David and Emily Romero are co-founders and the directors of Jubilee Centers International. Together, with a small group of Christian brothers and sisters, they began Jubilee’s official NGO in 2009 in the US based on a dream and a calling from God. In 2010 the work and ministry of Centro de Jubileo Internacional began in Honduras
As a Honduran himself, David grew up alongside many friends and neighbors who did not have the opportunity to go to school, who were swept up into violent gang life already in childhood, and whose families often could not give their children enough to eat. When David was 12 years old, his grandfather, Antonio Romero, gave him an old violin. David noticed that inside the violin there was an inscription that read Antonius Stradivarius Cremonensis 1721. David was told that if this were one of Stradivarius’ original violins it would be worth millions of dollars. However, he would have to wait until he was 18 until he could have it officially appraised and sold. Therefore, at age 12, David began to envision and dream about what he would do with all these millions of dollars. Seeing such desperate need in so many of the neighborhoods close by, he began to imagine how the church could reach out and help poor communities, teach them God’s word, and offer services like education and employment to better their lives.
At 18, David eagerly took his violin to get appraised. The appraiser told him that the violin was only a copy of the original and was actually worth very little. Although David was initially very saddened by this news, he soon realized that God had used this violin as an instrument in his life to give him dreams and visions about a ministry that would later become Jubilee Centers International.
After working for several years as a high school teacher in a poor neighborhood in Tegucigalpa, David met Emily who was volunteering as an English teacher in that same school. Emily also felt called by God to work in poor communities in Honduras to share the Good News of the Gospel and extend Christ’s love by providing opportunities to families at-risk. God united their lives in marriage in 2006 and also united their calling to work together sharing the good news of Christ in both word and deed.
They spent several years continuing to pray, plan, and listen to God’s voice as they were studying and working in Pasadena, CA where Emily finished a Master’s degree in Cross Cultural Studies from Fuller Theological Seminary.
Jubilee continues to be a fulfillment of the calling that God planted in their hearts many years ago. He has done more than the Romeros could have asked or imagined! He continues to show them His power, provision and transformation in awesome ways. “For the Kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God’s power.” 1 Corinthians 4:20
