Steps to Life Ministries in Wichita, Kansas, Backed by 22 Attorneys, is Waging a Legal Battle Against the Free Adventist Association in Mexico

It is a deeply sorrowful moment when a ministry once known for spreading the gospel now turns its energy toward the courtroom. Steps to Life, long recognized for its dedication to evangelism and for leading souls to Christ, has chosen to employ twenty-two attorneys to file a sixty-eight-page civil lawsuit against the Free Adventist Association, former associates in ministry, and fellow believers. At the heart of the lawsuit lies a dispute over the control of a property and church building—still active today, gathering every Sabbath for worship, and serving as the headquarters of a radio ministry that has been proclaiming the Three Angels’ Message throughout Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, since 2011.

A Summary of Steps to Life’s Lawsuit

The lawsuit, filed by Steps to Life and represented by Domingo Nunez, was submitted to the Second Civil Court of the First Judicial District of the State of Jalisco, under Case No. 352/2025, in Guadalajara, Mexico. [1] The filing took place with the Clerk’s Office of the Court this year, 2025. In the complaint, Steps to Life and Domingo Nunez seek to recover a property they claim rightfully belongs to them and to evict those they allege have unlawfully taken possession of it.

According to the suit, on October 21, 2021, Domingo Nunez, acting on behalf of Steps to Life, Inc., entered into a Promise of Sale Contract with Alejandro Jauregui Diaz and his family to purchase a property located on Avenida Revolucion in Guadalajara, Jalisco. The sellers were still in the process of finalizing probate proceedings for their late father’s estate, after which the property title was to be formally transferred to Steps to Life. Although the final deed has not yet been delivered, Nunez asserts he has had possession and control of the property since 2021 as its rightful owner.

The lawsuit further claims that in April 2022, Domingo Nunez verbally hired Jediael Rosales Aguilar as an agent and representative of Steps to Life to manage the property on their behalf, granting him access and possession of the keys. However, after their working relationship deteriorated, Nunez alleges that Aguilar refused to return the property despite multiple requests to do so.

Domingo Nunez claims that he later discovered Jediael Rosales Aguilar had registered a religious association called Free Adventist Association back in 2019 and was operating that ministry from within the same property. As a result, Nunez asserts that Aguilar is unlawfully occupying the premises and has filed a civil lawsuit seeking the removal of Aguilar and any other occupants. He has petitioned the court to initiate judicial proceedings to recover possession of the property. The lawsuit also seeks to recover rent payments for the period during which Aguilar has been residing on and using the property.

Who is on the property? It is home to a church that gathers every Sabbath for worship and to a radio ministry that broadcasts throughout the city of Guadalajara, sharing the Three Angels’ Messages. This work is carried out by an association of Seventh-day Adventists who have been operating the radio program since 2011—long before Steps to Life or Domingo Nunez ever became involved. But as in many relationships, there was once a honeymoon phase when both parties worked together in unity, doing God’s work and spreading the message. However, that joy soon ended when the relationship soured. What followed was a bitter dispute over the division of assets—tragically, a situation all too common when relationships fall apart.

The Free Adventist Association’s Response

In their legal response, Jediael Rosales Aguilar formally rejects Domingo Nunez’s claims that he owns the contested property in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. [2] Aguilar claims the true and legal owner is “Adventista Libre Asociación” or Free Adventist Association, a religious organization of which he is the President and legal representative. Aguilar also says Domingo Nunez’s claims of ownership and eviction attempts are false and constitute fraudulent actions meant to illegally take possession of the property.

He says Steps to Life’s legal action is a series of legal tactics designed to mislead the court and should therefore be dismissed entirely. Aguilar also claims he will file criminal charges against Domingo Nunez for Procedural Fraud and General Fraud, under Article 154 of the Jalisco Penal Code, which carries a mandatory prison sentence of 3 to 6 years and fines, arguing that Domingo falsified facts and documents to obtain an unlawful advantage. He provides notarized property deeds (2019 and 2021) and tax receipts (2025) proving the property is legally owned and registered under the Free Adventist Association, not Domingo Nunez or Steps to Life.

In his response, Aguilar states that if Nunez proceeds with the lawsuit, he will seek compensation for any and all legal expenses incurred as a result of the case. He denies being Domingo’s employee, agent, or administrator. Aguilar declares that Domingo has no ownership, no contract, and no legal right to the property, and he requests that the judge dismiss the case, issue him certified copies of the court records for the criminal complaint, and recognize the Free Adventist Association as the sole and rightful owner of the property.

David Versus Goliath—22 Attorneys Versus 1

Without getting into the merits of the case or determining who is right or wrong, this lawsuit clearly reflects why many describe such conflicts as a modern-day “David and Goliath” struggle. Here we see a well-established ministry—financially stable and located in the United States with a wide support base—Steps to Life, employing twenty-two attorneys to litigate against a much smaller, poorer opponent residing in Mexico and represented by only one lawyer.

