TRANSCRIPT

NATHAN JONES

In our first focus on the Dominican Republic, I had the privilege to meet Hugo Matos. Hugo is actively involved in the work of raising up missional churches through discipleship and training of leaders who recognize the movement of the gospel, not simply the institution of the church.

My name is Nathan Jones and I want to thank you for joining me for this month's episode of the Inspiring Stewards podcast.

Well, Hugo, thank you again for your time this morning. Give us a little bit of your background, where you're from, where you grew up, that sort of thing.

HUGO MATOS

Thank you so much, Nathan, for that warm welcome. And it is truly an undeserved honor and privilege to be here today, sharing with you and with the audience. I'm grateful to God for this opportunity.

I’m from the Dominican Republic, the youngest of five, with three brothers and one sister. I grew up in a Catholic family, thinking for most of my life that I was special, almost like a prince.

But eventually, I realized that I was really no one. That realization left an emptiness inside of me. And I began trying to fill it with alcohol, drugs, women, fights, gangs, heavy metal, and taking advantage of others. At 188 cm tall and heavy, I often use my size to intimidate people.

I even went as far as creating my own religion, calling it “Black Cross,” because I had a coast guard shirt with a black cross on it that I wore daily, almost like a symbol of belief. I started gathering people who followed me, leading them in my empty and destructive ways. That's who I was. 

NATHAN

Hugo, thank you for your honesty there. Tell us about how then you came to a relationship with Jesus and the impact that had on your life.

HUGO

Well, make a long story short, in 1994, I left the Dominican Republic for the US. But in 1996, I returned with my girlfriend to visit family. During that time, my best friend asked me to stay until January 1997, as he wanted me at his graduation in December, after which he planned to move with me to the US.

Tragically, on December 7, he died in a motorcycle accident. From that moment, my life spiraled deeper into emptiness. I was lost, drinking heavily, waking up, and brushing my teeth with alcohol instead of water, wishing to die but too afraid to take my own life. I was brave but not brave enough to kill myself.

A friend who had returned back to Christ persistently invited me to church every Sunday. Sunday by Sunday, he was coming home to invite me, but I always refused.

On March 23, 1997, something changed. He came with determination, threatening to bring the pastor and the entire church to pray for me at my house. So, I reluctantly agreed to go. I tell you: I hadn't showered in that moment in a week. I had a messy afro and was in a foul mood.

But when we got to the church, I pushed people aside and sat near the front. During worship, they sang a song. I remember that song that says – I'm going to try to translate it into English – “God is here as real as the air that I breathe, as real as the morning comes. As real that when I sing to Him, He can listen to me.”

I noticed people around me were deeply moved, but I felt nothing. So, I prayed, “God, if you are here, why can't I feel you? Why did you let my best friend die?” As the sermon began, the pastor seemed to be describing my entire life, I thought it was a setup!

I wanted to leave, but my legs were shaking, and I couldn't move. Then, the pastor made an altar call, and I felt the urge to raise my hand, but I couldn't. My hands felt like they weighed 5,000 pounds.

Then, the pastor said, “Some of you want to raise your hands, but it feels like they weighed 5,000 pounds. That's the devil! But in the name of Jesus, you can lift them.” Nathan, suddenly my hands shot up and the weight in my heart was lifted. Tears poured uncontrollably, and I knew something had changed.

I remember when I returned home, I told my mother what had happened. She said it was emotional, I will only last three months. But by God's pure grace, it's been 27 years since He pulled me from the miry clay I was in.

NATHAN

Praise the Lord. What a story! Well, I know He’s using you in powerful ways today, Hugo. Tell us about the work and ministry that God has you involved in now.

HUGO

Well, by pure God's grace, our mission is to mobilize God's people to live a life on mission with Him, encouraging the development of missional churches, empowering mobilizers, and mobilizing teams to glorify God among the unreached peoples by initiating church planting movement and Bible translation projects as well, all in partnership with local churches, the sending, and the receiving churches. 

Me and my wife now we serve full time as volunteers since 2012. Living by faith through the support God provided us through partners, unseen members of our team that go with us through their finance and prayer giving, I serve as the Executive Director of the Dominican Cooperation of Missions, as well as of the Pioneers Mission Agency for the Dominican Republic and the Caribbean.

I'm also a board member of the Ibero-American Cooperation of Missions (COMIBAM). Additionally, I serve as National Coordinator for Simply Mobilizing in the Dominican Republic, as well as the Latin America Regional Coordinator and member of the international leadership team of Simply Mobilizing International.

I also serve as National Coordinator for Global Trust Partners and as a board member of the Biblical Translation Movement of the Caribbean. That's some of the roles that God allows me to be involved today for His glory.

NATHAN

Hugo, I thought I was busy, but you must never sleep.

HUGO

[Laughing] Sometimes, I get some sleep.

NATHAN 

That's wonderful. So, I apologize for throwing this question unexpected. But you mentioned the term “missional church,” and it catches my attention because I would say that, you know, we see churches here in the US that are more missional and more outward-focused than others.

