We have served with BIMI since 1982 as missionaries to the Hispanic people. Around 20 of those years, we spent in the interior of Mexico. The other 23 plus years we have been reaching the Hispanics here in the United States. We praise the Lord that the first church the Lord used us to start in Mexico is still going strong and the pastor we trained and left with the work is still faithfully serving there as the pastor. Over the years, this church has been used of God to either directly or indirectly see five other church plants or mission works started nearby.
In 1995, the Lord opened a door of opportunity for us to go to Long Beach, California, and revive a struggling Hispanic church. The Lord blessed and the church grew to an average of 180 with a soul-winning program and a bus route.
We returned to Mexico to start a new church plant in August of 2000 and the Lord blessed greatly and gave us a precious family that we were able to lead to Christ and disciple. The Lord called this man from a life of alcohol to a life of serving as a pastor.
At the end of this work, the Lord led us to move to Arkansas to plant a church. The church grew and was able to be in their own church building with a Hispanic pastor in five years. Out of this work in Arkansas, two men have been trained as church planters. One has planted a church in Washington State and the other is doing a church plant in Utah. The church in Washington also has a young man who is in his final year of Bible school and will be going to Mexico as a missionary.
As we prayed about where to start our next church plant, the Lord opened a door of opportunity in 2015 and gave us a church building in Hendersonville, North Carolina. In September 2025, we were able to leave this work with a Hispanic pastor. The Lord has called two young men and another young teen to prepare for ministry.
Many American pastors are expressing their burdens to see Spanish churches started in their areas. As the Lord opens doors, our desire is to find Spanish men who are ready and willing to start Spanish churches. We will assist these new Spanish church plants by helping with Spanish tracts, Gospels of John and Romans, and discipleship materials. We will also help in canvassing the area of the new church plant to find the Hispanics and invite them for the opening services. As we stay in contact with the Hispanic pastor, we will be able to mentor and encourage him. By working alongside these men, we can see more churches started and established in less time for the Lord's glory.
The Lord has given us a desire to assist Spanish pastors and their churches by holding weekend conferences/seminars on the importance of not only winning souls but also discipling them.
It is an honor to serve the Lord and we pray that we will be able to serve Him for many more years.
Contact Information:
Ed & Barbara O'Brien
439 Sassafras Dr.
Hendersonville, NC 28739
828-767-3721 cell
(828) 767-3725
