Bringing Hope to Unreached People Groups in Guatemala & Beyond!

  • Michael & Rocky Beene

    FOUNDERS

    Coming from the heart of Texas. Michael grew up with a good hardworking background but lacked the most crucial life element…a relationship with God. Then at the age of 21 Michael encountered God’s heart of love while standing on the side of a road. He cried out to God to take the beer bottle from his hands that he was raising up to the heavens. That if God took the need for alcohol away he would do anything God would ask of him. He said he experienced something he never expected next… He experienced a love from God that said, “I love you and I have always loved you!” This love of Jesus radically changed his life and within one year God had called Michael to the mission field full-time, first in war torn El Salvador and then in Guatemala!

    While answering a distress call to a village destroyed by gorilla fighters, Michael met Rocky Moro. She had grown up in central Florida where her only picture of God was through the catholic religion. But after encountering the same love of God she was forever changed and immediately began sharing the good news of Jesus! Not long after God then called Rocky to missions in central America too! She was responding to the distress call for aid in the same village when Michael road in on a donkey. Surprised to find another American in the war-torn land, they shared identical callings in life to reach the unreached with the gospel, and within several weeks they had fallen in love. They began walking down the road towards marriage and a radical life God laid out in front of them! Raising their family in the midst of a people group who desperately needed the revelation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ! Now forty years later they continue to serve in the regions of Guatemala and remain as passionate about sharing the love of Jesus with those who have yet to encounter His life and love or them!

  • Jared & Kayla Phillips

    MISSIONS & INTERNSHIP CO-DIRECTORS

    Born and raised on the Space Coast of Florida. Jared felt a call to missions at a young age of 18 after a short-term trip to Costa Rica with his youth group. Though it would be several years later in his journey before beginning to serve full-time. God led him to serve with SurfingTheNations in Hawaii in preparation for his future with Faith In Action. Then while working construction in California at a time when he was searching for God’s direction for his life. God reconnected him with Kayla... She was born and raised in the villages of Guatemala. Throughout her unique upbringing Kayla saw God move in miraculous ways. But it was not until her time away from Guatemala, during her college years that she found herself left empty by all the world had to offer, that she gave God full-range to show her Who He was. He did not disappoint! She returned to Guatemala where God began to reveal His heart of love towards her and her passion was ignited for sharing the love of Jesus with the unreached and anyone God places in her path!

    Once reconnected, Kayla introduced Jared to Guatemala and the great need for the gospel in remote places! God confirmed in his heart that this was where He was leading him full-time. Nine years later and with 3 kids at their side, Jared and Kayla still love being a part of all that is Faith In Action!

  • Danilo & Yohana Martinez

    Co-ADMINISTRATORS

    Both Danilo & Yohana come from villages FIA has served in. Danilo from the village of Cuatro Calles near our River Base. Yohana grew up in the mountain village of Matazano where Michael & Rocky first build the mission base cabin! She was raised catholic but gave her life to Jesus while studying with FIA's Education Program. She was the first person ever to come to Christ in her families history!

    It was in the Education Program Danilo & Yohana met. After years of studying together, and then graduating, they expressed their love for each other. They were married later that year! Since then they have served faithfully with FIA. In 2020, when FIA received seven orphans into the ministry from one of our mountain villages, they took on the responsibility of being the foster parents of the orphans (Bonus Kids!). Now having two biological kids of their own to add to the mix, they are raising their family while still serving as FIA's Lead Administrators for the ground operations in Guatemala!

Our Beliefs

Scripture

As a church ministry Faith In Action holds to the foundational truth that the Bible is the inspired Word of God, a revelation from God to men, the infallible rule of faith and conduct, and superior to conscience and reason, but not contrary to reason (2 Tim. 3:15-17; 1 Pet. 1:23-25; Heb. 4:12).

Sanctification

The moment a person repents and believes on the name of Jesus as their Lord and Savior they are made completely holy by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. A new creation in Christ, even though we still reside in our flesh which is sinful by nature. The circumcision of the heart by Jesus Christ separated our flesh from our spirit so that we may now be a temple of the Spirit of God! Therefore, our belief is that Sanctification is the maturing of one’s relationship with God as He reveals more of Who He is and who we are in Him as His children. This takes place by as ongoing process of a conscious choice to yield in obedience to God’s Word and His Spirit. This enables God to produce the growth of Christ like character in us and for the fruits of the Spirit to be visible for others to taste and see. It is through the Holy Spirit and the Word of God that the Christian is enabled and strengthened to live a godly life and fulfill the good works God has already prepared before them. (1Thessalonians 4:3, 5:23; 2 Corinthians 3:18, 6:14-18, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3, Galatians 5:16-18 Romans 7:1-25, 8:1-39, 12:1-2, Hebrews 2:11).

Marriage

Marriage was established by God. We believe the Scriptures define “marriage” as the exclusive covenantal union of one man and one woman in which such union is a lifetime commitment. (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:4-6; Ephesians 5:21-33)

Original Sin

Man was originally created in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:27) : he fell through disobedience, incurring thereby both physical and spiritual death. All men are born with a sinful nature (Romans 3:23) , are separated from the life of God, and can be saved only through the atoning work of the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians15:20–23). The portion of the unrepentant and unbelieving will exist forever in conscious torment (Revelation 21:8); and that of the believer, in everlasting joy and bliss (Revelation 21:1–4).

Examples of sin clearly condemned in the Word of God. (Romans 1:25-32, Galatians 5:19-21)

The Church Body

The Church consists of all those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, are redeemed through His blood, and are born again of the Holy Spirit. Christ is the Head of the Body, the Church (Ephesians 1:22–23), which has been commissioned by Him to go into all the world as a witness, preaching the gospel to all nations (Matthew 28:19–20). The local church is a body of believers in Christ who are joined together for the worship of God, for edification through the Word of God, for prayer, fellowship, equipping for the proclamation of the gospel, service of others and observance of the ordinances of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper (Acts 2:41–47).

Life

Life is created, sustained, and most-highly valued by God from the moment of conception in the womb, through our life on earth, to our life in eternity. (Psalm 139:13-16; Acts 17:24-28)

Who is Jesus Christ?

Jesus Christ is God the Son, the second person of the Trinity. On earth, Jesus was 100% God and 100% man. He is the only man ever to have lived a sinless life. He was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, performed miracles, died on the cross for mankind and thus, atoned for our sins through the shedding of His blood. He rose from the dead on the third day according to the Scriptures, ascended to the right hand of the Father, and will return again in power and glory (John 1:1,14, 20:28; 1Timothy 3:16; Isaiah 9:6; Philippians 2:5-6; 1Timothy 2:5). 

Salvation

We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ; His death, burial, and resurrection. Salvation is a gift from God, not a result of our good works or of any human efforts (Ephesians 2:8-9; Galatians 2:16, 3:8; Titus 3:5; Romans 10:9-10; Acts 16:31; Hebrews 9:22).

The Trinity

There is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and co-eternal (I John 5:7; Genesis 1:26; Matthew 3:16-17, 28:19; Luke 1:35; Isaiah 9:6; Hebrews 3:7-11).

Baptism in Water

The ordinance of baptism by immersion is illustrated in the Scriptures. As a proclamation of faith in Christ all who repent and believe on Christ as Savior and Lord are to be baptized. They are declaring to the world that they have died with Christ to their former life and that they also have been raised with Him to walk in newness of life as a new creation in Christ (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:16; Acts 10:47,48; Romans 6:4).