CEIBA VIDA IGNITES CHANGE THROUGH CHRISTIAN EDUCATION.
Our Mission & Vision
CEIBA VIDA’s mission is to ignite change through Christian education.
We believe education is the ultimate catalyst for life change and therefore, must be approached holistically.
Tangibly, we do this through our girls school in Guatemala, Liberty Christian Academy.
Through education, we can invest in the lives of our students and their parents by modeling Christ’s love for them. We can instill an understanding that they are NOT defined by their circumstances — they are defined by their relationship with God.
Our vision is to see our holistic model of education — that starts with a child, but works its way through the whole family — transforming communities for Christ in Guatemala.
What Does CEIBA mean?
The Ceiba is the national tree of Guatemala. Not only is this tree very important to Guatemalan culture, but its life cycle metaphorically portrays the ministry God has blessed us with in Guatemala.
While the tree is young, before it has a fully developed root system, large thorns or spikes grow and remain on its trunk. This prevents animals from damaging the semi-delicate, developing tree. Once it matures and has a deep, massive root system, the thorns fall off of the tree and it begins to produce fruit.
The fruit that the ceiba tree produces are pods about the size of avocados. Inside the pods are white fuzzy fibers that help to carry the seeds to new areas to grow.
The tree represents a child at Liberty Christian Academy. Our students live in extreme poverty… and many also live in abusive homes. Because most will have to endure a hard childhood, they have to be tough (thorns).
But as they are taught of the truth and hope they can have in Christ and once they accept His gift of saving grace, they will begin to grow deep roots that will position them for healing and success as they mature.
Our hope is that by the time they are fully grown, they will have received an education to help them physically emerge out of poverty and they will have an unshakeable faith in Christ.
And just as the white fuzzy fibers of the fully matured ceiba travel to new areas to plant their seeds and grow new trees… These little girls will grow up, having emerged out of poverty & abuse, firmly planted in God’s truth. And they will plant the seed of truth by sharing their saving faith with others.
Statement of Faith
We believe the Bible to be the authoritative and inerrant Word of God: it is God’s revelation about Himself to man. It is both living and active, applicable to all time, and is not only the measure and standard of truth, but truth itself.
We believe there is only one true God who is omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, and sovereign. God is the Creator of all things, infinitely perfect and eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Financial Records
We strive to be good stewards of the resources God gives us and to be transparent with our donors and supporters. Please click here to view our latest financial statement. You can also view our most recently filed Form 990 here.
OUR TEAM
Heyson & Molly Martínez
Molly: School Proprietor | molly@ceibavida.org
Heyson: Community Outreach Coordinator | heyson@ceibavida.org
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Molly has served in Guatemala as a field missionary since fall of 2018. She spent her first year as a full-time English teacher at Morning Glory Christian Academy where she mentored under the late Lori Nij. As 2019 came to a close, Molly decided to step out on faith and open an all girls school located in Pamoca, Guatemala — Now known as Liberty Christian Academy.
In June of last year, Molly married Guatemalan school teacher, Heyson Martínez. Heyson joined the CEIBA VIDA staff as our Community Outreach Coordinator shortly thereafter and has proven to be an invaluable member of our team ever since. We love watching Molly & Heyson’s beautiful ministry as they pour into the people of Guatemala.
Samuel & Tiffany Houck
Tiffany: Executive Director | tiffany@ceibavida.org
Samuel: Field Director | samuel@ceibavida.org
Samuel and Tiffany founded CEIBA VIDA International. They met studying Spanish in Morelia, Mexico summer of 2009. In 2010 they began serving in Guatemala together and married in January 2011. For the first 5 years of their marriage they lived in Guatemala for several months a year teaching at Morning Glory Christian Academy and working mobile and stationary medical clinics alongside mission groups from the states.
Sam & Tiff worked with various ministries in Guatemala and the United States learning from many. They have experience in street ministry, education, medical, homelessness and have heavily volunteered in frontline anti-human trafficking efforts, specifically in the Nashville area.
The late Lori Nij, Director of Morning Glory Christian Academy had a significant impact on their lives and directly influenced the founding of CEIBA VIDA.
After a decade of working in Guatemala and seeing some of the gaps that existed for various ministries and local humanitarian groups, the Houcks along with Beka Joy Hull, founded CEIBA VIDA.