María Luisa Piraquive Biography (1949 - to present)

María Luisa Piraquive Biography

By Olma Zuly Mina Rentería

During my childhood, my mother and my grandmother instilled in me the

great value of having God in our lives. Therefore, I always wanted to know if
God listened to me when I spoke to him looking at the sky. In my adolescence,
when I met the church of God, I realized that God listened to me when I spoke
to him; moreover, I realized that he spoke. It was a big surprise to me, and from
that moment I enjoy his teachings and his prophetic word through the Holy
Spirit. In addition to that surprise, I felt an immense joy to know that was a
woman who ran the Church.

Her name is María Luisa Piraquive. She is the respected spiritual leader
of the Church of God Ministry of Jesus Christ International. She is a woman
whom I greatly admire for her great love for God, for her intelligence and
wisdom in the Doctrine of the Bible, and also for her humility, simplicity and
frankness when it comes to defending the work of God. In her childhood, God
called her through a dream, and from that moment she had the longing and the
need to seek God through the years.

In her youth she met an evangelical pastor who fell in love with her, and
soon after they got married. Their marriage was dedicated to pleasing God and
in this way the Bible became the main axis of their lives and they knew the
function of the Holy Spirit. As a result, God for their love and sincerity made
them the promise to found the church, and in the time planned by Him that
promise is fulfilled, and emerge the Church of God Ministry of Jesus Christ
International in 1972 with four people to become the time in a Church with an
extraordinary scope and growth for its 850 temples in 45 countries.

Another reason why I admire Maria Luisa so much is for her great social
and humanitarian work through the Maria Luisa de Moreno International
Foundation where she helps women as single mothers, childhood, among
others.

María Luisa Piraquive was born on February 10, 1949, in Chipatá,

Santander, Colombia. Her parents were Obdulio Piraquive and María Corredor.
Her father was a policeman from whom she inherited the love for music and
instruments, and her mother was a housewife from whom she inherited the
sense of responsibility, the fulfillment of the duty of housewife, wife and mother.
She is the third of ten siblings, six women and four men.
 María Luisa Piraquive Biography (1949 - to present)

Since she was little she was very curious to know God, and when she
was seven years old had a dream where the end of the world was and the Lord
Jesus Christ was placing souls in heaven and hell and the Lord said to her:
"Help me to choose souls for the kingdom", and she replied yes. And suddenly
she began to cast all the souls for heaven and none for hell. Nevertheless, she
only knew the interpretation of this dream in 1965 when she first came to the
evangelical church, the meaning of the dream was a call from God.

Despite the poverty that she lived during her childhood, she learned to
lead a happy life, because she was very romantic. And also she used to explore
the countryside, running through the rocks and also used to walk near the rivers
singing ranchero songs and who listened to her was delighted with her beautiful
voice. At school she participated in plays, songs and dances. She only attended
primary school because at that time there was not high school.

Years later, when María Luisa was thirteen years old her sense of self-
improvement allowed her to leave Chipatá and pursue her dreams of going to
high school. So that she went to live definitively in Bogotá. There she started
working in a clothing factory where she sewed buttons and opened buttonholes.
In addition to that work she learned to sew clothes for women and babies
months later (that was her job for more than 20 years). While she was working,
she enrolled in the Paciolo Academy to study business, but she never did these
studies because she got married and her husband did not allow her to do those
studies.

At sixteen her sister Beatriz introduced her to the pastor of the

Pentecostal church, Luis Eduardo Moreno, who fell in love with her at first sight.
He was over 30 years old and María did not like him very much, however, he
knew how to win her and finally got married on September 16, 1966. They had
five children, two daughters and three sons. One of her daughters was senator
of the Republic.

During her marriage she became more interested in religion because her
husband was a preacher of an evangelical church. Moreover, she began to read
the Bible from beginning to end many times in order to understand the Doctrine;
sometimes her husband helped her with many explanations. This is how the
gospel became the main axis of her life. She fell in love with God and converted
to his truth, so she gave his heart to Him.

Both María Luisa and her husband gave their marriage to God, and
together took on the task of searching and deepening the knowledge of the
Bible to find answers about what a human being's life should be on earth.

Luis Eduardo, her husband was confronted with the leaders of the
Pentecostal church because of some activities that were done there and that
did not correspond with the healthy Doctrine of God. Due to these difficulties, he
had to renounce that church and did not want to know anything about religion,
 María Luisa Piraquive Biography (1949 - to present)

but María Luisa insisted that they should continue forward in search of the true
work of God.

In 1968 Maria Luisa met Celita Tricoche who was an evangelical

preacher from the United States; she introduced her to a woman named Dora
who had the gift of Prophecy. Through this woman God made her the promise
to form the true church of God through the Prophecy. Moreover, God promised
that both Maria Luisa and her husband would have all the spiritual gifts and
also, they would be prophets and preachers of his church. These revelations
were confirmed several months later by another person named Lucila who
belonged to another evangelical church.

In 1971 they were no longer going to any church and this had caused in
her an immense sadness and spiritual emptiness. However, one day she was
working on sewing at home when she felt a great desire to pray and
remembered a biblical passage Joshua 24:15 which says: “And if it seems evil
unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether
the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or
the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house,
we will serve the LORD”. Immediately she called her mother-in-law to pray
together and they did so for weeks. A few days later they invited a couple of
spouses who joined the prayer. These prayers were made from 7 to 12 at night
every day.