When you use the term "missional church," unpack that a little bit for us. How would you distinguish a church that's maybe more missional than perhaps others?

HUGO

That's a great question. Thank you for asking me that. In my context, we see a church that is not missional when you have just a little percentage of the membership of the church involved in preaching the gospel and making disciples.

We see a missional church, a church that 100% of the membership is preaching the gospel to others, making disciples, that the leadership has a mindset of recruiting them, training them, and releasing them to find their place on God's mission and do the work that God has called particularly each member to do, even if it is locally as a part of the church or even if it is globally.

A church that will be like a transportation terminal that people only comes just to get supplies, to get the ticket to prepare, but to keep going to the place where they're going to serve. But mostly there are many churches in my context that they only serve in a way of bringing people in, more people in, but just a little part get involved in sharing the Good News with others.

We have been working around Latin America with churches so they can become missional. And it's amazing what happens when everyone is involved, obeying the mandates of Jesus Christ and making disciples.

The goal of the mission: making disciples. That's exciting to see everyone finding their place and participating. So, we are trying to change that mindset and help pastors because we serve the leaders so they can mobilize their entire church to live a life daily on mission with God, all the membership.

NATHAN

We could spend a lot of time talking about how to make that happen in more churches. So, keep up the good work, Hugo. Hang in there.

HUGO

Thank you, brother. All glory to God.

NATHAN

Amen. So, this is the Inspiring Stewards podcast. Hugo, how are you seeing the biblical principle of stewardship playing out in and through your life today?

HUGO

The biblical principle of stewardship reminds me daily that everything I have, my time, talents, resources, and even relationship belongs to God.

Psalm 24:1 comes to mind, “The earth is the Lord's and everything in it, the world and all who live in it.” As a steward, I am called to manage these gifts faithfully, not for my own gain, but for His glory.

And 1 Corinthians 10:31 comes to mind: “So, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” This challenges me to live with a Kingdom mindset, prioritizing God's purposes in every decision, and to be generous, knowing that I am simply a caretaker of what ultimately belongs to Him.

And the parable of the bags of gold in Matthew 25:14-30 comes to mind. I need to be reminded of that daily. Stewardship also encouraged me to invest in what has eternal value, trusting that my obedience brings joy to the Lord,

And I always keep reminding myself Colossians 3:23-24, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”

That's creating a tremendous impact and has transformed the way I think and the way I live. And even my house, my wife, the way we manage everything – now we know that everything we have belongs to Him. We just need to be faithful stewards every day and bring glory to Him with everything He has given us.

NATHAN

So, Hugo, you've shared a little bit about this, but I'll give you a chance to answer more. How are you seeing God at work uniquely in the world today?

HUGO

I can respond this as God is at work in powerful ways, both locally and globally. And I'm going to share just a few examples.

Locally, I see God moving and transform lives within the community. People who were once bound by addiction, hopelessness, or despair are finding new life and purpose in Christ.

The local church is growing in unity and becoming more intentional about serving the marginalized and sharing the gospel in practical ways. And small groups and discipleship initiatives are helping believers grow deeper in their faith and equipping them to share that faith with others.

Globally, that's something wonderful to be able to witness that God is advancing His mission as the gospel reaches unreached people groups. Even in areas of persecution, the underground church is flourishing. In places of crisis, whether due to war, natural disaster, or poverty, God is raising up His people to bring relief, hope, and the message of salvation.

Mission efforts are being multiplied through digital tools and creative strategies that allow the gospel to penetrate close regions. So, I'm being a witness of the advance of Matthew 24:14, “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then, the end will come.”

So, Nathan, overall, I see God working through the unity of His church, the resilience of His people, and the spread of His message despite the challenges in the world today. And yes, there are a lot of challenges in the world today, but our good and wise God is moving powerfully and advancing significantly His mission in the world today.

NATHAN

That's wonderful to hear. And it's such a hope-filled perspective, Hugo, and seeing that you’ve got perspective on such a big part of the world... very, very encouraging. Well, Hugo, as we wrap up, any final thoughts that you'd like to leave us with today?

HUGO

Thank you so much for that opportunity to share my heart with the audience and with you. I love to share a reminder that God's faithfulness remains constant, even in uncertain times.

As we align our hearts with His mission and seek to be faithful stewards of the opportunities He gives us, we can trust that He is working all things for His glory and our good.

And I know you all know Romans 8:28, “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” So, let's keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith, as we press on in fulfilling the Great Commission together.

Hebrews 12:2, “Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Pioneer, and Perfecter of faith for the joy set before Him, He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

NATHAN

Well, Hugo, your testimony is such a reminder of the power of Scripture at any point in time, in any place in our world, when we drift so often to other things. So, thank you for bringing us back to this foundation.

And Hugo, the Lord be with you as you continue to advance His mission through your work. Thank you for your time today. This has been wonderful. 

HUGO

Thank you so much, Nathan. It's been amazing to share this with you and my heart fills with joy, this opportunity that I don't deserve because I'm no one. I just do what needs to be done. 

NATHAN

Amen.