January 2026 Newsletter

RECRUIT, TRAIN, and ASSIST WITH TWO NEW HISPANIC MINISTRIES

In 2024 we started paperwork to help bring Dr. Carlos Cortez and his family from Mexico City to a rural church desiring to start a Spanish PAC church. Fabian and our Radio Latido staff were closely involved in getting their paperwork done, saving hundreds of dollars. It surprised everyone when in a matter of weeks they were approved to head to Kentucky. They arrived in the early spring of 2025 and stayed here on our “farm” (We have 3 cabins, a chapel, and a large barn which we use almost exclusively for ministry).

We were delighted for them to stay with us for about three months while we aided them in cultural assimilation- essentially helping them understand rural Kentucky culture, and Hispanic ministry in that context. We helped them with their son’s school, find a vehicle, learn about healthcare here, get their phones, get furniture, and how and where to shop. We had many great meals around our table sharing life together and encouraging each other.

They started the church plant, Vida Abundante, in Lebanon, Ky, the Sunday after Easter and now have a solid group of people growing and serving the Lord together. Rebekah took on the role of volunteer director enabling the English church to be part of the Spanish church plant by recruiting, developing, and overseeing English speaking volunteers with the purpose of helping the Spanish church grow. She also has helped with the worship and translating to English for the volunteers. It has been a blessing for our whole family to participate in this church plant at our home church with Rebekah’s dad, Pastor Neal Gordon, in Lebanon, Ky.

Another ministry couple we have been able to assist is Pastors Howard and Carmen Cecilia Rodriguez. We connected them to a church in Bardstown that wanted to start a Hispanic Ministry. For about 6 months, Fabian traveled to their church in Bardstown every other Sunday while Rebekah and the kids stayed in Lebanon to help the Cortez’. The Rodriguez came to Kentucky after God remarkably showed them in dreams and with financial provision that they were to leave the mountains of Colombia to come to Kentucky. We helped them move to Bardstown from Louisville. Both couples come from drastically different ways of life than rural Kentucky, so there was much to learn in outreach development and assistance. We have spent a lot of time together in the past year, time in training, relocation assistance, outreach development and cultural assimilation.

As multicultural directors, we also have aided Myanmar churches and French African churches with similar needs as well.

RATIO LATIDO BECOMES NONPROFIT!

This year we are proud to report that the Radio Station is finally incorporated and is its own entity. Latido Media Incorporated is now a 501(c)(3) organization, allowing more growth and financial sponsorship to happen. Once we have the right financial resources and people in place, our goal will be to let it stand on its own so that we can focus on developing other ministries. Work with the radio station has been expansion, research, and site development for towers. We would like to see three more towers up in 2026.

Part of our original hopes for the radio ministry was to bring God’s word where people could not go. We play the Bible on audio every four hours, along with worship music, sermons, and various programming targeting women, men, and families. We are currently reaching 7 counties in central Kentucky. Through the radio we have had many people contact us- some from prison, some with marital problems requesting counseling, some asking for prayer after family deaths, and many more such needs of a community in need of God. It is not unusual to meet a Hispanic person that will not step foot in a church, but then we find they listen to Radio Latido every morning!

PRISON MINISTRY ESTABLISHED THROUGH RADIO LATIDO

A Hispanic man reached out to the radio station from a prison in Litchfield, Ky. He was facing 14 years in a federal penitentiary and reached out asking for prayer. We connected with him, but after some research, we found there were over 90 Hispanic female inmates, and over 100 Hispanic male inmates, but no Spanish speaking prison ministry! The prison was having their yearly required volunteer training just the next month! Through Radio Latido, we were able to form a ministry team from several churches and 10 volunteer pastors. Our first meeting was at Thanksgiving and in less than a month we had 16 men give their lives to the Lord. Most inmates are there for only a short period before they’re transferred to another facility. We were able to bring Spanish Bibles and Study Guides after the volunteer director requested this much needed resource. (Thank you Pastor Carlos Castelan for your donation!) 

ONLINE PRESENCE FOR CHURCHES

Something else we do in our resource development for existing and new church plants is to help them establish an online presence, enabling outreach and making the community aware of them. We’ve helped them with Facebook, build websites, make videos, make printable promo materials, and more all in an effort to inspire people to seek connection with God through their local church. 

HE SETS THE LONELY IN FAMILIES Ps. 68:6

Alexander is a Cuban man who came to Ky with a temporary work permit. When immigration laws changed, overnight he lost his job, leaving him in a very difficult situation. He was very lonely and battling depression. He felt he had no options. Because of our online marketing, he found the church plant in Lebanon. He drove to the church on a Friday afternoon, in desperate need of hope. Since Pastor Carlos was in Mexico City handling Visa requirements, Pastor Neal called Fabian, and a connection was made over the phone. The next day he came to our home to talk and to do some work. Over lunch and through a long conversation, Alexander gave his life to the Lord! How beautiful to experience this as a family!

For the next couple of weeks, Alexander was able to come and help Fabian around the farm and make enough to pay for his rent, but also develop relationships. He has faithfully been attending church and reading the scriptures. He has even started fasting. Alexander still feels homesick. All the problems are not fixed. But he has found hope in the Lord through the local church. This is just one story among others that have happened throughout 2025.

FAMILY UPDATE 

As you can see, our kids are growing up alongside our ministry. The top left picture we took when we went to check on radio equipment. Behind us is the radio tower. The kids are now 11, 9, 8, 6, and 5 and are home-schooled. Throughout the year we have had various camps, retreats, and rallies, most from our multicultural churches, hosted here at our home and they are always the highlight of the day for our kids! 

We have also had our personal challenges. In September, Rebekah’s grandmother suddenly passed away.

Fabian’s mom, Elvira, is in a battle with cancer. Early 2025 she was diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver, and shortly after they discovered breast cancer. It was a difficult time for the family, especially Fabian. She had a double mastectomy and radiation therapy, but less than 45 days after completion of treatment, they found a tumor on her liver. This cancer has been very aggressive. It was first discovered at 4 cm, around August, and now it is at 17 by 15 cm. We need a miracle in her life. Please pray for God to remove the tumor and heal her completely! God has been faithful as we have balanced ministry and family responsibilities and we have done our best to honor the Lord and your support. We covet your prayers as in humility we trust in God. 

We want to thank you for your faithful support even as our newsletters have not been going out as they should have. It has been a challenging year with health issues and death in the family, and we sincerely thank you for your faithfulness. We are committed to sending regular newsletters so that you can be aware of the impact you are making. Please follow us on Facebook as well! We could not do what we are doing without your prayers and financial support. 

Thank you! Fabian, Rebekah, Samuel, Belen, Fabian, Rafael, and James Paul