Ali Coromoto Morales, Valencia, Venezuela

"NOTE: Interestingly, last month we had selected Ali from Venezuela to be our Missionary of the Month for January. Please know that close to 1,000 Venezuelan pastors and teaching leaders subscribe to our Bible resource center. As you read this update, we ask you to join us in praying for peace."

Venezuela is much in the news these days – often with discouraging reports. Most of us remember when Venezuela was one of the most prosperous countries in all of Latin America. They enjoyed the world’s largest oil reserves which created high living standards. From the 1950s through the 70s, their GDP was comparable to many developed nations – higher than Spain, Italy, and Israel at the time. Starting in the late 1970 and 80s everything started to fall apart.

Political changes and mismanagement have led to one of the most severe economic collapses in modern history. Today, the average income in Venezuela is less than $220 per month but the average living expenses are between $300 and $400. It’s hard to imagine these factors in once prosperous Venezuela."

The ministry of LOGOI has been working in Venezuela since the 1970s. From pastor’s perspectives, we have had a firsthand look at their prosperity as well as their decline. Like so many in Cuba, many pastors and teaching leaders have left Venezuela in search of peace and economic survival.

But most, like this month’s LOGOI Missionary of the Month, have stayed. Meet Ali Coromoto Morales. He and his wife, Celia Pinto de Morales, are ministers with the Assemblies of God, Valencia, Venezuela. They both graduated from the Bible Institute Juan Alfaro (Assemblies of God) and both are licensed in theology and Christian education and are now professors at the Valencia Bible Institute.

“I teach leadership, the Epistles, Hebrew, Historical books, synoptic gospels and church growth,” Ali explains. “Celia teaches psychology, biblical methodology, and methodology research and didactics.” With a confident smile he adds, “we love God’s Word, we love to study, and we love to teach.”

Ali’s primary ministry is in the area of family counseling, and Celia oversees their children’s ministries in Valencia. “With all the hardships in our country, family counseling is very important and needed,” Ali says. “So many of LOGOI’s materials have been fountains of study source for me. At this moment I am teaching a class at the seminary where LOGOI texts are the basis for much of my teaching. I’m especially grateful for your counseling courses and topics.” He goes on to say, “I am able to put into practice all that I am studying and learning immediately.”

We are so grateful for the thousands of pastors and leaders serving in Venezuela. The needs are great, but God’s love and grace are far greater. Few of us would trade places with Ali and Celia, but they know they are right where God wants them and they are answering his call to serve their community.

Would you take a moment right now and pray for Ali and Celia? Specifically, they ask for our prayers regarding their family counseling ministry. And while you’re praying, thank the Lord for the many thousands of pastors and leaders who remain in Venezuela, ready and willing to proclaim the Gospel to all who will listen.

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