About Us

Mario and Jeanette Araya founded and lead Peniel Ministries, a ministry that shares the Gospel of Jesus Christ to Spanish-speaking people in need in any region or country where God opens the door. Much of their ministry is with churches in Central America.

Our Story

Called to pastoral ministry, Mario and Jeanette Araya (Founders of Peniel Ministries).

My name is Mario E. Araya. I was born in Costa Rica in a family from the Catholic tradition. In 1982, I came to know Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, and from that moment a desire was born in my heart to preach the Gospel message of the Kingdom of God to people who don’t know the Lord Jesus Christ.

In 1985, my wife Jeanette and I got married, and in 1986 God called us to pastoral ministry in Costa Rica.

From the beginning in pastoral ministry, we felt the desire to see people coming to the feet of Jesus Christ and experiencing a new birth, as well as to bring them to a more profound level in their relationship with God and commitment to service in the Kingdom of God.

Called To The Nations

After serving God in Costa Rica, God called us to world missions, and we went as missionaries to Sonora, Mexico, serving as pastors and church planters. God also led us to the USA as pastors and church planters.

What We Do

Peniel Network of Ministries, currently we lead a Network of Ministries in Costa Rica and Colombia.

Pastors helping pastors:

After serving 26 years in pastoral ministry, God led us to continue working as pastors, but now to walk beside the pastors and churches in Latin America (Costa Rica and Colombia for now, and where God and the Holy Spirit open doors for us in the coming years).

 

Acts 16: 6-10 and 20: 28

  • Train leaders with Bible studies at the local churches to work with their pastors to reach non-believers for the Kingdom of God.
  • Support and walk beside pastors, praying, listening, and encouraging each other together while we advance the Kingdom of God.
  • Visit churches and take mission teams to help the churches with construction projects.
  • Conduct conferences and training workshops for pastors and leaders.
  • Invite pastors and leaders from the USA, Mexico, and other countries to minister to and train the local leaders.

Ephesians 4:11-16, Ephesians 2:20, Proverbs 27:17, 1 Thessalonians 5:25, Acts 12:5, Romans 15:30