put my faith and trust in Jesus Christ to save me. Praise God there is nothing I can do to lose my salvation! After having grown up in the Christian school and graduating from Madison Baptist Academy, I attended Pensacola Christian College and graduated in 1998 with a business degree. The Lord brought me back to Madison, AL where I met my wife, Pilar. The Lord's timing was right, as she had just come from Spain to visit her sister and brother-in-law (the pastor of the Spanish church at Madison Baptist Church). We were married in 1999, and the Lord has blessed us with three girls: Kayla (May 2002), Nicole (Dec. 2003), and Noelia (July 2006).

While we served the Lord in Madison Baptist Church and in our Spanish church, the Lord began dealing with me about the lack of Independent Baptist missionaries in the country of Spain. In November 2002, after a Spanish conference with evangelist Daniel Garlick, I finally surrendered to give my whole life to God as a missionary for the salvation of eternal souls.

In January 2003, I began taking classes at Southeastern Fundamental Bible College, a ministry of Madison Baptist Church, and graduated in May of 2004. The Lord allowed us to serve Him in the Spanish church at Madison Baptist. I had the privilege of leading the music for our services and the opportunity to preach as well. Also, during our Thursday night mid-week service, Pilar taught the children's class and directed the nursery for all services.  

Pilar was born in Madrid, Spain and was saved at the age of 15 through the influence of missionary Julio Velasquez (now in Venezuela); she gave her life to missions shortly thereafter.  I was born into a catholic family and although we weren't practicing catholics, we followed the traditions that had been put on us by way of religion in Spain.  My first years in school I spent studying in a catholic school, and from that I understood that there was a God and I wanted to know Him,  but I didn't know how to find Him.  During those first years, I saw the hypocrisy of many, and little by little I began to live the same religious hypocrisy; living as I wanted while following the religious traditions, thinking that I was fine.  When I was 14 years old, the Lord saved my sister and her husband and I began to see a change in their lives.  For the first time, I saw the testimony of someone that said they loved God and also showed it.  A little time after, I went to see my sister and asked her if what I was doing, following the traditions, would take me to heaven.  She took me to speak with a missionary who showed me what the Bible said about salvation.  He showed me that salvation wasn't by works, but only by faith in Jesus Christ.  Jesus said, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.'  That day I understood that Jesus Christ died on the cross for my sins and that if I put my trust in Him, He would give me eternal life.  I prayed and asked forgiveness from the Lord for my sins, and I asked that He come into my heart and take control of my life. 

Alberto & Ashley Alberto was born in Ubeda in the province of Andalucia, in Southern Spain on September 2nd 1986. At the age of five, my dad became a Christian and started attending the Iglesia Bautista el Faro (Lighthouse Baptist Church) in Alcala de Henares, outside of Madrid. Eventually my mom, my brother, and I also went to church with him. During a Vacation Bible School in September of 1992 I accepted Jesus Christ as my savior. I still remember some changes that Christ had made in my life even as a little child. My father had been called to full time service, so after he graduated from seminary in 1997, we moved to Madison, Alabama where he became the pastor of the Spanish ministry at Madison Baptist Church.

I graduated from the Madison Baptist Academy in the year of 2004. God led me to go to Crown College where I spent two years, then I finished my studies at Southeastern Fundamental Baptist College (SFBC). I graduated from SFBC in May of 2008. The Lord has used both places to prepare me for the ministry. During my time in College, I have been blessed to work under my dad. He has given me the opportunity to serve in several areas of the Spanish ministry:  Children's ministry, Youth ministry, Music ministry, Visitation ministry and many other areas. 

Ashley was born on September 10, 1985; in Huntsville, Alabama. My parents were saved when I was very young, so I had the privilege of growing up in a Christian home. I made a profession of faith at the age of five, but did not fully understand that faith in Christ, not repeating a prayer would save me. I struggled with doubts of my salvation for a long time; fearing what people would think to know I had not been saved before. God continued working on my heart and I was saved in July of 1997 at the age of eleven. My Dad baptized me and I have been growing spiritually since. It had always been my desire to be a missionary wife, however it was several years after my salvation that I felt the confirmation that missions was God's will for my life. I also attended Madison Baptist Academy; and graduated in 2003. Most of my college education was done at Southeastern Fundamental Baptist College out of our church, although I did go to Crown College for a year. I graduated from SFBC in May of 2007. I became involved in the Spanish ministry at our church in 2002 when Alberto and I began to be interested in one another. I have been blessed to be involved in the Sunday School, Nursery, Choir, and many other Spanish ministries. In the past six years I have learned to speak Spanish fairly fluent; although I am continuing to learn new things.  The Lord has used many people and circumstances in each stage of my life to continually draw me closer to him and to mold me to the working of His will. .

Ashley and I met in Madison Baptist Academy when we were very young; we were actually High School sweethearts. Even as teenagers we knew where God had called us and strived for that goal. After 5 years, God allowed us to get married on August 3rd, 2007. We are anticipating the birth of our first child in December of this year.