Faces of the Back 40: Melvy De Leon, Guatemala

Guatemalan Businesswoman Equips Leaders in the Marketplace

About Melvy De Leon

We first met Melvy and her husband Danilo de Leon in April 2013 during the planning process for the newly-formed FCCI Board in Guatemala City. They were delighted that two gringos could speak with them in their heavenly language – Spanish – without having to pull out the dictionary or use a translator!

Melvy and Danilo put together a series of FCCI team meetings and strategic planning sessions which we facilitated when we returned to Guatemala that October. Our friendship with this couple has deepened over the years during additional meetings in Guatemala and Mexico.

Melvy’s excellent administrative skills have distinguished her in the marketplace, in several ministry leadership roles, and as the author of two books. Today she and Danilo direct Ministerios Oasis, a financial education ministry. We’re so happy that you also can meet her here in this testimony of Faces of the BACK 40.

Melvy’s Story

My name is Melvy De Leon. I live in beautiful Guatemala City, our country’s capital, along with my husband Danilo and our daughters Andrea and Melissa.

I was born in the city of San Pedro Sacatepéques in the state of San Marcos, located about 155 miles west of the capital city, as the fifth of five children.

I came to know Jesus as Lord and Savior when I was 18 years old during a dark point of my life. Our home was filled with violence – physical, verbal and emotional – as well as parental marital unfaithfulness and alcoholism. The date was December 24. The only light I could see was that of the Lord as I fell to my knees in front of the Christmas tree and invited Him to come into my life.

My father had taught us that there was a God that loved us and we had grown up as active Catholics, but it was a faith with only religion, absent of relationship. My mother’s father and her three brothers were Christians who always told us that the only answer to all problems was to invite Jesus into our lives, yet my family resisted. None of us wanted to meet our uncles when we walked down the street. We would literally run the other way when we saw him!

After that Christmas Eve encounter, the promise of Acts 16:31 came to pass speedily in my life: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved, along with all of your household.” Within three months my second sister came to Jesus; the following year my third sister came to Him and she has been a missionary in Spain for 17 years. My oldest sister and all her family soon came to Jesus, followed by my father who asked Jesus to be his Savior before dying. Now my mother at age 84 is also a woman of faith and prayer. Hallelujah!

The Lord allowed me to work in the Luis Palau Evangelical Association for nearly 18 years. There I met my husband Danilo. Together we served the Lord. He added our two treasures, Andrea and Melissa. God also gave us the beautiful job of pastoring two local churches. I had the additional privilege of working for Crown Financial Services in Guatemala as National Director and the opportunity to co-author the book, The Woman Who Prospers, with Dr. Andrés Panasiuk. Recently I authored a children’s book on financial education, Daniel and the Millionaire Ants.

While working at Crown Financial I met Pat McGrath, a businessman who is part of the ministry of FCCI. That is how God led Danilo and me to found Oasis Ministries, a ministry dedicated to discipling, teaching, and training business people in personal financial education and leadership. We are also founders of the Fellowship of Complete Character Integrators (FCCI) representing Fellowship of Companies for Christ International (FCCI) in Guatemala, where we work with business owners and professionals living by godly principles in the marketplace.

It was through FCCI that we had the privilege of meeting our beloved friends and servants of God, Vicki and Dalton Jantzen, and the wonderful organization they lead – 30 60 100 MINISTRIES.

In 2013 we helped organize a series of events led by Dalton and Vick for business owners and in 2014 they returned to Guatemala, adding another level of assistance with strategic planning coaching and training for leaders in a local international food export company. Our hope is that these events will continue year after year, allowing us to take full value of the servant’s hearts that Dalton and Vicki have for the people of our beautiful Guatemala.

In my lifetime I have transitioned from being a lost sheep to a found sheep … from a sheep to a shepherd … and from a shepherd to a rancher, one who serves pastors of God’s leaders! My journey is encouragement for anyone who wants to be used by God to grow His Kingdom from darkness to light.