Julio Contreras is a pastor, Bible teacher, and Christian leader with more than four decades of ministry experience in Latin America. He serves as Vice President for Latin America with Good News in Action, where he is committed to advancing evangelism, developing leaders, and strengthening churches throughout the region. He holds undergraduate degrees in Theology and Religious Studies, a Master’s degree in Organizational Leadership, and a Doctor of Ministry in Transformational Leadership from Bethel University. After founding New Life Baptist Church (Vida Nueva) in San Salvador in 1991 along with Steve Kern, Julio served as its Senior Pastor for 35 years, leading the church through significant growth and expansion before transitioning leadership to a new generation in 2026.

Early Life and Calling

Julio was born in San Salvador, El Salvador, in 1962, the second of five children. At the age of eight, political threats against his family forced them to leave El Salvador and seek refuge in Mexico for a year. God used that difficult season to awaken in the family a spiritual hunger that would ultimately transform their lives. After returning to El Salvador, Julio came to faith in Christ at the age of nine through the children’s ministry of Miramonte Baptist Church, where his mother had begun attending. In time, one by one, the members of the Contreras family came to know Christ.

As a young man, Julio became actively involved in youth ministry, where he met Patty, whom he married in 1986. Although they initially envisioned serving God as committed Christian professionals, the Lord redirected their plans toward full-time ministry. Julio pursued theological training and soon became involved in teaching and developing other Christian leaders.

evangelism and good news in action

A defining moment in Julio’s ministry came in 1987, when he met David Wilson of OAC and Leo Humphrey of Good News in Action. Through their influence, he encountered intentional evangelism in a way that profoundly reshaped his understanding of ministry. The urgency of the gospel, particularly expressed in John 3:18, became a driving conviction in his life.

Leo Humphrey’s mentorship would have a lasting influence on Julio, beginning a relationship with Good News in Action that has continued for nearly four decades. Over the years, Julio’s involvement with GNIA has expanded into leadership throughout Latin America, combining his passion for evangelism with his commitment to developing pastors and ministry leaders.

new life baptist church

Also in 1987, Julio and Patty developed a close friendship with Steve and Pam Kern. Julio and Steve began dreaming about a different kind of church—one in which evangelism and discipleship would exist in intentional balance, biblical teaching would shape everyday life, and believers would be equipped to influence their communities for Christ.

That vision became reality in 1991 with the founding of New Life Baptist Church (Iglesia Bautista Vida Nueva) in San Salvador.

Julio and Steve served as Vida Nueva’s Senior Pastors from 1991 to 2026. During those 35 years, the church grew from its small beginnings into a multi-campus ministry with a strong commitment to biblical teaching, evangelism, discipleship, missions, and leadership development.

An expository Bible teacher at heart, Julio has spent much of his ministry teaching through the books of the Bible and equipping others to understand, live, and communicate God’s Word. His ministry has increasingly focused on personal discipleship and on developing leaders who can multiply ministry into the next generation.

In 2026, Julio completed his tenure as Senior Pastor of Vida Nueva, intentionally transitioning the leadership of the church to a new generation while continuing to invest in ministry, evangelism, and leadership development throughout Latin America.

Family and Legacy

Julio and Patty have been married since 1986 and have three adult children. For nearly four decades, they have shared a life of ministry and a commitment to seeing the gospel transform individuals, families, churches, and communities.

They also share a deep passion for strengthening marriages and families. Together, they minister to couples throughout Latin America through conferences, marriage retreats, and counseling, encouraging them to build healthy, enduring, Christ-centered marriages.

As Julio looks toward the years ahead, he remains committed to investing in the next generation of pastors and Christian leaders, advancing the gospel throughout Latin America, and continuing to serve alongside Patty in ministry.

His personal aspiration for life and ministry is captured in the words of Galatians 1:24: “And they glorified God in me.”