Meet Andres Gonzalez

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Andres Gonzalez. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Andres below.

Hi Andres, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

I grew up in Venezuela, and my father left us when I was just seven years old. That created a hole in my heart that I spent years trying to fill with all the wrong things, drugs, alcohol, partying, women. Deep down I always had a sense that God was real, that He was calling me, but I just kept running.

Everything came crashing down when I got a phone call from the woman who is now my wife. She told me she was pregnant with my child but she was planning to have an abortion. I had already failed God in so many ways, and in that moment, I realized I couldn’t keep living like that. I didn’t want to be the kind of man who would let another life be lost because of my own brokenness. So I got on my knees and cried out to Jesus. I told Him I couldn’t get out of this life on my own and that if He would take over, I would surrender everything.

That was the beginning of everything.

Little by little, He restored me. He gave me a new heart, a new mind, a new life. That child was born my son and he became a reminder of God’s mercy. My wife and I got married, and today we are parents to two amazing boys. Our family is living proof of what grace can rebuild.

Years later, I became the president of YES—Yielded Evangelical Servants—a missionary organization with a legacy of over 35 years. We’ve built churches, dug water wells in communities with no access to clean water, provided food and clothing for children in vulnerable conditions, and supported schools and mission partners around the world. But my purpose isn’t just about projects, it’s about saying “yes” to God every day and helping others do the same.

Finding my purpose wasn’t about discovering a career path or chasing a dream. It was about being rescued from death and given a new life. I live to serve the One who saved me. Without that, I would still be a man drifting without direction—a boat lost at sea.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I’m the president of YES — Yielded Evangelical Servants — a nonprofit with a twofold mission. First, we provide vital legal and administrative support to missionaries by covering them under our nonprofit status, so they can focus on their calling while staying compliant with IRS requirements. Second, and closest to my heart, we are actively engaged in humanitarian and community outreach efforts across the world. These initiatives allow us to bring hope, healing, and transformation to communities in need often in places where others simply don’t go.

What excites me the most about what we do is the visible transformation we see, not just physically, but spiritually and socially. In places like Costa Rica, after rebuilding the structure and roof of a local church, the entire community came together, families cooking, selling food, finishing what we started with their own hands. There was a sense of unity and purpose that was contagious. In regions where Christians are denied access to basic resources like water where even wells are off-limits, we’ve built fresh water wells to serve the forgotten and give them back their dignity. We’ve also distributed clothes, sports gear, eyeglasses, and essentials to kids in vulnerable communities, and we’ve witnessed not just children light up, but families become strengthened and restored.

One of the most powerful things we see is people discovering their calling. Many have joined us on trips and returned home so impacted that they’ve become full-time missionaries themselves, now serving in places like Africa and Nepal.

This year, we’re launching a new project to help build walls for a church in an extremely poor community in Costa Rica, a church that’s been around for over 30 years, but has always lacked proper facilities. We’ll also be running kids’ programs there — bringing clothing, sports materials, eyeglasses, and more to serve that next generation. Meanwhile, we continue our work in Nepal, Colombia, and other regions where we believe transformation begins with compassion and connection.

Outside of the field, I also host a podcast and YouTube channel in Spanish called Brother, el podcast, where we explore meaningful conversations about life, faith, and purpose. Another YouTube channel is also in the works to share even more stories and reflections.

We’re always looking to connect with donors, partners, and volunteers. Many people in the U.S. have the heart to help and the resources to make a difference, they just don’t always know how. That’s where YES comes in. We’ve built the structure, the credibility, and the global connections to turn good intentions into lasting impact.

Everything I do is driven by one thing: love. The love I’ve received from Christ, I now live to share. That’s the heartbeat of YES.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Looking back, three things have been essential in my journey: resilience, servant leadership, and vision.

Resilience has carried me through some of the darkest chapters of my life. I’ve had to overcome addiction, abandonment, and uncertainty. But those seasons shaped my character. My advice? Don’t avoid the hard moments let them refine you. Pain isn’t always punishment; sometimes it’s preparation.

Servant leadership has been the cornerstone of how I relate to others. Leading isn’t about titles or recognition it’s about lifting others up. I’ve learned that the most powerful leaders are the ones who aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty. If you want to grow in this area, start by showing up consistently for others. Listen more. Serve more. People follow authenticity, not charisma.

Lastly, vision the ability to see beyond what is, and imagine what could be has kept me focused when distractions come. Having vision gives your journey direction. My advice is to take time regularly to step back, reflect, and ask yourself, “What am I building? Who am I becoming?” Surround yourself with people who stretch your thinking and fuel your purpose.

Whether you’re building a brand, starting a nonprofit, or just trying to find your next step these qualities will not only sustain you, they’ll shape you into someone who can help transform others too.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?

Absolutely. At YES (Yielded Evangelical Servants), we believe that collaboration is how we multiply impact. We’re always looking for like-hearted individuals, churches, businesses, or organizations that want to make a difference, whether through financial support, volunteering, or joining us on the ground.

We’ve seen how something as simple as building a clean water well or delivering clothing to children can bring hope and transformation to an entire community. We’ve partnered with people from all walks of life: students, business leaders, creatives, and everyday folks who just wanted to do something meaningful.

If you’re reading this and wondering if your skills, resources, or passions could be used to help others the answer is yes. We’d love to connect, dream together, and find ways to serve communities in need around the world.

You can find me on Instagram @andreselcali send me a message, I’d love to hear your story and explore how we can build something powerful together.

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