Blog

We are continuing our series on Getting to Know your church leaders a little bit better. Read along to learn more about Eli Malizzo, who serves as our youth ministry coordinator. 

Where were you born, and do you still consider that home, or somewhere else?

I was born in Albuquerque, NM, but the Cedar Crest/Sandia Park/Tijeras area is home.

What did you want to be when you grew up – and is that still a dream?

I was (and still am) generally uncertain. I was always inspired by businessmen who used their professional influence to spread the Kingdom, and strive to walk a similar path.

What or who was your earliest spiritual influence?

My parents and my grandmother.

How and when did Christ call you to Himself?

I got to know who Christ was and what He did for me as a young person (can’t recall the exact age, but maybe around 5th grade, through my family and the mass of spiritual influence around me at church). But, it wasn’t until my teenage years that I really came to grips with what that meant for my life, and it became time to make my faith my own.

What is a scripture you often read or share with others?

1 Timothy 6:11-12 has provided me with encouragement many times in my life, and I have shared it with many others, hoping they find the same encouragement in these words that I do.

What is a special answered prayer you’ve received from the Lord?

I remember being uncertain about buying our home. A huge decision, and one we didn’t want to take lightly. We prayed for many months that if it was God’s will, he would lead us to the right one, and let it be simple. After many months of praying and feeling God telling us ‘not this one’, we found one we thought seemed too good to be true. With each passing day and each prayer, we asked God to help us say no if it wasn’t right. He kept the process simple for us, and it culminated in the Denver airport on the way home from a wedding. It was one day after we put an offer on the house (which we were very prepared for the sellers to reject). We had a layover of about an hour, and I was pacing the airport, fielding calls between work, our banker and our realtor, and talking to the Lord in between. I had just hung up with the banker and was anticipatorily pacing. After a minute of praying that the Lord would let us have an answer before we got on the plane, we got the call from our realtor saying our offer was accepted. Needless to say, we had a great flight home. His faithfulness to us was on display during these many months, and I routinely think back on that when I am frustrated, as a reminder that His timing is not mine, and His plan for me is infinitely better than my plan for me. 

What is a blessing and what is a challenge in serving as a youth ministry leader?

Blessing: Every week, we finish our discussion groups with prayer, and we pray for each other. Scripture talks about childlike faith, but it’s on full display during prayer times. Our students’ optimism and trust in God’s ultimate control often encourages me; it’s a wonderful thing to hear a 12-year-old pray for something that’s causing me frustration, knowing fully that the Lord is faithful.

Challenge: Being present. It’s not uncommon to end up at youth group with a head full of other thoughts and concerns. I am learning to ‘be where my feet are’ when at youth group, and fully devote a few hours to loving our students like Christ would, but it’s a challenge for me. 

What are your hobbies and how did you get into them?

Fly fishing is my go-to in the summer, and snowboarding in the winter.  My grandpa took me fishing for the first time, and I immediately loved it.  Sid and Linda Barker took me snowboarding for the first (and probably second and third) time, and I am grateful that I got to learn it at a young age.  

What is your favorite family tradition?

The Birthday Breakfast. I won’t go into details, but suffice to say we get to see the Lord glorified on a day that would otherwise be very self-focused. 

How do you enjoy spending a day off?

Being outside. Hiking, bonfires, volleyball, fishing, or simply working around the house - I feel at peace.

What is the perfect meal?

Any pasta that my wife makes. Maybe it’s the Italian heritage. Can’t beat a great pasta.

Who or what never fails to make you laugh? 

Spending time with my brothers. I can’t recall an instance of significant time spent together that didn’t include a healthy dose of laughter.

We asked Kristine: 

What is your favorite trait of Eli's?

From sweet baby smiles all the way up to friendship with an adult child, motherhood brings a myriad of blessings. Children truly are a gift from God. As we seek to bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord, we delight in the everyday blessings, as well as the eternal purpose God has granted to us.

And yet, motherhood also brings struggles. Right now, sleepless nights and cranky teething can drain my joy. Maybe for you it’s chronic health issues, a pattern of rebellion, or something else altogether. In these moments, what we know to be beautiful purpose can sometimes feel like nothing more than painful endurance. What happened to our joy?

