Adventures In Paradise : A Biographical Note On Rev. Jose V. Espada Marrero

Rev. Jose Vicente Espada Marrero was born to Don Luis Espada Morales and Doña Maria de los Santos Amparo Marrero Green on August 8, 1890 in barrio Helechal, Barranquitas, Puerto Rico. His paternal grandparents were, Don Marcos Francisco Espada and Doña Juana Maria Morales; maternal grandparent, Doña Narcisa Marrero. He was the second of six children, four boys and two girls: Luis Maria Eugenio, Jose Vicente, Francisco, Alfredo, Amelia y Ana.

At the tender age of 8 he lived through the Spanish-American war of 1898 (The change from Spanish regime to American regime). During his teenage years he made his choice to follow Christ and joined the Protestant faith. How this came about is presently unknown; by the time he met his wife to be he was a minister.

He married Josefina Orlandi Questell on October 22, 1918. They had 8 children in the following order: Josefina, Jose Luis, Samuel, Ismael, David, Eduardo, Ibsen Ruben and Kelvin Emerson. They have all lived to a ripe old age with the exception of Eduardo, he died at 11 months during my grandfathers missionary tour in La Romana, Dominican Republic. After his missionary tour he became the pastor of the United Methodist Church in Guayama from 1928 to 1934.

Familia Espada, Guayama 1930

Rev. Jose V. Espada Marrero pastored several churches within the United Methodist denomination.

United Methodist Church in Guayama

In Guayama his two youngest children were born in 1928 and 1929, Ibsen Ruben and Kelvin Emerson, respectively.The following is an excerpt from the Annual Conference of 1929:
" Brother Marrero has a special talent in giving Bible studies. He has employed this method a great deal in his church and the results are seen in a deeper spiritual life among the members, The Sunday school has been improved by the organization of the classes as working units."

Rev. Espada also was pastor of the church in Comerio from 1934 to 1938. Towards the end of his tenure in Comerio he became ill and moved to San Juan for treatment. He did not return to Comerio.

United Methodist Church in Comerio, P.R

On August 1941 he was assigned to pastor the church at Playa de Ponce. He was there until 1945. Also, in May of 1941 his eldest child, Josefina Espada Orlandi, my mother, married Sgt. Manuel Morales Nieves.

United Methodist Church in Playa Ponce, P.R.

In 1947-1948 Rev. Espada moved to their new home at 405 Escocia St. Caparra Heights, Rio Piedras, P.R. Below is a picture of Rev. Espada with wife, Josfina (Filin) and her sisters at the entrance of their home. It is at this address that Espada initiates services and the dream of a church begins to take form.

This is the church that Rev. Jose Espada Marrero began at his residence carport, 405 Escocia St., 1947. Construction was completed in 1948. Rev. Jose V. Espada Marrero was the founder and it's first pastor from 1948-1958. He retired in 1958 and dedicated the rest of his life to deposit treasures in the lives of all of his grandchildren.