A Steady Light: Teaching, Discipling, and Witnessing in Guatemala
In the heart of Guatemala, Juan Jose Pulido de Leon is transforming lives through intentional discipleship and unwavering commitment to the Gospel. As a local minister at Casa Josué, Juan Jose wears many hats—teacher, counselor, preacher, media producer—but all serve the purpose of leading people toward Jesus.
Ministry in Guatemala comes with its challenges. Juan Jose regularly confronts cultural convergence, doctrinal confusion, and mistrust resulting from poor examples of spiritual leadership. “Sometimes, the person most resistant to the Gospel is a Christian with shaky foundations,” he says. But his response is never condemnation. Instead, he invites skeptics and believers to examine their hearts and rediscover the true meaning of Christ’s sacrifice.
His approach is deeply personal. It begins with his own transformation. For years, Juan Jose knew about Jesus but lived with him on the margins. It wasn’t until he surrendered every area of his life that he began to understand the cost and joy of obedience. That change radiated outward. “Before, I tried very hard to convince people that Jesus was the way,” he says. “But there was little demonstration in my life of what I was talking about.” Today, his life speaks before his words ever do.
Juan Jose’s ministry extends into the streets. Earlier this year, he and a friend began walking the neighborhoods of Guatemala City, praying for strangers and offering to share the Gospel. One spot they frequented was UNICAR, the national cardiovascular hospital. What started as a simple prayer became a doorway to deeper ministry. In one particularly moving encounter, he walked with grieving parents through their infant’s final moments, helping them release their son into God’s hands with peace and gratitude. That act of compassion opened more doors, and he’s now a regular source of support for staff and patients alike.
He also invests in the next generation. Recognizing the transitional nature of adolescence, Juan Jose disciples preteens through immersive retreats, spiritual mentorship, and local missions. His goal is clear: help young people hear God’s voice before making their first adult decisions. One young man from the group is now considering a year of service through YWAM before beginning university. “We’re praying for all of them,” Juan Jose says. “We believe God is raising up a generation eager to obey.”
Discipleship in Juan Jose’s world is personal and practical. He recently began using Connect2Leaders, the Haggai International discipleship platform, to walk his church members through a custom course based on his Haggai Leader Experience (HLE). Rather than assign readings, he facilitates group discussions where participants engage with Scripture, respond together, and even refine their positions as they learn. “They hear, they reflect, and they do,” he explains. “That makes the learning stick.”
Whether walking city streets, developing digital curriculum, or leading young people into mission, Juan Jose lives by the simple truth that obedience is greater than outcome. His impact isn’t measured by numbers, but by faithfulness. In every prayer, class, and conversation, he points others toward the One who changed everything for him.
Written by Eli Banzon
A Steady Light: Teaching, Discipling, and Witnessing in Guatemala
In the heart of Guatemala, Juan Jose Pulido de Leon is transforming lives through intentional discipleship and unwavering commitment to the Gospel. As a local minister at Casa Josué, Juan Jose wears many hats—teacher, counselor, preacher, media producer—but all serve the purpose of leading people toward Jesus.
Ministry in Guatemala comes with its challenges. Juan Jose regularly confronts cultural convergence, doctrinal confusion, and mistrust resulting from poor examples of spiritual leadership. “Sometimes, the person most resistant to the Gospel is a Christian with shaky foundations,” he says. But his response is never condemnation. Instead, he invites skeptics and believers to examine their hearts and rediscover the true meaning of Christ’s sacrifice.
His approach is deeply personal. It begins with his own transformation. For years, Juan Jose knew about Jesus but lived with him on the margins. It wasn’t until he surrendered every area of his life that he began to understand the cost and joy of obedience. That change radiated outward. “Before, I tried very hard to convince people that Jesus was the way,” he says. “But there was little demonstration in my life of what I was talking about.” Today, his life speaks before his words ever do.
