About Us

The Kitchen of Love focuses on feeding the hungry, helping the hurting, reaching the lost, and preaching the gospel to the poor.

Who We Are?

Our Commitment

The Kitchen of Love (KOL) is a Christian nonprofit organization committed to improving the quality of life of children, men and women suffering malnutrition, ignorance due to lack of education, drug addictions and depravation.

KOL has a special emphasis on street children, the homeless, and communities that are extremely impoverished.

Based on the Bible

The Vision and Mission of the Kitchen of Love (KOL) is based on Luke 4:18-19:

"The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; [19] To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD."

Mission And Vision

The sole purpose of The Kitchen of Love is to provide free food, medical and dental treatments, education, recreation, clothing, and drug rehabilitation program references. The lives of families are transformed through the love and dedication of KOL.

The Bible, the Holy Word of God, is the life manual KOL uses to train teachers and churches.

Our Founders

Pastor José & Ana Alvarez

Founder, Senior Pastor and President of The Kitchen Of Love Ministry, Director of ICCEF in Central America, an executive on the Board of Directors of CCIF and Missionary Pastor to the nations.

In 1993, Pastor Jose Alvarez responded to God’s call, leaving a promising executive career at a prestigious hotel in Guatemala City to serve the lowest levels of society. He founded “La Cocina del Amor” (The Kitchen of Love), a ministry dedicated to helping the poor. This mission was inspired by a prophetic word spoken over him by the late Bishop Gerald Kaufman of the Love Gospel Assembly in New York, and further encouraged by the late Bishop Michael Lunsford, who urged Pastor Jose to seek God’s guidance in his ministry. The vision of “La Cocina del Amor” is rooted in Luke 4:18-19, and for over 22 years, Pastor Jose has been used by God to share the gospel with the hurting, dismayed, and lost. Having been delivered from drug addiction, he feels deep empathy for street children, widows, and prisoners, with a passion for saving souls and fighting extreme poverty. His mission is to bring hope to the homeless, eradicating poverty in Guatemala one meal at a time. Today, Pastor Jose and his wife, Ana, lead the ministry from their home base in the United States, continuing their dedication to serving those in need.

Our Staff

Karla & Elvin Peña

Directors KOL, Esquipulas

Happily married and parents of Santiago and Mia Lucia, they answered God’s call to serve in the mountains of Esquipulas, Chiquimula, bringing hope and God’s love to marginalized communities. They currently direct the Kitchen of Love Project, a ministry that draws children to Christ through humor, teaching them about God’s love and the importance of having their hearts with Him.

Jose Jr & Beralis Alvarez

Directors KOL, Guatemala City

Happily married and parents of Anabella and Arianna. Directors of Kitchen of Love Guatemala City, Pastors of Templo de la Gloria Church. Praise Director at special events. Fully involved in the vision of restoring men, women and children, through the ministration of the Word of God, educational support, recreation and special events. Pastor Jose Francisco grew up in the ministry and upon finding his ideal helpmate, they both joined in to work hard on the vision.

Priscila Alvarez

Executive director

Executive director of The Kitchen of Love Ministries, Executive Secretary of ICCEF. Responsible for all administrative procedures of the Organization. Eloquent preacher of the Word of God and Missionary.

Josué & Vicky Alvarez

Associate Pastors

Happily married and parents to Gerson and Efrain They currently work in different departments of the Ministry, they are Associate Pastors in the Church, directors of the Youth Ministry and they collaborate in the Children's Ministry. They are passionate about missionary work in prisons and high-risk regions.

JoAna Alvarez

Editor

For some time now, Joana has been collaborating with the ministry to edit the text of documents, pages, reviews, and more, in order to summarize them and make the most of them. This way, we can send the ideal message to everyone who supports the ministry, allowing them to receive firsthand information with accurate interpretation and native-level English.

Maria de Jesus Alvarez (Tia Chuz)

Kitchen Director

For many years Tia Chuz has been responsible for directing our kitchen team, preparing delicious dishes for the needy people of Esquipulas and in those places where we celebrate our evangelistic events.

Rosa Alba de Alvarez (Mamá Rose)

Kitchen Sub director

For several years now, Mama Rose has been working hand in hand with Aunt Chuz to complete the team for the ministry’s kitchen, and together they prepare flavorful dishes that will bless hundreds of families.

Our Partners

What People Say About Us

Bishop James Collins

When I think of kitchen of love, it really touches my heart because it lives up to its feeling anytime you are touching children. You are touching the very heart of God so we thank God for what he is doing through kitchen of love.

General Pastor Eagle Heights Cathedral Boston, Massachusetts

Dr. Paul Echtenkamp

My experience with Cocina del Amor has been a precious mystery, as it will help those in need with so much love. With a spirit of excellence, those working in this ministry have such compassionate hearts and a genuine desire to reach those who need help, and I congratulate everyone supporting this tremendous ministry.

General Director of Youth Challenge International Hartford, Connecticut

Pastor Miguel Flores

For me, it is a privilege to have met Pastor José Álvarez a long time ago, the founder of Cocina de Amor here in Guatemala, and later to personally get to know the ministry, be here in Esquipulas, and meet Pastor José’s entire family—his children, daughters-in-law, sons-in-law, his sister, and his mother. It has been a blessing to know them. We truly thank God for making that connection happen.

General Pastor at Iglesia Mahanaim San Pedro Sula, Honduras

Doug Eccles

I want to tell everybody how much I appreciate Kitchen Of Love, what they do in Guatemala. In Esquipulas, they breast the poorest of the poor and this is a great ministry, a great family and in Galatians chapter 2, it says that we'll remember the poor and while they do it, they push-up a gospel and they're blessing with so many and I've been a part of it for many years and I can.

International Evangelist to the Nations, United States

Pastor Rachael Todart

I believe the kitchen of love represents the extended hands of the resurrected Christ to this generation of persons who not only lack in natural resources but to persons whose souls are devoid of the transforming presence and power of God through the Lord Jesus Christ.

General Pastor Hopes Way Ministries, Westchester, New York