Rubén Fernández

Living God's Love, Sharing God's Love

Ruben, Lidia and their children have served with Agape (CRU) Spain and Europe full time for almost three decades. Their calling, vocation, passion, vision, formation, experience continues to be, now with the MCE family, caring and advancing the kingdom in the context of sports. 

Our best version in life and sport performance belongs in our bodies and minds but includes too and is affected by our emotions, relations, character, habits and personal and sport environment, formation, resources, goals and environment. SportCARE supports human flourishing and top-fit sport performance for the whole development of sportspeople and their sport communities.

Living God's Love, Sharing God's Love

Ruben was part of Athletes in Action (AIA) since its early beginnings (1985) in Europe/Spain. Ruben is first born son to Gabino and Isabel Fernández. Gabino was a recognised historian, pastor and teacher, and founder of Centro de Estudios de la Reforma (protestantes.net) (Reformation Studies Centre in Spain). In 1994 Rubén joined Agape full time, discipling, coaching and mentoring sportspeople into Christ-centred kingdom servants.

Ruben was asked to give leadership to the AIA Spain National Ministry (1997). His responsibilities where highly focused on ministry with basketball, pro sports and helping as part of the European team and board, and included serving the Agape family —Student Venture, Family Life, Campus, Jesus film, etc), 

Then Ruben, Lidia, and their first son Samuel, moved to Barcelona to start a new season leading Agape Spain (2006-2008). Ruben was national director to a team of 100 full time staff and over 500 associates and volunteers in 15 ministries reaching out and serving the felt needs of families, children, sports people, musicians and artists, students, business people, politicians, based in 9 cities across Spain.

Later (2008-2018) Ruben was Director for AIA Western Europe to 7 staffed country teams, pioneering and accelerating sport mission while he mentored a new AIA Spain leadership. During these years Ruben was European Coordinator for the AIA Global Council and part of several regional and global boards (ECSU, GSCA, etc) within sports and mission.

Together

Ruben (April 28, 1970) and Lidia (December 26, 1976) got married July 20th 1996. They have been blessed with Samuel on December 31st 2005, Josue on August 6 2008, Lucía on June 28 2010 & David Azarías on September 16 2013.

Ruben & Lidia have live in Malaga and have been members of Parque Victoria Church (since 1994) where they have served in various capacities over the years. Rubén is an elder at Parque Victoria.

Ruben has studies on sports education, sport performance professional coaching, theology (Master in Theology and Ministry with Fuller Theological Seminary) and has a degree in basketball National Coach. Lidia made a decision for Christ beeing a little girl as well. She graduated in 2003 with a degree on Computer Hardware Engineering. 

Lidia played basketball on the 1st National Division. She is a hard worker with a silent servant attitude & a pure soul. She has complemented our calling and vocation as family with discipleship, coaching, hands-on sport tours, camps, etc. Now, she works on IT at the University of Malaga and serves as President for our Church’s association board.

Ruben being an official chaplain at Sidney, Athens & London Olympics and leading one of the best basketball camps in Spain at Frigiliana (Málaga) are some of our life highlights serving Jesus.

Teaming up with you

If you would like to receive our regular updates & newsletters, please send us an e-mail at Ruben.fernandez@ecmi.org