Called to Mexico
We are truly grateful you are here! We’re Saul and Kelsi José, and we feel incredibly blessed to be the parents of our sweet children, Elisha and Mercy Lou. From the very start of our relationship, even before marriage, we knew we were called to live our lives in service to the Lord, wherever He led us. This conviction shaped our journey together, beginning with a decision to lay down the usual dream of owning a home and settling into family life. Instead, we spent our son Elisha’s first year of life in full-time ministry school in Scottsboro, Alabama, under the guidance of our Pastors, Greg and Gretchen DeVries.
From there, we were blessed to move to Huntsville, Alabama, where we joined the staff of a growing church, The Well Huntsville, as the youth and children’s pastors—a role we continue to serve in today. The past two and a half years in Alabama have been an amazing season of growth, learning, and becoming deeply rooted in a supportive community of family and friends.
Over the last twelve months, the Lord has gradually revealed His next steps for us. We are excited and honored to share that in 2025, we will be moving to Mazatlán, Mexico, as missionaries. Our vision is to plant churches and serve the people of Mexico, continuing to walk in His will and advance His Kingdom. While we are sad to leave our community, our students, and our families, we can't wait to see all that He has in store!
The great commission
Matthew 28 "Jesus came and told his disciples, 'I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.'”
The Lord first began speaking to us about Mexico in 2022, when Saul was invited by our Pastor at The Well Huntsville, Stewart DeVries, to join a team to build a home for a family in need. Saul was excited for the opportunity to serve and to visit the country where his father grew up, for the first time. He came back from that trip with a huge heart for Mazatlán, looking forward to going back as a family in the future. That heart paved the way for the Lord to begin speaking and leading us to consider moving to Mexico.
Two years later in 2024, we were excited to join another group heading to Mazatlán, and used this trip to begin preparing our hearts and making plans to plant in the future. We began to realize that the Lord was accelerating the timeline and what we thought was a far-off dream was going to become a reality much sooner than we expected.
The following pictures are from our trips to Mexico. We hope that they help your heart grow for His vision and people in Mazatlán.
MAZATLAN, SINALOA, MEXICO
Partner With Us
Uprooting our family to begin a ministry in a new country is certainly an undertaking. The Lord has always provided above and beyond what we needed in each season and we know that this calling is no different. If you would like to support us and the work we will be doing in Mexico, click the link below for ways to give.
Any funds received will go toward:
- Moving costs as we prepare to live in a new country.
- Living expenses when we move.
- Planting a church and organizing community outreaches in Mazatlán.
Pray With Us
We invite you to pray with us as we make this transition. We believe in the power of prayer, that the Lord hears and will answer.
Ways to pray:
- Our hearts and minds to be prepared to move, especially for our children, and for those close to us.
- Lodging and provisions in Mexico, that the favor of God will continue to be with us as we go.
- A continued vision and heart for the people of Mazatlán, that all details and ideas will come to us in the Lord's time.
- For our physical safety. Sinaloa state is marked by cartel violence, we are thankful that Mazatlán is a safer city in the state but we pray for the Lord's wisdom to guide us while we are in an area with more violence and organized crime.
- To find community and build connections in Mazatlán.
"Have you Considered missions?"
In a meeting with our pastor, Greg DeVries, we shared our heart and some discouragement we had experienced in a recent outreach. He asked us, "Have you considered missions?" We looked at each other and laughed. It was as if Pastor Greg gave us permission to let that dream and calling we had been sensing come to life. There were many moments over our marriage where we would have conversations about our hopes and dreams to see the Kingdom advanced and souls saved. We would wonder if we were doing enough or if there was more we could give.
We always knew we felt called to be a part of planting a church one day, but we assumed it would be close to home. While we don’t take lightly what we’re leaving behind—our family, friends, and church family—our deepest desire is to serve the Lord wherever He leads us.
We are humbled and honored to be answering the Lord's call in Mexico.