Deeper Roots to Spreading Fruit

Posted on June 12, 2024

Herman was born into a dysfunctional family in Guatemala City. Losing his mother at an early age, he sought comfort in illicit living. Christ rescued him at age twenty-five, and he married and started his family. Upon the Lord calling him to ministry, he preached inside buses, to gang members, in jails and detention centers for street youths. He juggled work and ministry at the same time for years—and then faced the devastating loss of his first wife and the mother of his four children. 

Marbely was born in Nicaragua, where she grew up with a very basic knowledge of God. She always hungered for a deeper relationship with Him, and she found just that when a local church welcomed her in.

Eventually, Herman and Marbely’s paths crossed, and the two married in 2015. Each possessing a fire for the Lord, they believed they could serve Him and their communities better together.  

When Marbely went through Global Action’s Foundations program and graduated in 2018, Herman began to see how this training could be exactly what his congregation and community needed. Together, Herman and Marbely sought out Global Action in Guatemala and started a class in 2023, which will graduate in October of this year. This training has provided the leaders in the class with a deepened knowledge of their own faith and has strengthened them to serve their congregation and community.

“Global Action has been a key element in showing us how communities can be transformed through the active work of the church and the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”

Herman and Marbely Colaj, Santa Ines, Guatemala