Founded in 2020, Abide to Love was birthed from the Sotolongo family's pursuit of and surrender to God, allowing Him to form in them His heart for the world around us.
Richard and Monica Sotolongo began this organization as an expression of their family's journey with Jesus. Compelled by compassion to love the hurting, broken, and abandoned, they set out to love and care for the broken world around them. For years, they hosted orphan children from other countries. They served as foster parents in their own community. They have adopted three children with special needs from Ukraine. They moved their family to the inner city to love on the poor. They also served as missionaries and have supported orphanages and children ministries in multiple countries.
All of this was done from an identity of sonship, through the spirit of adoption, that is received when placing our faith in Jesus Christ. Monica and Richard have found that the deeper we go into our Heavenly Father's love, the more natural it becomes to lay our lives down to love others.
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Their life's goal is to not only continue loving others, but to disciple the body of Christ to do so as well, by equipping and activating the church into abiding ever more deeply in the Father's love.
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Richard currently serves as the chairman of the board for Abide to Love, Inc. Monica currently serves as the executive director.
Follow Richard and Monica and their family
Our Core Values
Righteousness
Making wrong things right
Jesus did not come to condemn the world but to save it. Through the gift of salvation we can become the righteousness of God. In Him all things become new.
Outreach
Being available to love the one in front of you
God is always working to reach the world and He searches for those He can use to do so. All He needs from us is our availability. Whether it's our neighbors, or serving others globally, we are intentionally available for God's love to flow through us.
Discipleship
Teaching others to do the same
As Christians our calling is not only to love God and love others, but to teach others to do the same. Discipleship is modeling to others a lifestyle of ministry, and encouraging them to become the hands and feet of Jesus in their everyday life.
Our Board of Directors
Richard Sotolongo
Chairman
Richard is a husband and father to 8 children. Richard and his wife, Monica, have hosted orphans from other countries, fostered children in their city, and adopted three children with special needs from eastern Europe. He has a Bachelor's in Math Education and a Master's in Christian Ministry from Liberty University. Richard has worked in the education field for years, ministered in various aspects of church ministry, and served as a missionary both local and abroad. Richard has a heart for justice and for loving and serving abandoned and underprivileged children. His greatest desire is to help others encounter Jesus in an authentic and impactful way so that they find their identity in Him.
George Arroyo, Jr.
Vice-Chairman
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George is a graduate of Southeastern University, Warner University, and the United States Sports Academy where he has earned a Bachelor's degree and two Master's degrees, including an MBA. George has pursued his passion of soccer as his career, and has coached and managed several collegiate teams. He currently works as the Head Men's Soccer Coach for Ohio Christian University. George has also organized and facilitated youth camps and community service projects. George brings years of experience in leadership, management and administration. George is married to his wife, Bethany. His passions are his dog, Mango, eating a plant based whole foods diet, and considers himself a fitness and nutrition enthusiast.
Carla Holness
Secretary/Treasurer
Carla is a stay at home wife and mother to three children. She was born to a family of faith fully devoted to serving Jesus in ministry and missions. At fourteen she gave her life to the Lord and has been faithfully serving Jesus ever since. Carla’s ministry is to encourage, train, disciple and release people into the calling that God has for them. Carla and her husband, Michael, live life in obedience to Jesus, serving the community, and desiring to bring the Father’s wholeness and shalom back into families. Carla has a Bachelors from the University of South Florida in Magazine Journalism and a minor in Business Management.
Erika Cuffy
Board Member
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Erika is a graduate of Southeastern University and Florida State University with with a Bachelor's and Master's degree in social work. She has worked as a Regional School Social worker in Polk County, and as an anti-trafficking and adoption advocate for Florida Baptist Children's Home and One More Child. Erika is currently a professor at Southeastern where she is the field director for the Bachelor's program. Her job experience has taught her how to work with the most vulnerable populations and how to walk families through adoptions. Erika is married to her amazing husband, Vincent, and a bonus momma to her sweet Noah. Erika loves people, and believes love and support can restore broken lives.
Caitlin Mirabella
Board Member
Rushton Metzler
Board Member
Caitlin is an adoptive mom and global evangelist. Since beginning full-time ministry with her husband, Javen, in 2011, God's call has led them to restricted nations, remote villages, and unreached people groups. Caitlin has ministered in the USA, Middle East, Europe, South America, and Africa. Caitlin and her husband are the founders of Immerse the Nations and work to unite the body of Christ through intimate relationships with Father God.
Rushton is a devoted husband and father to his wife, Mandy, and their sons Knox and Luke. He has been employed by Columbia County Fire and Rescue for 15 years, as a firefighter and EMT. He owns and Design Scape Landscape Services, which he started as a teenager. He has a heart for the homeless and less fortunate and serves them through food ministry. He has sat on the board of 143 Ministries International and faithfully served and mentored many men going through drug and alcohol rehab. He and his wife helped start a church in Augusta, GA. His hobbies include hunting, fishing, camping, and cooking.
Leah Tinsley
Board Member
Leah is a creative artist and dynamic leader with proven success in business operations. She graduated from both the pastoral ministry school at Casa de Dios in Guatemala and the Supernatural school of ministry in Tampa, FL. She spent many years as a youth pastor and children's ministry director teaching, counseling, and leading families into restoration. Leah brings years of corporate & ministerial experience in leadership, management, and administration. Leah has ministered in the USA, Europe, and South America. She is the founder of The Creative ArtNest which exists to cultivate creativity, joy, inspiration, and encouragement. Leah has a heart for children, justice, and desires to bring healing to families. Leah is married to her husband, Dalton, who serves as a fire-fighter. Her passions are prophetic art, nature, photography, and writing. She utilizes these passions and gifts to teach true identity, our value, the Father's heart and healing.
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