Meet Jennifer Aguilar | IJM Champions – Houston Team Leader | Legal Assistant

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jennifer Aguilar and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jennifer, let’s start by talking about what inspires you?
The gospel of Jesus Christ is my all in all, and that Truth has shaped my entire perspective, become my motivation, and fueled my inspiration. His life, death, and resurrection establish a hope far greater than anything we can grasp on this earth, and it is that hope which anchors my soul and empowers me to work tirelessly in the fight against modern-day slavery.

International Justice Mission has been a beacon of this hope for over 20 years as they labor day in and day out globally to reduce violence, help those in poverty, and send rescue and restoration to survivors. When rescue comes for the innocent held in bondage, their freedom is a powerful testimony and representation of the freedom that is ours in Jesus.

The Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. This liberty holds a depth to it that becomes more beautiful and precious the farther you dig. It is a freedom from guilt, from sin, from the penalty of death – a concept difficult to believe if God had not made it known to us. The Holy Spirit within me compels me to walk with the Lord, to love and serve Him, and therefore, to love and serve others. Even Jesus Himself said, “just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

Oh, that I might attain this selflessness that Jesus showed! That I may be a vessel for His use and His glory, to help bring His good news of freedom to all the nations! His love for me is what drives me each and every day to seek justice on behalf of those who are in desperate need of it.

We know from the scriptures each individual has been crafted by God and therefore has inherent value and worth – this fact alone highlights the abhorrent natures of slavery and violence, and why we as believers are called to uphold one of the greatest commandments: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

From joining International Justice Mission years ago as a donor in a small volunteer role to now becoming the Houston Volunteer Team Leader, the mission remains the same – protect people in poverty from violence by rescuing victims, restoring survivors, bringing criminals to justice, and helping local government and law enforcement build a safer future that will endure.

Jesus gave His life for me, and in return, I want to give my life to Him by using my time, resources, and spiritual gifts to serve Him, serve others, and bring freedom to the ends of the earth.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Well, in my non-volunteering side of life, I work as a Legal Assistant primarily handling commercial business litigation. A typical day consists of reviewing, organizing, and coding documents, speaking with clients and helping draft discovery and motions – overall, it’s a place where I enjoy the work I do and the people I work with. The Lord has strengthened my discipline and how I allot my time, and I make it a point to always seek out work if I have downtime, or ask my colleagues what I may do to help them, It’s important to remember you are on a team, and to never be afraid to ask for help. You don’t always have to know everything, all the time. I consider my work a complete blessing because I continue to learn and improve in my daily assignments, and expand my capabilities with new information and implementation. My job also gives me the time and means to focus on my volunteering and provides a terrific work-life balance. There are many in my office who have come to multiple IJM events and have also supported the organization financially. The relationships and friendships established have left a lasting impact on me – professionally, yes, but also to the extent that all it takes is a bit of courage to speak about something you are passionate about, only to find there are others in your social circle who are just as passionate about the same issue but don’t know the best way to support or join in.
In terms of how I got here, it certainly had some ups and downs. For a few years, I struggled with epilepsy; it impeded my ability to work, drive, and function on a daily basis. I found myself unemployed and stuck in a rut, waiting for relief or an answer. After years of medications, undergoing various tests, and finally getting approval from the insurance, in August 2019 I underwent brain surgery – successfully! The fear I had lived with disappeared, and I find myself weeping with joy at how far I’ve come. I was never alone through any of it, even when it was just me in a hospital bed – I knew Jesus was with me.
In all that time, God taught me that in my weakness, I could only find strength in Him – even better, He was offering me His strength, I just had to take it. I knew what it meant when He said, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” I’m amazed at all He’s done to heal my body and bring me to where I am, from the doctors and nurses who took care of me, to my loving husband and family who went above and beyond to take care of me.
I’m still recovering to an extent, but I have been completely seizure free for 13 months – something I never thought would happen when I would suffer a seizure multiple times in a week, or even a day.
If I had to pick one thing for others to know about me and my story, it is this – God is faithful, He is real, and He will never forsake you.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
What a delightful question! As a native Houstonian, it is refreshing to sit and truly think about what holds my heart in this city.

