La Luz de Cristo Ministries in Nicaragua

Santiago I. Juncadella Aguirre
President

Originally from Managua, Nicaragua, Mr. Juncadella came to the USA with his family in the late 1980s escaping the Sandinista –Contra war in Nicaragua. He has been the pastor of La Luz de Cristo Church of the Christian and Missionary Alliance located in Charlotte since 1988.

Mr. Juncadella received his bachelor’s degree in Physical Education from ENEF (Escuela Nacional de Educacion Fisica) in Mexico city, Mexico. He received a master’s degree in business administration from INCAE (Instituto Centroamericano de Administracion de Empresas). There he also received special training in communications and team leadership. Mr. Juncadella also has a degree in social work with concentrations on leadership, team work, human relations and the dynamics of group communications from the University Rafael Landivar in Guatemala.

He served as the national director of community development for the Evangelical Center for development (CEPAD- Centro Evangelico para el Desarrollo) in Nicaragua from 1973-1980. He also served as the director of human resources for the Nacional treasury department in Nicaragua from 1984-1987. He has great plans and vision for El Empalme de Boaco and is currently in Nicaragua meeting with community leaders (6/30-9/7/07).

Joliette Jimenez de Juncadella, J.D.
Vice President

Dr. J. Juncadella received her degree in Law from the University of Central America (UCA) in Managua Nicaragua in 1972. She worked as a commercial lawyer in Nicaragua until 1986 representing several American companies including United Free Company, Casa Cross, and the Baptist Convention among others. She received a master’s degree in business administration from INCAE in 1985 with concentrations in project development and management. After moving to the USA in 1988, she developed and became the editor in chief of the first Spanish newspaper in Charlotte, NC, El Mundo Hispano from 1991 -1996. She has been working side by side with her husband Santiago Juncadella in the ministry of La Luz de Cristo church in Charlotte, NC.

Beatriz E. Juncadella, MD
Medical Director

Dr. Bea, as she likes to be called, is a private pediatrician in Thomasville, NC. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Biology and Chemistry from Guilford College in 1997. She attended Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University. She completed her internship and residency in Pediatrics at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center in 2005. For the past two years, she has led two medical mission teams to Jinja, Uganda. She is passionate about missions and loves to work with kids.  She leads the mission teams every 6 months to Empalme de Boaco, Nicaragua.  She is married and has two young children.

Thomas C. Bowden
South Atlantic District Alliance Representative

Mr. Bowden serves as the director of church planting for the South Atlantic District of the Christian and Missionary Alliance since 1994. He served as senior pastor of Friendship Bible Church (1988-1994) and First Alliance Church (1980-1988). He served as a missionary in Peru from 1969-1978. He also was director of student ministries at the Language School in San Jose, Costa Rica from 1968-1969. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Theology from Trinity College in Florida in 1965. He is fluent in Spanish and loves to work in Latin America.

Eric Welch
Support Staff

Eric is currently working for APM Terminals as an accountant. He received his Bachelor degree in Accounting from Guilford College in May 2006. During his years at Guilford college he was involved in Intervarsity Christian Fellowship and served as president. He is actively involved in his local church and loves to work with the youth.

Joliette Emma Welch
Support Staff/Education Program Director

Emma is currently working for Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools as an ESL Teacher (English as a Second Language) at Oakhurst Elementary. She developed and built the ESL program at Oakhurst. She teaches and oversees over 80 students K-5th grade in various levels. She has worked as a private therapist at A Bridge to Learning in Greensboro, NC. Emma received a Bachelor’s of Arts in Psychology and Spanish Literature from Guilford College in May 2004. She is currently enrolled in a Master’s program for teaching English as a second language at UNC-Charlotte. Emma has been volunteering at La Luz de Cristo since 1990 in the children ministry, as a youth leader and worship leader. She has a passion for troubled youth and loves to work with the Latino population.

Susan Baron
Treasurer

Susan has a gift of administration.  She felt called by God to help with La Luz de Cristo Ministries on the September 2008 mission trip.  She is a member of Grace Community Church in Greensboro, NC.