History

Corazón is the Spanish word for heart. As is often the case, a direct, word-for-word translation neglects the nuances conveyed in the meaning of a word. To most people from a Hispanic/Latino cultural background, “corazón” means more than warm affection or romantic feelings. To give one’s corazón is to give one’s thoughts, passions, and soul to another or to a cause. It is to give one’s essence or one’s heart away with sacrificial love.

Corazón Ministries was born in the heart of the home of Mike and Claire Alameda soon after they were married in 1985. As first-generation Christians in their traditional Mexican-American family, they strived to reach their loved ones with the message of salvation. It was during this season, the Lord revealed to the Alamedas traditional methods of evangelical outreach could not overcome the cross-cultural barriers of reaching their family and community.

While pursuing their respective careers, Mike and Claire began to teach evangelical home Bible studies. The Bible studies attracted Hispanic/Latino families from nearby neighborhoods and communities. Within a few short months, both men and women were coming to faith in Christ. Mike and Claire were commissioned as missionaries by their home church, Christ Community, in 1992. Corazón Ministries was founded as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, missions agency in 1994, and continues to be dedicated to the following goals:

In response to the growing number of Hispanic/Latino believers, Corazón Ministries developed cross-cultural trainings and workshops, and cultivated relationships with local churches as new believers needed a church community in which to participate. Corazón currently has teams in Houston, Texas and Denver, Colorado, where believers from various denominations and cultural backgrounds work together under a similar ministry model to reach, to equip, and to send believers out to impact Hispanic/Latino communities for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.