Though it doesn’t always seem like it, coming face to face with imperfect joy in our mothering is actually a blessing. It’s a reminder that abiding joy isn’t found in our calling as a mother. Rather, it’s found in our Savior.  Our children are sweet gifts from God that we delight in. Yet we cannot look to them, to ourselves, or to our circumstances for what only Christ can supply. If we do, we will find dry wells that leave us thirsty every time. Our Savior alone provides rivers of living water. 

Here are just a few glimpses at how He satisfies:

When we feel exhausted because of the constant needs of our children, we see Christ becoming a servant and pouring out His very life for us: “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). “For we know love, because He laid down His life for us” (1 John 3:16a). Jesus held nothing back to meet the need of our souls. We delight in His servanthood and love.

When we struggle over our inadequacy to be the perfect mom, we see Christ fulfilling the law: “Do not think I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill” (Matthew 5:17). Jesus did what we can never do and imputes His righteousness to His children.  We rejoice in His perfection.

When we feel burdened by our sins of impatience, selfishness, and so on, we see Christ as our Sin-Bearer: “Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed” (1 Peter 2:24-25). Jesus endured the wrath of God on our behalf and frees us from slavery to sin. As we gaze in continued faith and repentance on Him, we are forgiven and enabled to live a life of sanctification. What beauty and freedom we find in His sacrifice!

No matter what we face in motherhood, abiding joy is born as we look to Christ. This joy will grow and deepen until one day it reaches its full maturity in the very presence of our Lord: “You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11).

Look up, dear mom, and rejoice!

We are continuing our series on Getting to Know your church leaders a little bit better. Read along to learn more about Bernadette Gutierrez, who serves as our church administrative assistant. 

Where were you born, and do you still consider that home, or somewhere else?

I was born in Albuquerque at the old St. Joseph’s Hospital and yes, it’s still home. Well, east of Albuquerque now. 

What did you want to be when you grew up – and is that still a dream?

I don’t have any memories of wanting to be anything specific, I always thought I’d be a mom. 

What or who was your earliest spiritual influence?

Probably my mother. She would pray with my sisters and I regularly. She made sure we were in church every Sunday and she was faithful to follow the requirements of the Catholic Church. My faith and relationship with God grew from that foundation.  

How and when did Christ call you to Himself?

My relationship with Christ became my own when I was in high school. A friend would occasionally take me to Calvary Church. I was amazed at what I heard and realized this could actually be true. It made sense to me and gave me a desire to learn more, however, I rarely had transportation to get there. So later, when I could drive myself, I would go to the Wednesday evening study and despite lots of detours, my relationship continued to grow and is still growing. 

What is a scripture you often read or share with others?

There are so many that I love but my mind comes to this verse because I will occasionally share it with my kids.  

“My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body. Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.” Proverbs 4:20-27  

What is a special answered prayer you’ve received from the Lord?     

The Lord is so faithful to answer prayers but most recently when Paul stepped down, I thought it would be difficult to find another who did so much and was always patient and kind. I prayed for another co-worker that would be faithful, patient and kind and we got Cruz. What a blessing and answer to prayer.  

What is a blessing and what is a challenge in serving as administrative assistant to the church?

I really enjoy working here at the church because I love the people and want to serve. This is where I feel God wants me to be right now. The challenge for me is trying to find extra time to do all the other things I fill my life with.   

What are your hobbies and how did you get into them?

I do enjoy making places look nice, having things organized. I like going on camping trips with family/friends and I enjoy traveling in the states and abroad. I think I got these hobbies from my parents. Mom always made things nice and Dad always had an adventure planned.  

What is your favorite family tradition?

Christmas Eve and Good Friday dinner with my family. It’s always a special time together. 

How do you enjoy spending a day off?

I’m usually cleaning, organizing or doing laundry (I enjoy getting it done). If I can get a workout in, that is always good and I do occasionally enjoy time with friends…whether it’s a hike, lunch or shopping. 

What is the perfect meal?

One that someone else makes.  

Who or what never fails to make you laugh? 

My husband, Eddie. He’s got a very dry sense of humor but makes me smile or laugh hard often. 

We asked Eddie: 

This mission trip requires no money, has a short travel distance, is blessed by any amount of time God has granted in your schedule and offers an opportunity of experiencing pure joy in seeing God glorified!  

