MRN-Joe Novelo

Pastor Joe Novelo began working in full-time ministry in 1987 as an officer on Youth With A Mission's Mercy Ships. In the past 20 years, ministry has taken him to 50 different countries.

After six years at sea, Novelo enrolled in a California Bible College and graduated with degrees in Theology, Youth Ministry, and Cross Cultural Missions. He and his Brazilian bride, Edilma, moved to Florida in 1996 to work as Missions Pastor for a local Calvary Chapel.

Six years later the Novelo's founded the Missionary Resource Network, a ministry dedicated to providing resources and logistical services for missionaries worldwide.

Edilma (translated: "Jill") Novelo began working with YWAM in her native Brazil at the age of 17.Her main focus in those early years was the Eastern Amazon. In following years, she pioneered domestic mission work along with an international base in Guyana which still exists today. Jill is fluent in three languages and is able to identify with multiple cultures. She has a passion to serve and see people grow in their faith. Jill currently serves as a teacher in women's ministry at her home church.

The Novelo's sense God's call to move to and minister in Brazil. They are praying for God's timing in the sale of their home. When that happens, they will begin to develop a medical riverboat ministry in Belem, Brazil, at the mouth of the Amazon River. They will be working with Marine Reach, a sub division of YWAM.

Missionary Resource Network is currently involved in ministering to missionaries with focus on the Caribbean, South and Central America. MRN ministers to 75 missionaries in 17 different countries specializing in shipping containers to these destinations. Eight containers plus approximately 50 smaller shipments (i.e., cars) are sent per year. Haiti and the Dominican Republic are the destinations of their next two containers.