Mayra Lopez taught aerobics for 30 years. While her affinity for physical fitness is still going strong, the most important part of her day isn’t a great workout but the time she spends online, focused on others’ spiritual health.
About a year and a half ago, Lopez was browsing the Internet when she noticed an online ad for BGEA’s Spanish-based Internet evangelism ministry, En Busca de Jesus (or Search for Jesus in English). The ad was in Spanish, and Lopez, a Florida resident originally from Puerto Rico, was thrilled to learn how she can tell Spanish speakers about Jesus Christ—right where they are.
Although she hadn’t considered online ministry before, she was immediately interested in getting involved.
“It’s been the best thing I ever did in my life,” she said about her role as a volunteer e-counselor.
Lopez clicked on the ad and soon began an intensive online training process, which included a pastoral reference, a background check and one-on-one interviews with ministry staff. Once she completed training, she was ready to chat live with anyone who might want to ask spiritual questions through BGEA’s evangelistic website PazConDios.net, the Spanish counterpart of PeaceWithGod.net. The site explains the Gospel in four simple steps and includes a chat function that allows visitors to start an online conversation.
Many site visitors are more open to asking questions online, rather than in person. Lopez said her involvement in the ministry has helped her better understand people’s hidden needs, and being bilingual allows her to reach the hearts of other Spanish speakers.
“Speaking the same language,” she said, “there’s a better level of communication. … I can minister to them in a language they can understand.”
She also understands certain cultural issues, like immigration, which can factor into the online questions. She’s come across several site visitors who haven’t seen their children in years because they live in different countries. Lopez has had a chance to encourage them, comfort them, pray for them and give them real hope by sharing Christ.
But volunteering with En Busca de Jesus doesn’t just help others.
Lopez lost a sister to cancer in 2006 and thinks about her daily. Yet it wasn’t that long ago that Lopez was able to take that grief and comfort another woman who found PazConDios.net in the wake of losing a loved one.
“It actually ministered to me while I was helping someone else,” Lopez said.
Growing closer to Christ has been a journey for this friendly, outgoing e-counselor, but it’s all worth it, she says, adding that she has to stay strong to effectively reach others.
Today, Lopez is an office administrator pursuing her Christian counseling license. She says she couldn’t be happier she clicked on that ad, and that it’s brought her far more than she expected.
“By following Him first, He will open the doors to something more fulfilling,” she said.
Share hope online by volunteering with BGEA’s Internet evangelism ministry, En Busca de Jesus (Spanish) or Search for Jesus (English).