According to the lawsuit filed by Domingo Nunez, who is identified as a “representative of Steps to Life, Inc.,” he has “authorized the following, as his legal representatives, under the terms of Article 42 of the Code of Civil Procedures for the State of Jalisco, to represent him jointly or separately, the following attorneys,” as stated in page 1 in the official text of the filing.

1- JAVIER ALEJANDRO VÁZQUEZ DE ALBA
2- MARÍA DEL CARMEN VALDIVIA VALLEJO
3- RICARDO RODRÍGUEZ REVELES
4- HUGO JAVIER GONZÁLEZ PARTIDA
5- MARÍA RUTH AMADOR JARAMILLO
6- JOSÉ ISMAEL GÓMEZ OCARANZA
7- FRANCISCO JAVIER TAVARES GUTIÉRREZ
8- GABRIEL GARCÍA RUBIO
9- RAÚL PEÑA HERNÁNDEZ
10- ELIZABETH RENTERÍA SILVA
11- SALVADOR ÁVILA CHÁVEZ
12- JUAN PABLO IBARRA CHÁVEZ

In the lawsuit, pages 11 and 13, the above twelve attorneys signed their names to the document, indicating they are officially part of the case and will be handling the proceedings. But there is more. Additional attorneys are listed after these initial names. The lawsuit continues: “Likewise, he (Nunez) authorizes the following attorneys to receive all types of notifications and to review case files, in accordance with Article 119 of the aforementioned legal code.”

13- GRYZEL BRAVO MARMOLEJO
14- DAVID SOLANO GONZÁLEZ
15- ANÍBAL DE JESÚS AYALA CASTELLANOS
16- MARGARITA CONCEPCIÓN ELÍAS MENEZES
17- ALEJANDRO CÁRDENAS AMADOR
18- PAOLA FERNANDA PÉREZ MEZA
19- AURA SERENA CEJA FIGUEROA
20- OSCAR DAVID ZARCO DELGADO
21- JOSÉ LUIS ORTEGA OCHOA

And as if this were not enough, on September 9, 2025, Domingo Nunez filed a request to the Court asking to add a new legal representative, number 22, without replacing or canceling the previous attorneys already authorized. [3]

The filing states, “Through this written submission, and based on Articles 1, 8, and 133 of the Political Constitution of the United Mexican States, as well as Article 119 of the Code of Civil Procedures for the State of Jalisco, I hereby appoint CHRISTIAN MANUEL OROZCO MORALES for the purpose of receiving all types of notifications and reviewing the case files, without revoking previous appointments.”

22- CHRISTIAN MANUEL OROZCO MORALES

In essence, Domingo Nunez, on behalf of Steps to Life, is telling the judge to “please add Christian Manuel Orozco Morales as another attorney, but keep all my previous legal representatives as well.”

On the other side, the Free Adventist Association in Mexico has only one attorney—but don’t count him out just yet. He has been a long-time listener of the radio program sponsored by Aguilar and his group, and he is himself a Seventh-day Adventist who firmly believes in the merits of the Free Adventist Association’s case and expresses strong confidence in its outcome. Moreover, this Adventist attorney is offering his services at a significant discount, encouraging the group to focus on their ministry and not to worry about the legal fees for now.

It’s difficult to understand why Steps to Life would choose to hire twenty-two attorneys—unless the goal is to intimidate and overwhelm the very people they are suing. Hiring an army of lawyers is often a tactical move designed to send a message: “We have unlimited resources—you don’t.” For a religious organization like Steps to Life to unleash twenty-two attorneys against a small group with only one lawyer is nothing short of excessive and alarming. No case of this kind demands such an overwhelming legal force. It’s a calculated power move—a classic cut-throat tactic designed to intimidate the smaller party, discourage resistance, and pressure them into settling or surrendering. The larger organization counts on the sheer scale and cost of the legal battle to wear down the weaker side, both financially and emotionally.

Our Visit with Steps to Life Ministries

When I received copies of the original lawsuit and the corresponding legal response, I asked Patti Heinrich—a founder of New Life Mission and long-time friend of Steps to Life Ministries—to contact its director, Dr. John Grosboll, to ask whether he was aware of the suit and how he could support it, given his prior criticism of Seventh-day Adventists taking their brethren to court. Because the lawsuit was already filed and out in the public, I had every right to report it here in the United States, but we first reached out to Steps to Life to explore whether the matter could be settled privately. When we got in touch with Dr. Grosboll, he acknowledged knowing about the lawsuit and said he supported it.

