Biography

Rev. and Mrs. Mario Perez have served as Pastors and Evangelists for more than 28 years in the US and Mexico. After being married on June 28th, 1980, they set out to minister in Texas and Mexico with his brother and sister-in-law Rev. and Mrs. Eleazar Rodriguez Jr.

In 1983, they served as Associate Pastors at the Praise and Worship Church International with Pastors David and Diana Velasquez in Houston TX. They also traveled the country with "The Amigos" Music Ministry for a couple years.

In 1986, they took a year off from ministry and moved back to Corpus Christi, Texas. After much prayer, and the formation of Word Supplier Ministries and consequently recording their first project called "SUPPLIER I - Cantad," God led them to the Rio Grande Valley in 1987.

For almost 5 years they worked with the Paulino Bernal Evangelism Association, and the Christian Radio Network. Together they pioneered the Valley Worship Center which is running almost 2,000 and has mothered three other churches in So. TX It was here that "SUPPLIER II - What would you Say?" the second recording was birthed.

In July of 1991 they teamed up with Romeo and Martha Mireles to pioneer yet another church, "The Rock." This outreach in north McAllen, Texas was born to minister to street people and is still drawing hundreds of troubled teens and adults to the Lord yearly.

On March the 1st, 1992 they took yet another step of faith and accepted a small congregation in Weslaco. It was here that "SUPPLIER III - No hay Como Tu" an all Spanish project was recorded.

In 2004, the MVA Praise Team recorded their first ever CD, "Clap your Hands!"

Pastor Mario and Ruth Ann have been at Mid Valley Assembly now for 16 consecutive years. He is an ordained minister with the Assemblies of God since April of 1997. They both attended Latin American Bible Institute in El Paso, Texas and also correspondence at Global University, Springfield MO.

They have four children: Clint James (23) Sara Ann (21) Jon Marc Rafael (15) Katie Ann (13).

The congregation has grown to almost 300 and the new and bigger facilities are almost finished.

Heart Attack

"Every heartbeat of mine, for the rest of my life, I need you.” Mario Perez - CJ’s Music (ASCAP)

The following is the account of my mild heart attack. It is divided in two parts. The first is a chronological order of events. The second is what the Lord taught me from this whole episode. Thank you for your prayers. This success story could not have happened if it hadn’t been for the prayers of all the people who love me and my precious family. I want to especially thank my immediate family and my MVA family.

I love you.

Sunday, August 7th 2005

Sunday morning I woke up with an uneasy feeling. I felt pain on my back and it spread to my shoulders and chest. I even felt the pain up to my jaw. I felt anxious and awful. I showered and went to church for prayer at 8:30 AM

Right before church started, I asked Diana Ybarra, Joe Gutierrez and Juan Zamora to pray for me because I was not feeling well. The pressure on my upper back, shoulders and chest subsided some so I led worship. As usual I ask the people to get out and shake someone’s hand or hug somebody. Rev. Savior Kofi Apedoh who was visiting from Ghana Africa was in the congregation. As he came towards me, I hugged him and put my hand on his heart and asked him to share the Word. He did. The rest of the day I felt OK, but still not 100%.

Monday, August 8th 2005

On Monday morning when I arrived at the office, the pressure on my back and shoulders migrated to my chest and left underarm. I told Susie, my secretary, “I think I’m gonna have my chest looked at.” After that, I went into the sanctuary and anointed my head with oil and prayed, “Lord you said to anoint the sick. I’m trusting in you Lord to heal my body, in Jesus name.” That‘s when I decided to drive back home and pick up my wife and go to the Knapp Medical Center ER. When we arrived, no one was in the waiting lobby, so they took me in right away.

Preliminary findings were:

EKG – good; X-Rays – good; Blood – slightly high sugar and cholesterol, and no traces of enzymes

Note: enzymes in the blood are a sure sign of a heart attack

Because the first blood samples don’t always tell the full story, my doctor’s strategy was to monitor me overnight.

Tuesday, August 9th 2005

The next morning we found that what we presumed not to be a heart attack, indeed turned out to be a mild one. After further tests, it was determined that there was a blockage that needed to be repaired. Because Knapp is not equipped to do that particular procedure, I was transported to the Renaissance Hospital in McAllen.

When I arrived at the Renaissance Hospital, I was prepped for surgery and taken to the Cat Lab for the procedure. When Dr. Soto, the cardiologist arrived, he apologized for being late. I asked him if I could pray for him and his assistants, he accepted. I prayed, “Lord I thank you for people who prepare and study to know how the body works, especially the heart. Thank Father for using them as instruments to bring healing to people. Lord you are my healer. I pray that you guide their hands and that this procedure will be successful in Jesus name I pray, amen.” Everyone in the Cat Lab said, “Amen.”

I asked the Dr. Soto how long the procedure would take. He said, “Oh, about 15 to 20 minutes.” Sure enough the procedure went perfect and I found myself in my own room recovering. That evening, when the catheter was removed, it was tense, but through prayer and power of the Holy Spirit, I was fine. All night I had to lay straight; that was tough.

Wednesday, August 10th 2005

On Wednesday morning, I got up, took a shower and relaxed all day long. Ruth Ann spent the night and all morning with me and Mama Charlene spent the afternoon. I had several visits – thanks.

