Hermes Soto, 49, always prays for God’s will in his life. Those prayers have taken him from his home country of Costa Rica to the state of Virginia, then to Juarez, El Paso, Austin and now Waco.

Soto is pastor of Iglesia Bautista El Calvario at 1909 Colcord Ave. Translated in English that means Calvary Baptist Church, but not much English is spoken there.

Soto preaches to a congregation of 32. Members come from Mexico, El Salvador, Columbia and Costa Rica.

Pastor Hermes Soto is a man of many talents, also fixing computers and working as a janitor and handyman.
Rod Aydelotte / Tribune-Herald

A man of many talents, Soto not only shares the gospel but also buys broken laptop computers, repairs them and sells them for a profit.

He also works as a janitor and handyman at Waco Baptist Academy.

“This week, the students surprised me with a big birthday card,” said Soto, who will mark his 50th birthday next week. “It had so many messages inside that I didn’t have time to read it. I’m going to take it home and enjoy it.”

WBA’s appreciation

Principal Cindi Moore said the youngsters at Waco Baptist Academy love Soto and appreciate what he does for the school.

“He is so talented and he is such a servant of the Lord, I feel he is going to follow God’s guidance in everything he does,” Moore said. “Hopefully, his church will grow and his ministry there will become more full-time.”

Soto, whose parents and five siblings still live in Costa Rica, said he committed his life to God at age 16. He later embarked on an intensive yearlong study of the Bible and took courses at a seminary.

“My wife and I got involved in teaching Spanish as a second language to missionaries,” Soto said. “It was during that time we met the director of a Korean mission who wanted to open a school in Juarez, Mexico.”

Hermes and his wife, Sonia, spent a year at the mission’s home church in Virginia, where they prepared Spanish materials before leaving for Juarez. In his spare time, Hermes Soto preached to Indians in Chihuahua.

The couple’s stay in Juarez lasted until the Baptist Spanish Publishing House in El Paso gave Soto a job editing copy. He also bought and sold cars, and taught Bible in a church that later ordained him as a pastor.

After five years in El Paso, the Alpha Y Omega Baptist Church in Austin asked Soto to lead it.

Moving on

“My wife and I both had good jobs, and we had a nice house,” Soto said. “But I prayed about it for weeks and I realized God wanted me to move to Austin. I knew the Lord would provide for our needs.”

About four years ago, Soto found his obedience to God tested again. A friend approached him about moving to Waco and serving in a small church on the city’s north side.

“I told him, ‘I don’t like Waco,’ ” Soto said.

Hermes Soto works at Waco Baptist Academy when he’s not preaching or studying.
Rod Aydelotte / Tribune-Herald

He added that his feeling was nothing against the community but he had grown so fond of Austin that he didn’t want to leave. But he did, after a lot of prayer.

When his friend left the church, Soto became its pastor. The congregation recently bought a building.

Meanwhile, the Baptist Spanish Publishing House called again and Soto agreed to edit copy on his computer. His latest project involved editing a translation of the Old Testament written in more modern Spanish.

Soto and his wife have one son, Ed. They are celebrating the birth of their first grandchild, Holly Elizabeth Soto.

He said Waco is probably not the last stop on his journey with the Lord, though he would like to settle down somewhere someday.

When and if he leaves the city, he said he will cherish the memories.

mcopeland@wacotrib.com

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