We told him that, unfortunately, the lawsuit contradicted many of Steps to Life’s previous publications and public statements about litigation and asked whether they would rescind it so we wouldn’t have to publish the story. Grosboll offered to come to Oklahoma with Domingo Nunez to explain their side.

We met in Okeene, Oklahoma, where Nunez summarized his experience working with the people in Mexico and reiterated many of the points already set out in the lawsuit—points I was already familiar with. I then read aloud several references Pastor John Grosboll had published through Steps to Life about lawsuits, including his statement that members who take fellow believers to court should be disfellowshipped:

Pastor Grosboll wrote the following about suing fellow believers:

• “We live in an age when lawsuits are common in all areas of society. Some years ago it was church policy, as well as a Biblical prohibition, see 1 Corinthians 6, that Adventists did not sue one another. If you read the report about the Mary Kay Silver case, you will see that as late as the seventies this was considered sufficient reason to disfellowship a member. If it was wrong to disfellowship those that sue another, then a formal apology needs to be made to those who were disfellowshipped at that time for those reasons. But if it was not wrong to disfellowship members who were doing it then, the only consistent course to follow today would be to disfellowship those who are doing it today—which would include those in the highest positions of leadership in the General Conference in Silver Springs, Maryland.” [4]

I reminded John Grosboll that he once believed, taught, and published that, based on 1 Corinthians 6, believers should never take one another to court—and anyone who did should be disfellowshipped and removed from office. He himself argued those points in print. If that position was biblical, then by his own admission, he, Domingo Nunez, and the entire board of Steps to Life should likewise lose their membership and positions for filing a lawsuit against fellow believers. They must be held to the same standard, for one cannot apply Scripture to others and then excuse oneself. If the principle is valid, it must apply equally to all.

Pastor John Grosboll replied that the leader in Mexico was “not a brother.” He pointed to Matthew 18—if a brother refuses to listen after private admonition and then still refuses after witnesses and the church, Jesus says to treat him “as a sinner and a publican”—and said, looking at me, that by that standard the people in Mexico were not his brothers and therefore could be sued.

I then continued reading Grosboll’s own article and showed him the following paragraph, explaining that his previously published beliefs effectively contradict what he had just said. I reminded him that he himself once condemned this very sinister tactic—using church discipline to disfellowship someone merely to create a pretext for suing them in court, all while claiming not to violate the counsel of 1 Corinthians 6.

Pastor Grosboll also wrote the following:

• “Of course there is a way to get around all of this. If I am a person of influence I can go to the church where my opponent is a member and persuade a majority in a church business meeting to disfellowship him first. Then I can claim that he is no longer a Seventh-day Adventist, because he is not a member of the “church,” therefore he is no longer a brother, and the injunction in I Corinthians 6 no longer applies. I am free to seek any sort of redress I desire.” [4]

And that is exactly what Steps to Life has done. I read this statement to him and showed how his past writings condemn the very actions he and Steps to Life are now pursuing. I read additional passages published by his ministry and told him I would be following his own advice by appealing to the worldwide Seventh-day Adventist community to urge an end to this lawsuit. Notice the clear condemnation Steps to Life once published against the very practices it is now engaging in.

The Steps to Life article continued:

• “It would also be appropriate to point out that this action is totally contrary to the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy. As Seventh-day Adventists, we feel that a great injustice is being done to fellow believers, and that God is being dishonored and brought to open shame by this action on the part of the General Conference. We urgently request that this case be dropped as soon as possible. The address for the General Conference President is …” [5]

I told Grosboll and Nunez when Steps to Life made this public appeal, urging Adventists worldwide to pressure the General Conference to stop these lawsuits against fellow believers, they were in the right because this was “totally contrary to the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy.” Unfortunately, they are now doing the very same thing.

They told me they felt God was calling them to recover the ministry’s assets. They insisted it wasn’t personal—that they held no grudge against the brother in Mexico or intended to punish him—but that they simply wanted the building back. Convinced that this was their duty as faithful stewards, Grosboll and Nunez said they couldn’t walk away from the matter and must reclaim what they regard as the ministry’s assets.

I then continued reading from their articles and shared the Ellen White statements that Steps to Life itself had compiled and published.

“God will deal with the unworthy church member who defrauds his brother or the cause of God; the Christian need not contend for his rights. God will deal with the one who violates these rights. ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord.’ Romans 12:19. An account is kept of all these matters, and for all the Lord declares that He will avenge. He will bring every work into judgment.” Selected Messages, Book 3, p. 300.” [5]

I asked both men, “Are you God? Because the servant of the Lord, Ellen G. White, says that God will deal with an unworthy church member.” Then I renewed my plea that they withdraw the lawsuit, reading the next paragraph from Mrs. White that appeared in their own article.

