Ruben Murillo Jr.

     Ruben Jr. is a third generation missionary.  His grandparents Sonny and Beverly Fritz began their ministry in Monterrey, Mexico over forty years ago.  Ruben Jr.’s parents, Ruben and Valerie Murillo, are also missionaries to Mexico where they have been serving for over thirty years.  Therefore, Ruben Jr.  was born and reared on the mission field.

          At the age of five, Ruben Jr. accepted Christ as his personal savior.  Eight years later, he felt God’s call to preach as a thirteen year old boy.  At the age of eighteen, he surrendered his life to be a missionary to Mexico.

          Throughout his life, Ruben dreamed of becoming a doctor.  After traveling to many different parts of Mexico with his parents, he saw the great need for good medical care.  Since God had now called him to be a missionary, Ruben saw a great opportunity to fulfill his dream and to answer God’s call by becoming a medical missionary.  However, after two years of medical school, God made it clear to Ruben  that He had not called him to be a medical missionary but to be a church planter.  In July of 1999, Ruben  went fulltime into the ministry of planting churches.

          In February of 2000, God allowed Ruben to take his first trip to Cuba.  God had opened the doors to Cuba through his father’s correspondence Bible institute.  It was on that first trip that God gave Ruben  a burden to expand his ministry to Cuba.  He made this clear by allowing him to start the First Baptist Church of Punta Gorda.

Andrea Murillo

     Andrea was born into a strong Christian family in Anderson, SC.  At the age of six, she accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Savior.  She was then baptized at Oakwood Baptist Church.  At the age of fifteen, she surrendered her life to God.  Although she did not know exactly what God had planned for her life, she was ready and willing to serve Him wherever He called her.

      At the age of seventeen, Andrea went on a missions trip to Monterrey, Mexico with her Spanish III class from Oakwood Christian School.  Since Andrea’s grandparents were missionaries to the southern part of Mexico, it was not her first trip to Mexico, but it was on that trip that God touched her heart and gave her a burden for the Mexican people.  It was on that same trip that the Lord allowed her to meet the Murillo Family.  Two years later, Ruben and Andrea where married on May 29^th at Oakwood Baptist Church.  Since that day, they have been serving the Lord together in Mexico and Cuba.