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 back on the mission field full-time, joyfully using the missions as business approach. They began a close knit home-centered fellowship, Iglesia Nuevos Horizontes, in La Suiza de Turrialba. with an emphasis on missions, outreach, and second chances.
PASTOR MARLON OBANDO
PRESIDENT OF MAP COSTA RICA
& Pastor Iglesia Nuevos Horizontes
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 .
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.