Juan Jose’s ministry extends into the streets. Earlier this year, he and a friend began walking the neighborhoods of Guatemala City, praying for strangers and offering to share the Gospel. One spot they frequented was UNICAR, the national cardiovascular hospital. What started as a simple prayer became a doorway to deeper ministry. In one particularly moving encounter, he walked with grieving parents through their infant’s final moments, helping them release their son into God’s hands with peace and gratitude. That act of compassion opened more doors, and he’s now a regular source of support for staff and patients alike.
He also invests in the next generation. Recognizing the transitional nature of adolescence, Juan Jose disciples preteens through immersive retreats, spiritual mentorship, and local missions. His goal is clear: help young people hear God’s voice before making their first adult decisions. One young man from the group is now considering a year of service through YWAM before beginning university. “We’re praying for all of them,” Juan Jose says. “We believe God is raising up a generation eager to obey.”
Discipleship in Juan Jose’s world is personal and practical. He recently began using Connect2Leaders, the Haggai International discipleship platform, to walk his church members through a custom course based on his Haggai Leader Experience (HLE). Rather than assign readings, he facilitates group discussions where participants engage with Scripture, respond together, and even refine their positions as they learn. “They hear, they reflect, and they do,” he explains. “That makes the learning stick.”
Whether walking city streets, developing digital curriculum, or leading young people into mission, Juan Jose lives by the simple truth that obedience is greater than outcome. His impact isn’t measured by numbers, but by faithfulness. In every prayer, class, and conversation, he points others toward the One who changed everything for him.
Written by Eli Banzon
A Steady Light: Teaching, Discipling, and Witnessing in Guatemala
In the heart of Guatemala, Juan Jose Pulido de Leon is transforming lives through intentional discipleship and unwavering commitment to the Gospel. As a local minister at Casa Josué, Juan Jose wears many hats—teacher, counselor, preacher, media producer—but all serve the purpose of leading people toward Jesus.
Ministry in Guatemala comes with its challenges. Juan Jose regularly confronts cultural convergence, doctrinal confusion, and mistrust resulting from poor examples of spiritual leadership. “Sometimes, the person most resistant to the Gospel is a Christian with shaky foundations,” he says. But his response is never condemnation. Instead, he invites skeptics and believers to examine their hearts and rediscover the true meaning of Christ’s sacrifice.
His approach is deeply personal. It begins with his own transformation. For years, Juan Jose knew about Jesus but lived with him on the margins. It wasn’t until he surrendered every area of his life that he began to understand the cost and joy of obedience. That change radiated outward. “Before, I tried very hard to convince people that Jesus was the way,” he says. “But there was little demonstration in my life of what I was talking about.” Today, his life speaks before his words ever do.
Juan Jose’s ministry extends into the streets. Earlier this year, he and a friend began walking the neighborhoods of Guatemala City, praying for strangers and offering to share the Gospel. One spot they frequented was UNICAR, the national cardiovascular hospital. What started as a simple prayer became a doorway to deeper ministry. In one particularly moving encounter, he walked with grieving parents through their infant’s final moments, helping them release their son into God’s hands with peace and gratitude. That act of compassion opened more doors, and he’s now a regular source of support for staff and patients alike.
He also invests in the next generation. Recognizing the transitional nature of adolescence, Juan Jose disciples preteens through immersive retreats, spiritual mentorship, and local missions. His goal is clear: help young people hear God’s voice before making their first adult decisions. One young man from the group is now considering a year of service through YWAM before beginning university. “We’re praying for all of them,” Juan Jose says. “We believe God is raising up a generation eager to obey.”
Discipleship in Juan Jose’s world is personal and practical. He recently began using Connect2Leaders, the Haggai International discipleship platform, to walk his church members through a custom course based on his Haggai Leader Experience (HLE). Rather than assign readings, he facilitates group discussions where participants engage with Scripture, respond together, and even refine their positions as they learn. “They hear, they reflect, and they do,” he explains. “That makes the learning stick.”
Whether walking city streets, developing digital curriculum, or leading young people into mission, Juan Jose lives by the simple truth that obedience is greater than outcome. His impact isn’t measured by numbers, but by faithfulness. In every prayer, class, and conversation, he points others toward the One who changed everything for him.
Written by Eli Banzon
