When the Northern Triad Area was formed in 2024, bringing together Mexico, Cuba, and the Dominican Republic, one of the primary goals was to foster greater collaboration between missionaries across national borders. We believed that by strengthening relationships and working together, we could create new opportunities for the gospel to advance. Recently, we witnessed a beautiful example of that vision becoming reality.
A little over two years ago, a quiet university chemistry student named Ismael began attending social events hosted by Chi Alpha missionaries Angela and Cory Hogan in Guanajuato, Mexico. Over time, he joined their weekly Bible studies. He rarely spoke about his spiritual background, but week after week, he kept coming—even on nights when he was the only student there.
Then an unexpected opportunity arose. Ismael was accepted into a semester-long university exchange program in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
Recognizing the opportunity, Angela and Cory connected Ismael with fellow AGWM missionaries Jamie and Berly Bello, who lead a university ministry in Santo Domingo. Although Ismael arrived knowing no one, the students of UConexión welcomed him as family. He began attending church for the first time in his life, joined a discipleship class, and met weekly with a Dominican believer named Victor, who faithfully opened Scripture with him and walked alongside him.
When Ismael returned to Guanajuato, he surprised everyone. Pulling a well-worn discipleship manual from his backpack, he smiled and said, “I’m ready to help lead here.”
A few weeks later, another student asked if he was a believer. Without hesitation, Ismael answered, “Yes, I am.” Later, when Cory asked when he had made that decision, Ismael simply replied, “About a year ago, when we were studying the Bible together.”
You could say faith was awakened in him in Guanajuato and his voice was found in Santo Domingo. Today, he is actively discipling other university students.
Stories like Ismael’s remind us that collaboration is far more than an organizational strategy—it is a means by which God is drawing people to Himself. Thank you for partnering with us as we strengthen relationships across the Northern Triad so that more lives can be transformed through the gospel.
