About Our Pastors
Pastor Cristian Cortes
Our visionary leader and man of God, was born in Chile South America, immigrating to Australia in 1984 as a political refugee. He arrived in Perth at the age of nine with his parents who had no money, no family in Australia and could not speak any English. The government assisted the Cortes family to settle into Australia by giving them shelter, food and an opportunity to study English to obtain employment.Pastor Cristian gained an interest in Soccer and at the end of his schooling, he pursued a professional career in the sport. At age 19, Ps Cristian was given a much anticipated opportunity to travel to Asia and try out for a professional Soccer club, when God intervened.
After meeting his wife Ps Karen, Ps Cristian gave his heart to the Lord on the 24th of December 1993. They both attended a Spanish Pentecostal church, where they received the call of God to full time ministry. Ps Cristian and Ps Karen were married on the 22nd of October 1994. He began attending Southern Cross Bible College in Perth where he studied his “Certificate of Christian Ministry” for two years.
During the time of his study, Ps Cristian and Ps Karen heard the powerful call of God to reach out to English speaking young people; and so they resigned their post at the Spanish Pentecostal Church and took up office as youth Pastors in an Assemblies of God Church south of Perth.
Pastor Cristian and Pastor Karen have three wonderful boys, Samuel, Joshua and Elijah. The whole family have a heart to build God’s Kingdom and to see His people Rule and Reign.
Pastor Karen Cortes
Our first lady, who is a leader, motivator, encourager, and an awesome woman of God, was Born in Perth, Western Australia in 1974. Growing up as a Catholic for the majority of her life, she was an irregular attendee of Church. Then in 1994, God touched Ps Karen’s life by giving her a vivid dream which turned her world around, leading her to begin serving God along side her husband, Ps Cristian.
Pastor Karen has been through difficult times in her life. She developed a condition called Chronic Peritonitis, after the birth of her third son Elijah. As her condition advanced, Ps Karen began seeking specialist medical attention, however, complications prevented doctors from operating. Pastor Karen was given antibiotics and told to wait and see what effect they would have.
As Ps Karen lay sick in bed two days after taking the medication, her organs began to shut down and her breathing got slower. Still, there was nothing doctors could do to help her condition.After much prayer with her husband, God began to intervene and Ps Karen’s condition began to get better.Then just after three days of prayer, God began to raise Pastor Karen from her bed. On the fifth day, doctors were astounded at her recovery rate and released her from hospital. One doctor was particularly amazed as he told both Pastors Cristian and Pastor Karen that it can take up to three months for a patient to recover from peritonitis - some do not recover at all. But God was faithful with what He started.
Pastor Karen now lives a healthy life and ministers alongside her husband Pastor Cristian, with a heart to set free those who are bound by the struggles of life, through the preaching of the word of the Gospel.
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