OUR STORY
In 1998, Marlon and Jessica met in Turrialba, Costa Rica, where they were both involved in children's ministry. The following year, they got married and spent nearly nine years in Texas, always dreaming of returning to Costa Rica to share the Gospel in a unique way. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit not transformed their marriage,but also empowered their mission.
​​​​​In December of 2008 Marlon and Jessica moved to the mountains of COSTA RICA with their girls. It was an exciting time seeing healings and many people come to Jesus. In Las Nubes, a whole village came to Jesus. In 2010 they founded a church, Ekklesia Intl. known for it's passionate love for Jesus and the "Fuego del Espiritu Santo" fire of the Holy Spirit.
The Obando family returned to the USA in 2022 for a time of healing, training, and restoration in Corpus Christi, TX. They are now ready to re-enter the mission field full-time, equipped to carry out their growing work more effectively. With Jesus, they have found the strength to move beyond past pains and embrace a fresh start filled with hope and purpose.
THE M.A.P. FAMILY 2024
Rear left to right; Joselyn, Felicity, Matias, Sebastian, Leo
Front; Miriam, Lily, Kendall, Jessica, and Marlon
SENIOR PASTOR MARLON OBANDO
​PRESIDENT OF MAP COSTA RICA
& EKKLESIA INTERNACIONAL
Pastor Marlon's journey with Jesus started at a very young age as a worship leader and youth pastor at a small Costa Rican church. Mission work  became very intentional as he felt JESUS calling. Marlon Obando and his wife Jessica founded M.A.P. Costa Rica in 2008. From Map Costa Rica a church was born, Ekklesia Internacional.  Pastor Marlon is is overseeing Ekklesia and is working with pastors and leaders to bring the Christ centered-message to Costa Rica on a much larger scale.  His love for JESUS and the desire to share what it means to be a new creation in Jesus Christ, drives him on.  Pastor Marlon Obando has focused on developing the organization with great integrity, lifting the name of JESUS CHRIST HIGH!!
PASTORA JESSICA OBANDO
VICE PRESIDENT OF M.A.P. COSTA RICA & EKKLESIA INTL
Jessica became a Christian at a young age in a post Jesus Revolution church.  She learned at an early age the importance of following Jesus, when her parents and church moved from Oklahoma to the Washington D.C. area to be part of the mother church.  That move forever impacted her with a desire to be around people from other cultures and share Jesus. She served in childcare, drama, choir, and the church council.  After graduating from highschool she served as a children's missionary.  As a young mom she worked in children's ministry and youth ministry with her husband.   Jesus loving, experienced,  driven , people loving, . These are just a few of the ways that we can describe this woman of God.  Her passion for the Gospel, praying for the sick and Christ-centered living is an inspiration to  all who get to meet her .
Ekklesia Intl.
Ekklesia Intl. is the Costa Rican base of MAP COSTA RICA. The church is supervised by Pastors Marlon and Jessica. Ekklesia is a community of faith-filled Christians being pastored by Pastor Leonardo Pereira and Pastora Liliana Calderon. There is nothing impossible for JESUS, lives change, bodies are healed, and chains are broken in JESUS name! We love the freedom of the Holy Spirit at Ekklesia (also known as the dancing church, or the mountain church.
Nada es Imposible Para Dios!
Baby dedication at the new church site. One week later we had a roof!!
Elder Pablo and his family all came to Christ at the same time.
"Estoy contigo hasta el final mi hermano!"
Shouted Leo one night as he and Marlon got in their cars after an intense cell church. He had only been a Christian for a few months. (I'm with you till the end my brother!)
He has truly been walking this road with Marlon through trials, tragedy, and victory.
PASTORS LEONARDO AND LILY PEREIRA
If we only had this precious family as a result of the past 15 years, it still would have all been worth it.  They both grew up Catholic and were married at a young age.  Even though Marlon's sister always brought Lily's brother to our house and even our wedding, we did not meet this couple until 2013.   They were wary of "changing religions" but I've rarely seen a whole family come to Jesus wholeheartedly at the same time.  The power of God worked mightily on their behalf and we knew they were the couple God had chosen  to be a right hand in ministry.  We trained them for 9 years and we became a family.  After 11 years, we we continue to work hard together as a family.
PASTORS OF EKKLESIA INTL
Soon we will have their testimonies in their own words for you.
THEY AND THEIR FAMILY ARE AMAZING.
2013
2018
2020
