Aaron grew up on the mission field in Chile, South America and then completed his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business at Oral Roberts University. Wanting to be in ministry full time, he then completed a master’s in practical theology from Southwestern University in Bethany, OK. While working on his theology master’s degree, he worked with a church planting team to plant 14 churches among the Spanish-speaking people in Oklahoma, Arkansas and Missouri.

The Helland Family

Esther is the daughter of PAZ founders Luke and Christine Huber, and grew up in the Amazon Basin. She worked as a missionary in Japan for 2 1/2 years before earning her bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Journalism and then her master’s in Teaching English as a Second language from Oral Roberts University.

Aaron, Esther and their three small children are currently planting a multicultural church among the millions of hurting and lost people who live in Chicago. Chicago has over 2 million Hispanics, of which less than 2% are committed followers of Jesus. Aaron and Esther found an inner city filled with broken people, addictions, and violence. In this spiritually hostile environment, they are seeing miracles happen through one on one discipleship. Both Aaron and Esther are very excited as they watch God work in lives and transform relationships and marriages. The motto of the church workers in the Amazon is the same motto in the inner city of Chicago: This is just the beginning of God’s work among us!