The Church of the Nazarene celebrated the retirement of five missionaries during the 101st session of the General Board, held from February 20-24 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Among them were Ulises and Micaela Solís, who dedicated 17 years to missionary service in the Mesoamerica Region.

Lives Dedicated to Ministry

Rev. Ulises Solís was born into a Christian home in Chalatenango, El Salvador, as the third of ten siblings. During his childhood, he attended Sunday School at the only church in his community, the Church of God. At the age of twelve, he gave his life to Christ and was later baptized in the Church of the Nazarene in San Bartolo by Rev. Ramón Campos Gutiérrez. From an early age, Ulises served in various ministries within the local church.

Micaela, known as Kelly, was born in San Salvador and grew up in a Catholic home. Ulises and Kelly married in 1975. God blessed their family with two daughters, Gilma Arely and Wendy Jeannette.

In 1981, Kelly gave her life to Christ and was baptized by Rev. Guillermo Alfredo Perdomo.

Between 1984 and 1988, Ulises served as an assistant pastor. He later served in various roles on the district advisory board for eight years. In 1989, he received a call to pastor the Church of the Nazarene in Ilopango. Later, from 1990 to 2003, he pastored the Church of the Nazarene in San Bartolo, where, under his leadership, six new congregations were established, each with its own pastor.

Together with his wife, he also served as superintendent of the El Salvador Eastern District from 2001 to 2003.

Kelly has faithfully served in the local church in ministries including NMI, Sunday School, and Nazarene Compassionate Ministries. She has also been a fundamental support in her husband’s ministry, serving with passion and dedication in every area where God has called them.

The Missionary Call

In January 2004, the Solís family responded to God’s call to serve in missions. Throughout their ministry in the Mesoamerica Region, they held multiple roles in education and development, as well as in coordinating Nazarene ministries such as Evangelism, the Jesus Film, NMI, and NDI in the North Central Field. Additionally, Rev. Ulises served for two and a half years as interim Field Strategy Coordinator for the North Central Area.

One of his greatest legacies is his contribution to theological education. As rector of the Nazarene Theological Seminary in Guatemala, he led its transformation into a graduate school. Thanks to an alliance with the Nazarene Seminary of Mexico, a master’s program in “Pastoral Management and Church Development” was launched in 2025 with 43 students from El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, and Belize.

A Ministry That Continues

Although they have been recognized as retired missionaries, the Solís family will continue serving at the Nazarene Theological Seminary in Guatemala for two more years, with the approval of the regional director, the regional theological education coordinator, and the Board of Regents.

To God be the glory for the life and ministry of Ulises and Kelly Solís. Their testimony and dedication have left an indelible mark on the Church of the Nazarene and the Mesoamerica Region.