san salvador ministerial staff
DAVID AGUILAR, ACADEMIC DIRECTOR OF THE SEMINARY, DIRECTOR OF ALL DISCIPLESHIP STRUCTURES
David, born into a Christian home, made a decision for Christ at age 7. After some ups and downs, he recommitted his life to the Lord and his service at age 17. In 2003, David met Maritza in the church they both attended and served in. After 6 years of friendship and dating they were engaged and then married in 2010. In that same year, they visited Vida Nueva, a function of Judgment House, and the next year, convinced that God wanted them in Vida Nueva, they moved their church membership and immediately got involved. They fell in love with Discipleship, Children’s ministries, and both enrolled in Vida Nueva’s Theological Seminary. In October 2012, David was invited to join Vida Nueva’s staff. David holds two degrees, a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry and Pharmacology, and a Master of Divinity from Vida Nueva’s Theological Seminary (2015). After a very fruitful ministry serving as the Hotel Campus Pastor and Director of Discipleship, David was appointed to the very important position of Academic Director of the Seminary and Director of all Discipleship Structures. David celebrates his birthday on July 11, 1983. He and Maritza have two beautiful children, Joel born on March 7, 2016, and Gracia, born on November 5, 2019.
Mauricio Lagos, Administrative Director of the Seminary
Mauricio, the youngest of four, born to teacher parents in San Salvador on November 10, 1957, was destined to love academics. Growing up in a half catholic, half atheistic home, he never developed any serious religious inclinations, that was until the El Salvador civil war reminded him that death was imminent and an eternity without Christ would be spent in Hell. An invitation to a Bible study with Julio Contreras and Nelson Rivas in 1986 led to a lifelong friendship and his decision to follow Christ in 1987. Mauricio began his walk with the Lord at Miramonte Baptist Church, and in 1990 when Julio shared his vision for establishing Vida Nueva, he moved his membership and became one of the founding members of Vida Nueva in 1991. Since the beginning Mauricio has served in ministry as a discipler and Life Group pastor. He has also held staff positions within the Ministerial Training Institute. He is currently a deacon, discipler, Life Group pastor, and the Administrative Director of the Seminary. He holds two degrees, one in Civil Enginerring and a Master of Divinity from Vida Nueva’s Theological Seminary. Mauricio is married to Patty (August 1990) and has one son, Samuel (April 1999).
JacQueline Umaña, Children’s Ministry Director
Jacqueline was born in San Salvador on October 9, 1990 to a mom committed to raising her in a good church. By invitation she became a part of Miramonte Baptist Church since preschool and at the age of 13, recognized Jesus Christ as her personal Savior. Her youth group constantly challenged her to grow in her relationship in Christ and to invest in the Eternal. At age 15, she met Marco, also a member of Miramonte’s youth group. They dated from 2006 for 8 years and were married in 2014. At age 18, Jacquie, who was studying Chemistry and Pharmacology, moved her church home to Vida Nueva. She loved how they taught the Bible expositorily! Marco and his family also moved their membership to Vida Nueva. In 2009, Jacquie began to serve as a Sunday School teacher and in 2014 she was invited to join the College ministry team with her husband Marco. She also accepted a position at Vida Nueva’s Christian school as Science Teacher. Since 2017 Jacquie has been on staff with Vida Nueva’s Children’s ministries. Jacquie and Marco have two children, Nicolas (October 2020) and Ana Laura (September 2023)
Alejandra Peña, Children’s Ministry Assistant Director
Alejandra “Titi” Peña was born into a Christian home on June 18, 1988, and had the privilege of growing up in the church. At 15 she trusted Christ as her Lord and Savior. Soon thereafter she began serving in AWANAS. She has always loved children. In 2010 she became the coordinator for Children’s Ministries at Vida Nueva’s Hotel Campus. Titi also loves Christian Camps and in 2017 became a Certified Christian Camp Leader. She also loves to learn and in 2016 graduated from Vida Nueva’s IDEM program. Upon graduation from the Leadership Development Institute, she accepted the position of AWANA director for the Vida Nueva Miralvalle Campus. At that point, her dream to serve full time was born! The Lord answered her prayer and since June 2020, Titi has been on staff, full time, serving as Vida Nueva’s Children’s Ministry Assistant Director.
Angel Perez, Director of Production
Angel was born into a non-Christian home in San Salvador on December 8, 1988. Growing up in a broken home was hard, but at age 9, he was invited to play soccer at a church where he heard God’s Word preached for the very first time and decided to receive Christ as his Lord and Savior. At 11, he began to learn music at his church. Piano and drums are his strong suites, both of which he plays to this day. At 16, Angel received a scholarship to finish High School. He went on to complete 3 years of a college level Industrial Engineering program. At age 22, Angel met Nathy, the young lady who would become his wife (married in October 2017). He knew it was time to get serious about God. A very close friend, Erick Fuentes, invited Angel to Vida Nueva, which became his new church home. Angel began to grow and serve from the very beginning. Since December 2018 he has been on staff at Vida Nueva. For two years he was the Academic Assistant to the New Life Baptist Seminary. Since mid-2020, Angel has the Director of Digital Production for Vida Nueva. Angel and Nathy have one daughter, Luisa, born in March 2021.
Erick Fuentes, Director of Praise and Worship
Erick was born into a Christian home on October 19, 1982. His father was a strong believer and pastor of a church. Erick trusted Christ as his Lord and Savior at the age of 14. His first big discovery in life was his love and talent for music. He joined the school band and his church’s Praise and Worship team. His last year in high school was special because he met his future wife, Lila Hernandez. Lila attended Vida Nueva, served in Children’s Ministries, and invited Erick to come with her to church. He came and stayed! He quickly got connected with youth ministry as he participated in the Praise and Worship for the annual youth camp. It is here he fell in love with serving in youth ministry. Soon Erick was leading the 13–15-year-old youth, then two years later the 15–18-year-old group. In March of 2013 Erick and Lila were married and in August of that same year, Erick joined Vida Nueva’s staff full time. From 2013 until the present, Erick has served as the Director of Praise and Worship for Vida Nueva’s San Salvador campuses. He has also served as the Apopa Campus Pastor. Erick and Lila have two daughters, Annie Sofia (Feburary 2015) and Daniela Belen (December 2018, and one son, Matias (February 2023).
Alejandro Rivera, Evangelism Coordinator
Alejandro, or “Compi” as he is called by his friends, is the youngest of 3, born into a catholic home in San Salvador, El Salvador on July 25, 1987. As a child he had the opportunity to attend a Christian Church. At the age of 8 he received Jesus as his Lord and Savior. A close family friend and neighbor, Guillermo Hernandez, invited him and his family to Vida Nueva. From that day forward, Alejandro was a part of Vida Nueva. In 2007, Alejandro discovered his love for missions during his first (of many) missionary trip to Managua, Nicaragua. As time progressed Alejandro has added discipleship, IDEM leader, Deacon, and New Life Christian School class pastor to his list of responsibilities. Alejandro has been a member of the Vida Nueva staff since March of 2015 and is primarily responsible for Evangelism and Digital Production. Alejandro and Wendy (married in December 2015) have two sons, Andre Alejandro (February 2018) and Santiago Alessandro (May 2021). They are expecting a third son, Luca Emmanuel, in August 2024.