I was born and raised in Puerto Rico to a hardworking and loving family. When I was four years old, my mother died of brain cancer, leaving my father broken after his second spousal loss. In his grief, my dad went on to make a series of decisions that were not the best for our family, causing instability and unrest at home. So, at eight years old, I asked my father if I could move away to live with my aunt. That same summer, my cousin was abducted by guerrillas in Colombia, a crisis God used to bring my aunt to Himself. In her home, I learned the values I still hold, including a passion to serve and to stand with the oppressed. At thirteen, I moved with my aunt and uncle to the United States, leaving most of my family behind.

After living in Tampa for three years, I moved to Gainesville to attend the University of Florida. Though I walked away from the Lord during that time, God never gave up on me and eventually led me back to Himself. I began attending Ignite Life Center, and after graduating, I felt compelled to attend Ignite School of Ministry, where God transformed my life and affirmed my call to ministry. Overwhelmed with gratitude for God’s transformative power in my life, I committed to live surrendered to His will and to the work of ministry. After graduating from Ignite, I became an associate pastor at Ignite Life Center, and shortly after, I married my husband. Some years later, we welcomed our firstborn daughter, who is now six and already passionate about justice.

Early in my career, I became involved in mission-driven work, serving as director of a temporary shelter for foster youth and later director of a federally funded shelter for unaccompanied children. During those years of serving children and families affected by broken systems, my passion for equality and justice grew. I witnessed children so marked by broken families that they had come to see being trafficked as normal. I also met children who were fleeing their countries of origin and were abused along their journey to freedom in the U.S.

These stories and faces are the ones that I carried when I was introduced to Mission Talk’s education program and work. As a student in the Justice Leadership Institute, I saw my understanding of holiness challenged and expanded. I learned that much of the oppression I had witnessed in the lives of so many was tied to public policies rooted in powers and principalities. In essence, I understood that spiritual ministry and deliverance alone were not enough; social deliverance was also necessary. Shortly after completing the program, I began working for Mission Talk, where I was given the opportunity to continue growing and developing in my understanding of social holiness and justice.

Recently, I entered a period of transition in my life, where I sensed a need to focus on my ministry and call to a greater extent. During this same season, Agustin Quiles approached me about serving as a social holiness missionary in our state capital. As soon as I heard of this possibility, I was humbled because, unknown to him, for over four years God had been ministering to me about working alongside government. I’ve come to see that every experience in my life has prepared me to answer my call in a new sphere of influence.

My family and I are making this sacrifice so that there is a Latino evangelical voice where our state’s decisions are made. I will dedicate my time and effort to pray for and influence the decisions that shape Florida, so that our children can grow, worship, and thrive free from injustice and needless pain.

Looking back, I now see more clearly that God has been present from the very beginning. Even though my parents did not know the Lord when I was a child, they named me according to His purpose for my life: Nicole, “victory of the people.” My prayer is that we will see the meaning of my name fulfilled in Florida as we pray and act on behalf of the forgotten, the oppressed, and the most broken in our communities.

— Nicole Gomez

If you wish to support Nicole in this mission please contact lizelle@missiontalk.us