Executive Director

Dr. Israel Loachamin is a native of Quito, Ecuador. He is a two-time alumnus of Baylor University, earning his Master of Divinity in 2019 and Doctor of Ministry in 2022, and holds a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Loja, Ecuador. Israel is married to Emily and has two sons, Lucas and Gabriel and a daughter, Evelyn. He serves as associate pastor of the Hispanic Ministry at First Baptist Church of Waco and is the founder and executive director of La Puerta. Israel was a Waco Under 40 honoree in 2021. He has served on the boards of the City of Waco, Texas, Equal Employment Opportunity Advisory Committee, the Latino Mental Health Coalition, the McLennan County Public Health District's Equitable Vaccine Allocation Subcommittee, the Amberly Collaborative, and currently in the governing board member at Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.