A New Chapter of Service in Austin

By Alba Muñoz Saiz

Lt. Juan Hernandez and his wife, Omayra, are leading a new chapter of service in Austin—rooted in faith, community, and the belief that real change happens when people work together.

When Juan Hernandez first crossed the Mexican border 24 years ago in pursuit of the American dream, his plan was simple: work for two years, save money, and return home to finish college. Instead, he found his calling. After meeting his wife, Omayra Cervantes, and strengthening his Christian faith, he devoted himself to ministry, helping establish new congregations across Wisconsin and working to bring people together through faith and community.

“Amazing how two years became more than twenty!” Juan said. Their shared journey of faith and service has led them to new leadership positions at Austin’s Salvation Army. From their arrival last summer, the couple has felt welcomed and inspired by the county’s collaborative spirit. “Austin is so diverse, and yet everyone cares,” Juan says. “People open their doors and say, ‘We want to help.’ You don’t see that so often. It really feels like God placed us here.”

The Journey to Home

For many years after they first married, Juan and Omayra were leaders in the Assembly of God, a Pentecostal Christian denomination known for its lively music and community outreach. Their ministry focused on supporting families, mentoring young people, and creating spaces of belonging and hope. Over time, they helped guide several congregations in Wisconsin, always looking for ways to strengthen connections among neighbors through faith.

When one of those churches faced challenges and eventually had to close, Lt. Juan faced one of the hardest chapters of his life. “I felt like I had failed God,” he recalls. “I stopped going to church. I didn’t even open my Bible for months.”

That difficult time became a turning point. A neighbor invited him to visit the Salvation Army, and what began as a hesitant step quickly became a path toward renewal and purpose. He admits he wasn’t immediately drawn to the quieter sermons and the uniforms, but his daughters liked it, and that was enough for Juan to give it a chance. They came to the Salvation Army two weeks before one of the COVID shutdowns. What caught his attention was the social side: the food pantry, the support for the homeless and those in need.

Lt. Juan and Omayra soon began volunteering regularly at the Salvation Army, helping at the food pantry, serving community meals, and lending a hand wherever needed. What had started as small acts of service began to feel like a calling. Within a year, they decided to take the next step and enroll in the Salvation Army’s two-year officer training program in Chicago, a move that required faith and sacrifice.

The decision meant leaving behind their home, selling their car, and living entirely on faith while dedicating themselves full-time to ministry training. Their days were filled with scripture study, classes on community leadership, and financial stewardship.

Those two years, he says, changed everything. The experience prepared the couple for the balance of pastoral care and hands-on service that defines the Salvation Army’s mission.

Finding a Calling in Austin

Even in normal times, the job of running the 125-year-old ministry in Austin can be overwhelming. The organization offers Sunday services, Bible study, and both women’s and men’s groups. Youth programming includes character-building activities and day camp.

At the heart of the mission is addressing food insecurity through multiple programs. The staff and volunteers run a hot meals program Monday through Thursday, serving nutritious dinners to anyone in need, no questions asked. Their food shelf provides free groceries to local residents facing financial hardship.

Lt. Juan quickly noticed that Austin’s collaborative spirit runs deep. Organizations, schools, and businesses regularly join forces to meet community needs, reflecting a shared belief that everyone can play a role in helping their neighbors. He credits the strong sense of shared purpose among local organizations and companies. “I think it starts with Hormel and their mission,” he says. “They share a vision that makes you feel part of something bigger.”

That spirit of cooperation, he adds, mirrors what drew him to the Salvation Army in the first place: a belief that faith must be lived out through action. “It’s not only preaching; it’s doing,” he says.

The couple have focused their first months on listening, meeting with community members, learning from local partners, and truly understanding how the Salvation Army can best support ongoing work. Under their leadership, the congregation has already begun to grow, from two attendees when they arrived to more than ten regular members, and they hope to engage more families and youth in the coming year. Balancing administrative duties with pastoral care is part of the weekly rhythm.

Looking ahead, they are preparing to launch Pathways of Hope, a program designed to help individuals and families set goals and take concrete steps toward stability. “This program is designed to support people through their challenges. If someone needs a job, wants to get a driver’s license, or learn English, we stay with them through the whole process.”

Rooted in Collaboration

A coalition member of the Hometown Food Security Project, the Austin Salvation Army works alongside many local organizations to address hunger and provide stability for families throughout Mower County. Lt. Juan sees this partnership as essential.

“The Salvation Army cannot do this alone,” he says. “We need other organizations. We need to share resources and work together. That’s how real change happens.”

One area of particular concern for Lt. Juan is homelessness, a need he says is becoming more visible in the community. “It’s something heavy on my heart,” he says. “We see people who don’t have a place to spend the night, but I believe that, working together with other organizations, we’re going to find a solution.”

For Lt. Juan and Omayra, that sense of shared responsibility, walking beside others rather than working alone, defines both their ministry and the Salvation Army’s purpose in Austin. “We’re here to help,” Juan says simply. “If there’s anything we can do, reach out. Let’s keep communicating and working together.”