Get to Know the Cortez Family

Ministry Description

In the heart of Ecuador, the Renacidos ministry is dedicated to providing support and hope to young people trapped in the cycle of addiction. With more than 25 years of experience in Argentina, Renacidos has established itself in Ecuador as a beacon of light for those seeking profound change in their lives.
The Reborn Mission
Reborn focuses on accompanying young people in their recovery, helping them take their next step with Jesus. The primary focus is personal discipleship, offering a safe space for listening and support for each young person.
Outpatient Groups: Community Restoration
Outpatient groups are a key component of the Born Again program. These groups, which do not require hospitalization, are based on Christ-centered principles, with Jesus as the center of all restoration. They are community spaces for mutual support, prayer, and discipleship, ensuring confidentiality and safety.
Impact and Goals
Renacidos seeks to re-educate behaviors related to addiction, restore self-worth, and reintegrate young people into society through active participation in a local church. They also focus on preventing risks associated with addiction through workshops and talks.
Join the Transformation
If you'd like to be part of this movement of transformation and hope, Renacidos invites you to participate in its weekly outreach groups. These are held at the local church, offering a safe and free environment for all.
For more information, you can contact Renacidos at renacidos@pdvec.org or by calling +593 95 892 8088. Together, we can witness true restoration in Christ.

Learn more about the ministry in Ecuador.

About Beto

My name is Alberto Cortez. I was not born into a Christian family, and at the age of 14, after experiencing many complex family situations, I entered the world of addictions.
For 20 years I was a slave to this sin that turned my life into a real disaster, destroying not only my family ties but also my entire environment.
One day, finding no way out of this, I tried to end my life, but on the way to this, I met a friend who told me the biblical story of Lazarus and his words struck my heart. He said: Jesus is never late. It was then that I understood that Jesus loved me and forgave me of my sins and invited me to receive him in my life, and that it was not too late.
Three years later, I found myself at Centro Renacidos, where I spent two years recovering. After that, I stayed on as part of the support team.
After this time, I went to study the Bible at the Word of Life Institute in Argentina, where I studied for three years. It was there that I met Marce, who is now my wife. It was there that God called our lives to serve Him with this ministry of restoring people who are enslaved by addictions.

About Marcela

My name is Marcela Santillán, and I was not born into a Christian family. After experiencing many violent situations within my home due to my father's addiction, I decided to leave my province at the age of 20 and thus ended up in Buenos Aires.
The emptiness in my heart and the uprooting of having left home caused a deep sadness in me, which led me to search for my family who lived in Buenos Aires.
After a while, I went to visit some uncles' house, and they, who were Christians, saw the need in my life for me to know Jesus. So, they invited me to church one Sunday, and I heard the gospel for the first time and surrendered to the Lord.
That day I realized that the only one who could fill the emptiness in my heart was Jesus. I asked Him to forgive me of my sins and change my life. From that day on, I experienced the transformation of the gospel, and the following year I studied the Bible at Word of Life for three years.
During my high school days, I met Beto, then we married and stayed on to serve on the Argentine national team. From the moment the Lord allowed us to meet as a couple, He called our lives to serve Him in the ministry of restoring people suffering from addiction.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our afflictions, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

Contact Information

AlbertoCortez@wol.org

Address:
Beto Cortez
Word of Life Ecuador
PO Box 600
Schroon Lake, NY 12870