Our History

Marinus van Heuvelen
Marinus van Heuvelen grew up in the north of the Netherlands, in the small village of Spijk, by the sea.

After finishing high school, he studied electrical engineering. During that time, he made evangelical friends who had a great influence on his life. This marked a turning point: he decided to dedicate his life completely to God and went on to study theology in Belgium and Switzerland.
In Belgium, he studied at the Evangelische Theologische Faculteit in Leuven.

During that time, he met Mónica Márquez, an Argentinian with a burning heart for God and for mission.

In 2007, they served together in Argentina at Casa de Dios church in Metán, initially in the suburbs and in the church’s community kitchen.

In 2008, they got married.

Marinus combines a solid theological foundation with years of practical experience in intercultural contexts. His teaching is characterized by clarity, depth, and a passion for the biblical foundations of mission. He teaches on the history of the missionary movement, the calling and preparation of the missionary, the importance of faithful support and stewardship, and comparative theology.

Mónica Márquez (van Heuvelen)

Mónica Márquez (van Heuvelen) is an Argentinian leader with extensive experience in discipleship and pastoral training. Born and raised in northern Argentina, she has served the Lord from a young age.

She has a warm heart and a deep passion for spiritual growth and personal guidance.

Her ministry focuses on practical and transformational topics such as strengthening marriage, understanding God’s work in mission, the practical application of the missionary call, and personal discipleship. At the Zera Mission School, she teaches key classes, leads small groups, and brings valuable local and cultural perspective.

The Origin of Zera

In 2008, Marinus’s parents visited Metán. They were deeply impressed by the work, which led to the creation of a foundation in the Netherlands to support the ministry. In 2009, the name Zera was chosen, a Hebrew word meaning “seed,” referring to spiritual fruitfulness and offspring (inspired by Psalm 22:38).

As it was not yet the right time for a mission school, Marinus and Mónica began in 2010 with children’s ministry in Río Piedras, a village about 25 km from Metán. The children’s club grew quickly, and parents also began attending the meetings. This led to the founding of the Piedras Vivas church in 2012. That same year, their first daughter, Svetlana, was born. In 2016, Petra followed.

In 2018, Marinus and Mónica became pastors of Casa de Dios church in Metán. The desire to start a full missionary training program always remained alive. After years of prayer and preparation, concrete planning began in 2022.

In July 2024, the first pilot took place: one week of theory and one week of a practical mission trip. In January 2025, the new assembly hall was inaugurated.