The Rev. Alex G. Montes Vela, Missioner
(Alex's facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=628760573)

Alex was born in Huacho, a small town north of Lima, Perú. In 1975, his family moved to Guatemala, where his father attended seminary. When his father graduated from seminary, he was invited to pastor a church in Harlingen, Texas. That’s how Alex’s family ended up in the United States, and Texas. They spent six years in the “Rio Grand Valley” and then moved to Houston.

He married Thi (pronounced “tea”) after his freshman year in college. Thi also left her country in 1975: Vietnam. Alex enlisted in the United States Army (field artillery) a year later and was deployed to the Persian Gulf, during Desert Shield/Storm. After four years in the Army, Alex returned to school and graduated from the University of Houston with a degree in Electrical Engineering.

While in college, he worked as a priest’s assistant and worship leader for the Spanish-speaking congregation at Church of the Redeemer, Houston. After graduating, he worked at Iglesia Episcopal San Mateo, Houston, as the youth pastor and worship leader. Alex graduated from the Virginia Theological Seminary (VTS), Alexandria, Virginia, in May 2005, and was ordained in June of the same year.

Alex and Thi have three beautiful children: Alejandro Thanh (19), Alissa Mai Thi (15), and Laura Huyen (13). They also have two dogs: Hershy (?)and Julie (chiuaua).

Alex enjoys bothering his kids (and wife), jogging (when he wakes up early), reading, watching movies, and playing musical instruments.

Alex is also a member of the staff of St. Paul's Episcopal Church.