Daniel Cabrera Arakaki, from Bolivia, is a youth leader who leads small groups in the church, meanwhile, an entrepreneur who supports adolescents at his local church. As the founder of Unstoppable Consulting Group, Cabrera has created a dynamic community that unites entrepreneurs from across South America, fostering collaboration regardless of religious beliefs. He also hosts the podcast "Rough Diamonds", which aims to inspire individuals to unlock their full potential. Beyond ministry and business, Cabrera values his family life deeply.
In an exclusive interview with China Christian Daily, he talks about his faith journey, his efforts to integrate ministry, business, and family life while encouraging Christians in China to embrace God's purpose with openness and love.
China Christian Daily: Could you tell us about your journey of faith, how you first got involved in ministry, and the areas of ministry you are part of today?
Daniel Cabrera Arakaki: I was born into a two-generation Christian family. My grandmother was the first woman pastor in Bolivia. Being a Christian was something normal for me, but I had a personal encounter with God when I was about 17. I began to understand that being a Christian is not just about a lifestyle, religion, or following steps—it is about how you live.
I can be involved in entrepreneurship and in ministry because being a Christian is not about what you do, but who you are. I try to put God at the center of my life, so it shows in everything I do.
China Christian Daily: You are passionate about serving young people as a youth leader. In China, many young people feel the church is too traditional and unappealing. How is the situation in Bolivia, and what can the church do to better reach young people?
Daniel Cabrera Arakaki: My grandparents came from the Methodist church, which is more traditional. For me, that was normal. But many people reject religion because when you're not part of it, you feel you don't belong. You feel you can't accomplish everything the religion is asking you to do. It's been like something that goes to the wrong side. That doesn't help people, especially young people, get close.
The best way to reach other people is to understand the basic meaning of a church. A church should be a spiritual hospital where sick people go for treatment, so open the doors so that everybody can go there and see the love of God. In Bolivia, one main problem is that some churches create steps people must follow to be Christians, which is backward. Salvation, or what Jesus did, comes first. He is the one who connects us with God and the way. We must accept that we will never be perfect, and God loves us, even when we're not doing everything well.
China Christian Daily: As the founder of Unstoppable Consulting Group, you've built a community that brings together entrepreneurs across South America, regardless of religious background. How did you first step into the business world? From your perspective, how can the church build stronger connections with the business community, and how can it better support entrepreneurs and working professionals?
Daniel Cabrera Arakaki: In 2015, I was invited to work with a company in Bolivia that helped entrepreneurs invest in real estate. I enjoyed that work. I always focus on helping people grow not just spiritually, but also economically and personally. I created Unstoppable to help people because I believe God gave us the ability to never stop. If our heart stops beating, we'd lose our life.
Churches can help people by teaching them that God is not just inside the church, but you take God wherever you go. We must take the principles God has taught us and walk through them, whether we're musicians, doctors, or lawyers. We can be whatever we want.
China Christian Daily: Please tell us more about your podcast.
Daniel Cabrera Arakaki: My podcast is called "Rough Diamonds" because when you grab a diamond from the earth, it looks like a rough rock, but there's value inside. Similarly, there is value inside some people who are deemed as rocks without anything shining. Everybody has their own value because God created us. The Bible says that God was there when we were being built in the belly of our mothers, so that means we have a purpose. Sometimes, I make a program by myself to help people understand their own value, and I interview people to give advice and tips on that. I'm finishing my first book on that, named The Miracle of Being Unstoppable, and hopefully, it will be completed by the end of this year. I put the name because we are unstoppable on the inside. You don't have to be an influencer or a famous person, but a person living in your home and country, just doing what you like in a beautiful way. Every one of us is unstoppable and is a rough diamond.
China Christian Daily: You wear many hats—pastor, musician, entrepreneur—all very different roles. How do you balance these responsibilities and manage your time and energy?
Daniel Cabrera Arakaki: There's a saying in Spanish that means if you try to grab many things, you don't hold anything at all because everything will fall from your hands. Sometimes I ask myself why I am doing so many things that I wish I could clone myself. But I try to figure out what is more important: first of all, I always give time to God and my family, then I put some of the topics I have to cover and try to connect them all. Sometimes, I stay up at 1 or 2 a.m. when it's quiet and my baby is sleeping, I can sit on the computer, working, writing, and preparing my agenda for the next day.
