VIDA NUEVA DIGITAL CAMPUS DIRECTOR: ERIC VARELA

The goal of the Vida Nueva Digital Campus is that it be an experience much greater than digital transmissions of messages. It is designed to be a church experience, a community where people can grow and be cared for, a place where new believers can be discipled. A place where a church community can be international, multicultural, but one in Jesus.

Do you have friends or family members who speak Spanish, live outside of El Salvador, and don’t have a home church community but are looking for one? Do you have friends or family members who might like to be a part of our Vida Nueva Digital Campus? Tell them that they can have a real church experience, grow in their Christian Faith, and be cared for just as if they were in person in a real church. Invite them to fill out our online Google Form and submit it today. That form can be found at the following link: https://forms.gle/GJZGeV2bUtxTbxPK8

We can’t wait to hear from them! We will do all we can to get them connected! Thank you for giving them that extra push to reach out to us! May the Lord bless you always!

 Eric’s Story:

Eric was born on June 6, 1971, into a nominal catholic family in San Salvador, the fourth son of 5 siblings. It wasn’t until the late 70’s that his family was introduced to the gospel by his brother-in-law, his older sister’s husband. He was a deacon in a Baptist Church at the time and was later killed on September 23, 1980, during the civil war. He was like a second father to Eric and his death significantly affected him. In November 1980, while in a Vacation Bible School class, in a classroom that carried the name of his fallen brother-in-law, his teacher asked the class if anyone wanted to receive Jesus into their heart. Eric sprung to his feet and said Yes! Days later, both he and his mother were baptized.

          In El Salvador during this time, one was either a Catholic or an Evangelical, and both suffered discrimination from the other group. Eric studied in a large Catholic school, most of his friends were Catholic, and so little by little, he went yielding to the peer pressure, and became a secret evangelical. He was a good boy all through his childhood and adolescence. His family switched churches a couple times which resulted in Eric being not here nor there.

          Eric graduated High School in 1989 and began his University Studies in Civil Engineering in 1990. In his second year, he received the opportunity to work at the only digital graphic design company in the country. This opened many doors, especially the door to his future wife. He met Kathia in this company and they entered into a relationship. Another big door opened, and he began to work for a brand-new Publicity Agency.

          Although Eric was not attending any church at this time, to make is girlfriend happy, he started going to the Catholic Church with her. On February 8, 1997, Eric and Kathia were married, and Eric graduated with his Civil Engineering Degree in 1998.

          During his professional career, Eric worked as a Designer, Creative Director, Account Director, Audiovisual Producer, Strategist, and finally the COO in two different publicity agencies.

          Then in late 1998 and early 1999, my wife received Jesus into her heart, and I reconciled with the Lord. We began to attend a Christian Church and the Lord gave us a burden for married couples, a ministry we have served in from that time forward.

In 2006, the Lord moved them to Vida Nueva through an invitation by Ivan Contreras, Kathia’s college classmate and since that day, Eric and Kathia have a very close relationship with Ivan and his wife Roxana. Getting involved in small groups made all the difference in their lives.

In 2012, Eric and Kathia began studying in the Vida Nueva Institute for Ministerial Development which lasted 3 years and in 2013 they opened their own small group for married couples which remains active still 9 years later.

Later Eric and Kathia were called to serve in Vida Nueva’s couples ministry for the annual camps as group leaders, a very valuable opportunity to grow and serve as a couple.

On November 10, 2019, their world was rocked. Their youngest daughter, Susi, fell ill. They took her to the ER. She was diagnosed with life threatening Ketoacidosis and put in the ICU. The biggest concern was a diabetic coma. This was the moment that Eric learned to lean upon and trust in the Lord 100% for the life of his daughter and for the financial provision to cover her care. His only option was to pray. The Lord showed His power and in a matter of hours his daughter was released from the ICU and the bills were paid. Today she is a happy and healthy young lady who daily battles with Type 1 Diabetes. They know that the Lord could heal her completely, but they also accept His will and are thankful for His mercy.

Eric and Kathia have been married for 25 years (2022). They have 3 children, Pamela, 22, Sebastian, 20, and Susana who is 13. The Varela family attends Vida Nueva Hotel Campus, where Eric is the Service Producer and the Director of Discipleship. He and his wife continue to lead small married couple’s groups. Eric has also been a student of the Vida Nueva seminary.

In 2022, Eric took a big step of faith and answered the call and challenge to serve the Lord on a full-time basis. He is Vida Nueva’s Digital Campus Director. Eric is the newest member of the Vida Nueva staff and is very grateful to be working among so many beloved pastors, teachers, friends, and brothers and sisters in the faith. Would you be willing to pray for them?