Marlen Hernandez

Growing up, Marlen experienced poverty and discrimination. But Jesus changed all that. He brought hope, redemption, and healing into her life.

At the age of 16, Marlen heard about Jesus for the first time when a Christian family she was working for, shared the gospel with her. But it took another five years before she placed her trust in him.

Marlen began serving vulnerable women in Mexico and the USA until 2017 . Four years later, God called her to London to work with London City Mission, reaching vulnerable and marginalised women with the gospel.

“My heart feels a burden when I see these people so broken and without hope. Vulnerable people are more than their circumstances. God created them in his image. I want them to trust Jesus, to find hope, freedom, salvation and joy – just as I did!”

Marlen now works in east London, together with local churches, to reach homeless, marginalised and vulnerable women. One such woman is Mary*, who heard the message of Jesus for the first time when Marlen met her in a recovery house and invited her to a Bible study. Since then, Mary gave her life to Christ, and has experienced freedom from drugs, fear and oppression.

Marlen currently runs workshops with local churches in Newham, Redbridge, and Waltham Forest to encourage and equip them to minister, serve and share the hope of Christ with vulnerable and marginalised women.

East London has the greatest number of boroughs struggling with deprivation, poverty and inequality. It is with these particular communities that Marlen focuses her outreach.

Marlen is from Oaxaca (Wahaca), Mexico. She is the youngest of four siblings and the only Christian in her family. She likes to listen to music, run, play video games and cook. Her family is full of artisan weavers, farmers, and painters.

*Real name not used