China Christian Daily: You recently joined the International Visitor Leadership Program for promoting religious freedom in the United States. What did you learn?
Daniel Cabrera Arakaki: At first, I was concerned about being around people from different religions. But over three weeks and five cities, I learned to enjoy connecting with people from around the world. It's not about convincing others to believe as I do, but about enjoying being with that person and trying to connect and be friends. They are people just like me with the same desires. Trying to love, work with, and respect them was one of the things I enjoyed the most.
China Christian Daily: Bolivia is in South America, a region with a rich Christian heritage. Could you give us an overview of the local church there, especially Protestant churches? What challenges are they facing today? In your view, what factors will be most important for the future of the church in Bolivia and in South America more broadly?
Daniel Cabrera Arakaki: Bolivia is a mostly Christian and Catholic country that embraces religious freedom. People can preach in the streets or stadiums and hold concerts. As a small country, Bolivia has both blessings and challenges. We are grateful for many resources and opportunities.
One of the most difficult problems churches have right now is that most of the social problems are pushing you to change your principles, so everything can be changed. It depends on how you feel, but the Bible talks about doing what is right, not just feelings. There are different social movements in Bolivia, including LGBT, which poses a challenge for churches to help people understand that the church is not ruled by hate. God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. As He doesn't change, there is a reason for the things He put in the Bible, and they are for our own good in the long term. South America is becoming a divided place: some groups keep their principles, while others start to change them. That's one of our most difficult parts.
China Christian Daily: In Bolivia, some people live in poverty, so what do local churches do about it?
Daniel Cabrera Arakaki: For my church, there are different ways to help them. One is making gifts. We also have a hospital that offers free treatment to people who are financially struggling, including the homeless. Another way is to help entrepreneurs and businesspeople grow in their businesses through programs. We also offer some programs through which unemployed people are connected with businesses that are also searching for hands.
China Christian Daily: More than 30% of Bolivia's population is Catholic. How do you reach out to them?
Daniel Cabrera Arakaki: When I was young, I was so impulsive that I used to fight with them over what was not correct in their belief. But I was angry with them, and they were too. They started to hate the church for what I did. Then I reached out to God for a way out: how can I tell people that there is a better way to know you? God answered me: by love and by letting them see Him through me.
Now I have many Catholic friends; I try to connect with them and let them see how I live in the freedom of God. Sometimes they are the ones who ask me why I do this or that. By connecting and working together with respect and love, they start to open their hearts and minds to see what we would like to show them.
China Christian Daily: You have a Moravian family background. Could you share about the Moravian community in Bolivia?
Daniel Cabrera Arakaki: Thankfully, we don't face many family-related problems. By law, marriage is between a man and a woman. There are two big groups: those who live traditionally—marrying at a Catholic or Protestant church before living together—and those who live differently. I have friends who don't share my faith, but we can still live peacefully together.
But for me, family is the core of everything. That's why it's one of the most attacked things today. Society tells you that family doesn't have to be about marriage. You don't need to marry somebody, but you can live with them. However, I believe that God wants us united as families. The reason why I love being with my family is that one of my greatest purposes in life is to give them my best.
China Christian Daily: What role can the international Christian community play in supporting churches in Bolivia?
Daniel Cabrera Arakaki: One of the main issues with the Christian church is that we are so divided. In this case, in Bolivia, the international Christian community can help us unite the church under one flag, which is Jesus, the love of God. First, Jesus wants people to be saved, and then to live a better life. In the Bible, Jesus said that he came to give us life, so overwhelming that you enjoy it. Knowing God will help you to have a different perspective on life and to live better. That doesn't mean that you will have more money, but you will learn to love what you are and help other people love others. If we could unite in love, forgiveness, and hope, the church would grow.
China Christian Daily: What message would you like to share with Christians in China?
Daniel Cabrera Arakaki: China is a beautiful country, so big with so many opportunities. I would love to visit someday. To young Christians, I would say: if you will allow God to get close to you, not for what you do, but because of who you are, then things will change. Open your heart to God and ask Him to get close to you; you will see things differently. I believe Christians don't change because they follow some rules, structure, or an absolute religion. A real Christian changes when he follows Jesus and understands that he is a person.
Don't get angry with the church, which is human. We humans are not perfect and make mistakes, but God never makes a mistake. You are not in this world by mistake, but with a purpose. You will find it with God.