Want to know an amazing thing about Houston? Two words – the food. Every craving known to man, every cuisine from across the globe, you can find it all here! If you’re in the mood for Tex Mex (and who isn’t?), you have at least 5 amazing restaurants within driving distance, which is quite a feat for a city this large. We would swing through El Tiempo, Escalantes, Ninfa’s, Pappasito’s, Las Tortugas, to name a few, to enjoy every last bite of queso, steak fajitas, barbacoa, tamales, and never-ending chips and salsa, topped off with margaritas.

It’s a blessing to have the world right outside your neighborhood, literally and figuratively. From the fresh sushi plates at Izakaya Wa, to the delicacies at Raja Sweets, and to the savory dishes at Avesta Persian Grill, you can enjoy just about every type of culture within a few miles of each other.
Need to do a shout-out, though, for my family’s go-to brunch spot for nearly 3 years now – Federal Grill off I-10! That’s one fabulous place where you can have a fine cocktail or two, chat with the servers since they’re as friendly as they come, and indulge in some American comfort food. I would be mistaken to not take a friend there – of course, it would be after a blessed Sunday morning at Houston’s First Baptist, worshiping the Lord and engaging in fellowship.

One of my favorite spots, oddly enough, is Buffalo Bayou, because once you get your kayak on the water and let the current take you (with some steering, of course), you can witness some of God’s creation on full display. In one kayak ride, my husband and I watched large catfish splash about, turtles sunbathe on tree stumps, nutria swim along the shoreline, majestic birds fly and swoop over the water, and even the most precious mother duck guide her newly hatched ducklings. Maybe a snake or two passed by us as well.

Last, but not least, Saturday morning would be best spent at the Urban Harvest Farmer’s Market, the largest market in the Houston area. My husband and I have worked there for quite some time now, helping with bonsai trees and floral arrangements, and developing lifelong friendships with vendors and customers! This is by far THE place to go if you’re looking for fun, interesting, and exciting. Every Saturday morning (the only exception being when Christmas fell on Saturday), booths go up and the camaraderie begins. It’s a very special atmosphere, with people from all walks of life and from all across the city/outer areas coming together to share food, stories, and friendship. It’s hard to put my finger on what exactly makes this market so extraordinary, but I imagine it has to do with the genuine attitude and hospitality that permeates the parking lot. You can get your entire week’s worth of shopping done there, knowing you have the freshest fruit and vegetables, the best choices of fish and meat, the best-looking and tasting eggs, and bread baked with love. That’s just the tip of the iceberg, so come and see for yourself. There are many cherished friends we’ve made at this market, and I just stumbled upon it by sheer happenstance back in 2015. God had a plan from the start.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Without a doubt, my husband deserves an enormous amount of credit for helping me get to where I am now. He was the one who encouraged me to go on the mission trip where I first learned about International Justice Mission (completely by chance and God’s grace); he was eager to hear about their work and my desire to be involved; he reassured me when I was doubtful and nervous about applying to the IJM volunteer group, and even more so supportive of my accepting the position as Team Lead. Each day, he prays with and over me, and whenever we host an IJM Event, he’s there helping me prepare and implement from start to finish. He’s my best friend and my biggest supporter, and I owe so much to him for believing in me. I would be remiss if I did not also mention how grateful I am for my parents and my older sister, who have loved and supported me my entire life without fail. They have always been ecstatic about my involvement with IJM, and cheer me on constantly. Above all, they are so generous with their time and resources when it comes to things I am passionate about, and not once have they doubted my capabilities to handle my role and duties.
Houston’s First Baptist Church is my second home and has bestowed upon me lifelong friendships, a welcoming environment to deeply study God’s word, and a zeal for serving God’s kingdom. There are many wonderful people in that church body who have supported me for years, giving their time and resources to help me in my position, but also IJM as a whole.
Lastly, I want to thank Sarah Miller, who has served with me on the IJM Volunteer Team for years and was our recent Team Lead. She taught me so much, and her friendship is invaluable. I love her heart for God and for others, and I would be quite lost without her and the other members of the Houston IJM Champions Team.

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Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-aguilar-44b76258