You will have the opportunity to share God’s love while feeding the hungry, sharing the workload with the weary, teaching practical lessons, using your skills and abilities and learning new ones. You will share in providing work from weed pulling, painting, cooking and cleaning, to hearing life stories, praying and fellowshipping with other believers, and learning of God’s work in the hearts of unbelievers. You will pray, laugh and cry and thank God for His provision and love. It is hard work, but people are worth it! Come see how God has gone ahead of us and is already at work in our community!

You will be working in a very secular environment that God has called this church body to serve. You will want prayer partners to support you and to pray with you for the wonderful people you will meet and the challenges they face.

You will be humbled and broken and rejuvenated and so very, very blessed.  

Are you excited? Are you willing to roll up your shirtsleeves and jump in to help? Are you willing to follow God’s leading and come join a few of your fellow church members to make a huge difference in the lives of many?  

If I’ve caught your attention and God is putting it on your heart to go on a mission trip, don’t pack your suitcase, just give me or one of my fellow mission workers a call. I will be happy to share a cup of coffee and clue you in on this great mission opportunity at A. Montoya Elementary School through Shine, an APS sanctioned school/church partnership meeting the various needs of individual schools citywide. Come see all that God has and can accomplish in this wonderful school through families, students and staff.  Contact us now!

We are continuing our series on Getting to Know your church leaders a little bit better. Read along to learn more about Cruz Talamantes, who serves as our member assimilation and children's ministry coordinator. 

Where were you born, and do you still consider that home, or somewhere else?

I was born in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua. My home has been Albuquerque for the last 34 years, except for a brief 3 year hiatus in San Antonio, TX.

What did you want to be when you grew up – and is that still a dream?

Early on I wanted to fly helicopters but soon after I became a believer I wanted to be a missionary. I’m living out my dream of working in full-time ministry.

What or who was your earliest spiritual influence?

My earliest spiritual example was my uncle Antonio. whose born again experience was proof that God was real.

How and when did Christ call you to Himself?

My earliest remembrance of being taught the Word was when a young teenage girl in my neighborhood in Mexico asked permission of my parents to teach a group of neighborhood kids the stories in the Bible. It continued with an older lady in southern NM who stopped by our home when she spotted a gaggle of kids and young teenagers playing in our front yard and asked permission to take us to VBS. He rescued me when alone in my home I heard a televangelist describe in the most vivid detail how Christ suffered on the cross for my sins. And He confirmed His call upon me as an 18 year old freshman at UNM when staff members with Campus Crusade stopped by my dorm to share the gospel with my best friend, and both he and I accepted Christ as our Savior.

What is a scripture you often read or share with others?

Ephesians 2:8-9  For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.

What is a special answered prayer you’ve received from the Lord?

There are so many very specific prayers that He has answered. However the one that stands out the most is the one that I am currently living out now as a husband and father. He placed a desire early in my life to someday have a family and this very gift brings me tremendous pleasure.

What is a blessing and what is a challenge serving in your role at church?

The blessing is to be able to spend my “work” time helping wherever I may be needed. It is really freeing. 

The challenge is going against my natural tendency as an introvert so that I can be effective in communicating with people and involving them in the work of the church.

What are your hobbies and how did you get into them?

I need to develop some... Any suggestions? I will typically do whatever will lead to time spent with my family. It was simpler when my kids were younger and I could take them to the park, roughhouse with them and be playful. I need to find ways to be more physically active.

What is your favorite family tradition?

Christmas evening routine- dinner, watching The Nativity, and playing silly games past midnight. It seems like the later we stay up, the sillier and more gregarious we get. At some point the kids and I simply try to keep mama laughing hysterically nonstop until she cries.  

How do you enjoy spending a day off?

It starts by preparing a full breakfast for my family, running a few errands with Becca, a short nap, a simultaneous walk and football toss at UNM with Becca and the kids, and ends with dinner out and meaningful conversation in our living room.

What is the perfect meal?

Carnitas tacos with all the toppings, especially guacamole and my sister’s red chile salsa with a side of rice.

Who or what never fails to make you laugh? 

My kids, especially as they quote and act out their favorite funny movie scenes.