Thursday, August 11th 2005

On Thursday morning, I was released. They brought me some lunch and after some delay, my lovely wife or 25 years brought me home about 2PM.

Things the Lord showed me through this whole ordeal:

Monday, as I lay in bed in ER #3, my first concern (OK, I was worrying) was how I was going to pay this medical bill. The Lord told me, “Don't worry about a thing, I will take care of it.” On Tuesday morning, the weight of what I was putting my family through broke me down. As I wept the Lord sent an angel who said, “Don't you worry about a thing, everything is going to be alright.” Thanks Mama Charlene.

As I was waiting to be transported to the Renaissance Hospital, they brought me a light lunch consisting of all liquids: Soup (Chicken flavored, yellow colored water), apple juice, black coffee, and Jello. As I drank my black, sugarless coffee (I’m used to vanilla lattes,) I looked up and all my kids came in the room. I saw them and at that point I realized something. My mind went back to Sunday morning when Rev. Kofi Apedoh gave an illustration about walking circumspectly like a chameleon. The chameleon’s eyes work independently of each other and can see in all directions. He will not take a step until both of his eyes have looked in every direction to make sure it is safe. The chameleon will also change the color of his skin to adapt to his surroundings. As I looked at my wife and kids, I determined myself to be like a chameleon and do whatever I have to do, adapt to whatever circumstances, whatever diet, whatever exercise regiment required of me because, “It is not about me, but about my family.”

As I was being transported to the Renaissance, (in an ambulance I might add) I felt so helpless, so out of control; I was not driving, I was cargo strapped down like a sack of potatoes to a gurney. I wept like a baby thinking, “I can’t be there for my kids to tell them that their daddy was going to be alright. I can’t hug on my wife and tell her everything will be fine,” I felt totally helpless. At that moment, I remembered Ruth Ann’s words to me just minutes before at Knapp Medical Center, “Babe, we are all doing great. We are being strong just like you have taught us. We’ve been listening to what you say from the pulpit. We are trusting in the Lord. He will see us through.” At that precise moment, the nurse attending me in the ambulance asks me, “So what do you?” I composed myself, wiped the tears off and responded, “I’m a minister.” I proceeded to ask him, “What church do you go to?” I ministered to him until we got to the Renaissance.

When I was taken to ER at the Renaissance, I felt like a helpless little boy with no say so. I was asked to take my clothes off and put on a gown. It was humiliating to have some guy shave my groin area and treat me like an experiment. I was told what to do and how to do it. When I was taken to the Cat Lab and was laying on the operating table, the nurse came and prepared me for surgery putting all kinds of solutions on my groin area. No conversation, no kind words, no one to hold my hand and tell me not to worry - nothing. When I heard someone tell me, “Keep your hands down by your side Mr. Perez,” I realized how much my life was in the hands of total strangers. Again I was not in control. I was stripped of my dignity and my pride. I kept reminding myself, “My life is your hands Lord; I’m doing this for my family; There are lots of people praying.” I could feel the prayers!

When I was in recovery in room 2103 of the NCCU at the Renaissance, many things ran through my mind. “I made it! The procedure was a success! The Lord had answered our prayers! Hallelujah! Wow the Lord is awesome!” Then I received a call from my brother Steve who had undergone the same procedure. He said, “Hold tight because the worst is yet to come.” “What part is that?” I asked. He said, “The removal of the catheter from the groin.” He told me of some cases where people have gone into shock, suffered cardiac arrest and have bled to death. He gave me step by step instructions of the procedure and what to expect. When the male nurse came to remove the catheter about midnight, I was a bit nervous, but calm. When he told me what was about to happen and asked me to remain calm, I thought, “Yeah right; easier said than done.” I told them, “Don’t panic if I begin to speak in tongues and pray.” They said, “That’s OK, prayer is good.” I said, “Let me pray for you guys. Lord I pray that you guide their hands in this procedure. Let it be a success. In Jesus name, Amen.” When he removed the catheter he took both of his thumbs and pressed down hard on the incision for 15 minutes. Imagine 40 or 50 pounds of pressure bearing down on you groin for 15 minutes. It was intense. My wife watching all of this and feeling helpless knelt down to pray on the couch in my room. Although it was very intense, the Lord helped me to remain calm. I was speaking in tongues under my breath, praying and singing, “I’m gonna lift my hands towards heaven….” After 15 minutes he removed his thumbs slowly and Glory to God, there was no bleeding.

On Wednesday morning I got up on my own strength to take shower, I couldn’t help but be overwhelmed by of the prayers of the people (all over the country,) the love of all praying for me and the supernatural way God had manifested his power. I was overwhelmed by God and the wisdom he has given man. The technology available is incredible! When I checked on the incision, I was expecting stitches or staples, but to my surprise, the incision was a small maroon little dot this size ( ● ) I could not believe it! This was it? This little cut? That is it? It was then I realized how powerful God had shown himself. There were no bruises, no soreness, not staples, no stitches, nothing! I was showering on my own! Glory to the Lord my healer! Those who came to se me could not believe I was standing and waking and hugging on them. They expected to see a different picture.

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