Thus, in the company of her husband Luis Eduardo Moreno and four
others in 1972, the Christian Religious Congregation begins: “Church of God
Ministry of Jesus Christ International ", based on the Bible, initially led by Luis
Eduardo Moreno and she prophesied at that time.

God through those prophecies reminded her of the spiritual promises that
He had told her in past years. Moreover, God made the promise her to study
because in the future she would be a very important and recognized woman
who would take her Word around the world.

At the beginning of 1979 Maria Luisa receives an organeta and a tape

recorder as a gift which allowed her to reproduce the hymns and choirs on
cassettes. She did all the work: she sang and played the instrument. In that
same year she began her high school on radio and an English course and
graduated in 1988.

In addition, she studied at the University of La Sabana and graduated in

1993 with a degree in Bachelor of Education with a specialty in Linguistics and
Literature. She worked as a primary teacher in a school for three years.

After the death of her husband in 1996, Maria Luisa thus becomes the
only woman in the world who leads a church of Colombian origin, and who has
also reached all latitudes, with extraordinary reach and growth. Its 850 temples
in 45 countries, changing the way of feeling, thinking and acting of many people
 María Luisa Piraquive Biography (1949 - to present)

in the 5 continents through its live Bible teachings transmitted in video and in
several languages.

Currently, her work in the Church is immense. The signs, wonders and
demonstrations that accompany the apostles and prophets of God, as taught in
the Scripture, are evident in her. As a result, this truth is verified day after day.
The testimonies through which people, around the world, report blessings,
benefits, freedom, peace and change of life received, are innumerable. The
support of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit to his Church and to the person
chosen by Him to lead his Church at this time, are undeniable.

Therefore, Maria Luisa Piraquive preaches the Word of the Lord around
the world, has conducted hundreds of Bible studies on all continents and by
virtue of her religious, educational and social work, which is exemplary, has
received honorary doctorates, academic degrees and various recognitions
granted by multiple institutions in Colombia and abroad.

On the one hand, her spiritual work has meant a lot in the life of the
believer. On the other hand, her social and humanitarian work has contributed
to the welfare of many people.

Therefore, she created the María Luisa de Moreno International

Foundation in 2000 so as to make that humanitarian work a reality. This
Foundation is a non-profit organization whose main objective is to benefit the
most vulnerable communities in all levels, through the development and
execution of educational, productive and humanitarian programs.

Below I mention only some of the many titles of honor such as Medals,
Decorations and Recognitions granted by government entities that she has
received for her great social and humanitarian work in Colombia and in some
parts of the world.

These are some awards received in 2012:

 Meritorious mention "Order of the Simon Bolivar Democracy" given by

the House of Representatives of the Congress of the Republic.

 "Golden Coreguaje to the exemplary citizen" given by the Government of

the Department of Caquetá.

 "Wings of Hope" given by the Colombian Air Force in recognition of the

"Brigades of Health for Colombia" program.

 The Ibero-American Council in Honor of Educational Quality awarded Dr.

María Luisa Piraquive two honorary degrees: "Doctor Honoris Causa
 María Luisa Piraquive Biography (1949 - to present)

Summa Cum Laude" and "Master's Degree in Educational

Administration" in recognition of her career and social work in the XII
Ibero-American Summit in the city of San Juan de Puerto Rico in Puerto
Rico.

In the year 2013:

 "Doctor Honoris Causa" awarded by the YMCA University to her

outstanding professional career and her distinguished work as a social
leader for the benefit of the most vulnerable communities in Mexico City
in Mexico.

In the years 2015, 2016 and 2017:

 Recognition for her commitment and constant support in the construction

of the Municipal Educational, Institution Manuela Ayala of Gaitan given
by the Municipal Mayor of Facatativa.

 María Luisa de Moreno International Foundation for two consecutive

years has won the "Best Social Spot in Latin America", organized by
"THE FORUM", the social responsibility program of Generation
DIRECTV.

 Medal "Order of Merit" given by the Municipal Council of Facatativa

where Dr. Maria Luisa Piraquive is exalted for her great social work and
work for the dignified education and well-being of children.

 "Santiago of Cali Medal in the Grade Golden Cross” given by the

Santiago de Cali Council for her great social and educational work.

 Civil Order of Merit: "Cartagena Historical and Cultural Heritage of

Humanity" honors the María Luisa de Moreno International Foundation
for her great social work.

In conclusion, María Luisa is undoubtedly the person whom I admire in

life for all that love, commitment and responsibility that she has with God and
his Church. That love has been conveyed through the Bible Studies that I enjoy
every Saturday afternoon when I receive the best teaching that a child of God
can learn and is the love of God through the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

In addition, that material work so beautiful that she does for the benefit of
the most needy is very admirable. To me, these two reasons make Sister Maria
Luisa as affectionately we call her one of the most memorable person of great
example for me to imitate and follow for the rest of my life.
 María Luisa Piraquive Biography (1949 - to present)

References

Book Sources

Piraquive, M. (2002). Vivencias. Bogotá: Colombia. Print

Other Sources

Church of God Ministry of Jesus Christ International. (2018, April 1). About
Church history and Sister María Luisa Piraquive. Retrieved 1 April 2018, from
https://idmji.org/