Bronx Bethany mourns loss of associate pastor

Bronx, New York

Friday, March 6, 2009

Publio L. Fajardo passed away February 26 in The Bronx, New York. He was an associate pastor for Latino Ministries at the Bronx Bethany Church of the Nazarene.

Publio was born in Columbia on January 23, 1948. He received his undergraduate degree from Fray Bartolome de las Casas. He later graduated from Universidad Nacional de Colombia as a Chemical Engineer. He migrated to the U.S. where he married and worked as a designer of equipment at Manhattan College of New York until he returned to Columbia.

His wife passed away in 1990 and it was during this time that he received the calling from the Lord. A year later while working in the church he met his current wife, Martha, his Marthica. They got married in 1993. They began establishing cell groups, where men met every Saturday. They organized retreats where sometimes up to 200 men attended. He was also a pastor for various zones and worked with families at the Christian Church Confraternidad Unicentro.

In November 2000, he returned to New York City while Martha continued their work in a prison ministry in Santafe de Bogota. During this time he completed his internship at the Westchester Medical Center to perform the work of chaplaincy. From 2002 to 2003, he performed pastoral work in the Church of God. Soon the Lord opened doors for his wife to join him in the U.S.  Publio and Martha knew that they had been called to this country for pastoral work. In 2004, the Lord fulfilled His plan. Pastor Publio made contact with pastors who would help him start a Latino Evangelical movement in New York.

At the end of 2005, Pastor Publio came to Bronx Bethany with the aim of working with the Latino community. Their vision to reach Latino people was further confirmation of Bronx Bethany's vision to be a House of Prayer for all Nations. Pastor Publio and Martha were warmly welcomed and the Latino ministry was officially launched in March 2006. The Ministry has grown; Pastor Publio and Martha have stayed true to their commitment to prayer, meeting each morning at 5:30 A.M. In May 2008, both received their district ministerial license from the Church of the Nazarene.   

On Thursday, February 26, while preparing for church, the Lord called him home peacefully. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and brother. He has been an inspiration, always willing to teach and offer prayer for anyone and everyone.

Bronx Bethany is pastored by Samuel Vassel. A note on the church's web site said "Pastor Publio, with the support of his wife, Martha, was responsible for the 'birthing' of our Latino Ministries at BBCN. Pastor Publio will be missed greatly. He has modeled well for our community what it means to disciple others into the Kingdom."
--Mission Strategy, NCN News

 

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