Freddy and Connie Castro’s ministry, Loma Linda Campestre*, is a living witness of the blessings of starting with whatever we have. They began their family ministry in Colombia in 2008 by making health foods like bread, granola, and sprouts in their home. Freddy cooked, and Connie sold their products door-to-door in the community. This gave her the opportunity to meet people and minister to their needs through massage, hydrotherapy, health counseling, and Bible studies.
As time went by, they were able to supply local restaurants, hotels, and supermarkets. God opened opportunities for them to give health expo’s, cooking schools, agriculture classes, and other training events. Their young daughter even taught a class on how to make soy products. But this was just the beginning!
The Castro family prayed for seven years that God would give them a modest property, perhaps four or five acres, for a lifestyle center and farm. While praying, they continued to minister with what they had. God then gave them something much bigger than they had dreamed of. They were offered a 74-acre farm with rich soil and good spring water. The property is now paid for, and Freddy and Connie have enlarged their dreams!
Their plan is to develop a center for training in agriculture, home industry, health, and evangelism as well as a lifestyle program. God has given them many ideas to attract young people such as an educational maze, and classrooms and a church housed in a Noah’s ark building. One of their burdens is to provide counseling and pregnancy education for troubled teens. They also plan to create a model of the wilderness sanctuary so people can be taught what Jesus is doing for them in heaven.
In the meantime, they are farming their land. In addition to many kinds of fruits and vegetables, recently they have grown herbs such as citronella, lavender, thyme, rosemary, eucalyptus. From these they’re making essential oils to sell and use in therapy.
They say, “Working as a family, we present a living testimony of what God can do in our lives. A family ministry makes us thinkers and not mere reflectors. Creativity flourishes, and economic independence is achieved. The whole family can be involved, thus strengthening family ties. We are witnessing the true blessings of God and motivating others to be missionaries for Christ.”
Watch an interview with the Castros on 3ABN at
*An alumni project supported through Hartland’s “Lord, Send Me” program