EagleTribune.com, North Andover, MA
Merrimack Valley
Husband and wife celebrate 35 years of ministry and marriage
Published: October 31, 2008
LAWRENCE — For the past 35 years, the Rev. Jose and Susan Santos have raised two families — a spiritual and a biological one.
They are co-pastors of Centro de Adoracion, Jesucristo es el Senor (Worship Center Jesus Christ is the Lord), parents of four children and grandparents of 11.
The congregation and their family are honoring them at a banquet tomorrow at 5 p.m. at the church at 9 Hampshire St.
"I have been blessed to have them as my pastors," said Lizzie Frias, a member for 14 years. "I admire them because despite the hard times they have had, they've kept believing and trusting in the Lord."
Frias said the Santos couple have a saying which she tries to live by, "Do what you've never done, and you'll see what you have never seen."
"They've inspired me to become a better human being, to have great faith, no matter what I see and what surrounds me," Frias said. "Their faith, perseverance and dedication have been a steppingstone in my life."
They also have been an inspiration to their children, Joann Aguile, Janice Santos, Jose Santos Jr. and Jefte Santos.
"They've taught me by example the importance of education," Aguile said. "They are my role models in marriage because of how they have kept their own together."
Her mother earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Puerto Rico and a master's degree from Endicott College. The Rev. Jose Santos has a master's of divinity from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. They will both start a doctorate program at the seminary in January.
"The message we want to send to people is that anything is possible," Susan Santos said.
In the three decades they have been ministering together, the Santoses have served at Ebenezer Christian Church on Haverhill Street for nine years, where they ran an elementary school.
In 1999, they bought a former bank building at Lawrence's 454 Essex St., and converted it into a church. Here, they provided space to Food for the World Inc., a food pantry serving thousands of residents and welcomed hundreds of children at Vacation Bible School sponsored by Communities Together.
As the congregation continued to grow with 250 members, the Rev. Jose and Susan Santos moved their church across the street and are now in the process of purchasing the former bowling alley on Hampshire Street. They've already spent $500,000 renovating the building.
In addition to the worship services, the church sponsors an after-school program, has a Christian bookstore, and sells used clothing and other items at minimal prices.
"I never thought we would come this far," said the Rev. Jose Santos. "I told my wife we would stay for 25 years."
But God had other plans for them.
After years of work in Lawrence, they began building churches in their native Puerto Rico, as well as Bolivia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Guatemala and Nicaragua.
"It's been a blessing," Jose Santos said. "After so many years, we're doing what we like to do."
The Rev. Jose Santos, 54, whose parents were both retired ministers, wanted to be a missionary and travel the world helping the poor. After graduating from the Mizpa Bible Institute in Puerto Rico, he joined his father as associate pastor.
After three years working in Puerto Rico, the Santoses were sent by the Evangelical Church to Jamaica Plain where they worked for five years.
They came to Lawrence in 1989 and served at Ebenezer Church until they became independent from the Pentecostal church so they can do more apostolic work in Latin America.
Yet they have not forgotten their neighbors.
Centro de Adoracion donated $800 to Iglesia de Dios when the congregation on Lawrence Street needed to raise $165,000 for interior and exterior repairs.
They also were the first Hispanic congregation to join the Council of Churches.
"I've learned to put my faith into action by using my time and my God-given talents," said Susan Santos, 56, parent facilitator in the Lawrence School Department.
