Every ministry has a starting point — a moment when God stirs a heart and calls someone to act. For Pan de Vida, that moment began with a simple encounter and a profound need. In the year 2000, Ecuador was facing a severe economic crisis. Families struggled daily to secure food, work, and stability. During this time, Oscar Aguirre, Pan de Vida’s founder, encountered a young boy shining shoes outside a church in Quito. The child was not working to buy toys or treats — he was working simply to eat. That brief interaction revealed a deeper reality: countless children and families were living in survival mode, unseen and unsupported. God used that moment to plant a seed — a calling not just to help temporarily, but to serve with compassion, faith, and long-term purpose.
Moved by Christ’s command to care for the least among us, Oscar responded in obedience. What began as a small effort to provide meals soon became a growing ministry committed to meeting both physical and spiritual needs. In 2001, Pan de Vida officially began its first feeding programs. As relationships formed and trust grew, the ministry expanded beyond emergency assistance to address the deeper challenges families faced — health, education, housing, and sustainable livelihoods. With each step, God continued to open doors. Volunteers from Ecuador and around the world joined the mission, united by a shared faith and a desire to serve. Over time, Pan de Vida became an international, volunteer-based ministry of mercy — legally established in Ecuador and the United States — grounded in Christian values and guided by prayer.
From the beginning, Pan de Vida has been more than an organization. It has been a response to God’s calling. The ministry was shaped by a conviction that true transformation happens when compassion is paired with faith — when people are not only helped in times of crisis, but restored, empowered, and invited into a relationship with Jesus Christ. This conviction led to the development of a holistic model that moves from Relief to Development, ensuring that families receive immediate support while also gaining the tools and encouragement needed to build stable, hope-filled futures.
At Pan de Vida, our purpose is rooted in obedience to Christ’s call to love, serve, and restore those in need.
Rosaura Merecí is a 48-year-old Ecuadorian woman, a single mother who ...
José, 76 years old, has faced a series of challenges throughout his life. After the death of his wife...
Through your prayers, generosity, and service, you can help empower individuals and families in Ecuador- moving them from crisis to hope, from relief to development.
We also support about 8 VBS youth camps and sports for the children each year in the summer.
In the last year (2022) our beneficiaries had about 2000 medical appointments.
Pan de Vida is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Your generosity helps bring hope to families in Ecuador. Contributions are tax-deductible as allowed by law.
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