• “I call upon you in the name of Christ to withdraw the suit that you have begun and never bring another into court. God forbids you thus to dishonor His name. You have had great light and many opportunities, and you cannot afford to unite with worldlings and follow their methods. Remember that the Lord will treat you according to the stand that you take in this life (Ibid.).” [5]

• “I tell you solemnly that if you take the action which you now purpose to take, you will never recover from the result of it. If you open before the world the wrongs that you suppose your brethren have done you, there will be some things that will have to be said on the other side. I have a caution to give you (Ibid.).” [5]

I reminded them of 1 Corinthians 6:1–8, especially verse 7, which teaches it is better to suffer wrong than to take a brother to court. I read 2 Timothy 3:12, which says all who live godly shall suffer persecution, and explained that such persecution can include loss of life, freedom, possessions, and property. I warned that if we are truly godly, we must be willing to endure loss; but if we fight to avoid suffering loss by suing fellow believers, that raises the question as to whether or not we are living godly.

Ultimately, Pastor Grosboll said there are still unclear aspects about lawsuits, and Adventists should restudy the issue, as he believes there may be cases where it is appropriate to take professed—but not genuine—Adventists to court. I made one final appeal, explaining that what truly matters is reflecting the spirit and character of Christ. I read to them Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:40, where He says if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, give them your coat as well—emphasizing it is better not to fight in court.

They reiterated they were not angry or bitter but simply could not let the case go, believing this was what God wanted them to do. Patti Heinrich cautioned that if we ended up publishing the story online, things might not unfold as they intended, and this lawsuit could ultimately reflect negatively on their ministry. Pastor Grosboll acknowledged the risk, saying that perhaps they would have to take a hit, but they felt confident they were in the right. We then prayed together and wished them a safe journey home.

Conversation with the Free Adventists in Mexico

I reached out to Jediael Rosales Aguilar, president of the Free Adventist Association in Guadalajara, who is the defendant in the Steps to Life lawsuit, to discuss the possibility of reaching a settlement with Domingo Nunez. I asked what he would consider a fair and reasonable resolution that could be mediated outside of court. After consulting with his attorney, Aguilar said he could not—and would not—accept a settlement, because doing so would create the impression he had done something wrong. His attorney emphasized it was Nunez, not Aguilar, who initiated the lawsuit, and they intend to see the case through to its conclusion, including the filing of a criminal complaint against Nunez. Unlike the civil action brought by Steps to Life, a criminal case would be prosecuted by the state and, under the statutes they referenced, could carry potential prison terms of three to six years.

Free Seventh-day Adventists Versus Free Adventist Association

Domingo Nunez and Steps to Life have maintained a long-standing relationship with the General Assembly of Free Seventh-day Adventists. I reached out to a trusted pastor friend who serves as an executive officer for the General Assembly to inquire about the nature of that relationship. I explained that Steps to Life Ministries, which has presented itself as part of the Free Seventh-day Adventist movement, had filed a lawsuit against the Free Adventist Association in Mexico, and I asked whether their organization supported or approved of such an action.

He assured me that none of the officers of the General Assembly of Free Seventh-day Adventists would in any way support such actions, as they violate the principles of their ministerial organization. He, whose name I will not disclose, explained that Steps to Life had requested to join the General Assembly but insisted on maintaining their autonomy. In other words, while there is a connection between them, Domingo Nunez and John Grosboll operate independently under their own charter.

He was surprised that Steps to Life would take such an action and assured me they themselves would never take a fellow Adventist to court. He quoted 1 Corinthians 6:7, affirming to me that it is better to suffer loss than to take your brother to court. He also remarked that, unfortunately, some leaders manipulate the process by disfellowshipping a brother on trumped-up charges and then justifying a lawsuit by claiming he is no longer a brother.

This senior leader of the General Assembly told me that Steps to Life Ministries sought affiliation primarily to gain protection—wanting the legal cover and association of using the name “Free Seventh-day Adventists” without risking a lawsuit from the General Conference. He went on to explain how the General Assembly had experienced some tension with Steps to Life because many of their members felt that Steps to Life was attempting to exert control over the Free SDA organization. He said this was an ongoing issue they were trying to resolve and noted, with concern, that the very spirit of control was precisely what the Free Seventh-day Adventists were founded to resist.

This same officer of the General Assembly—a brother I’ve had the privilege of preaching alongside in his church and meeting at various camp meetings—shared with me a remarkable piece of Adventist history. In 1915, Pastor John Manns, a conference evangelist, had raised more than 120 churches across the South. However, due to the injustices of the Jim Crow era, many church leaders at the time were not treating minority members fairly. As a result, Pastor Manns was fired and then taken to court and sued in what was an unjust court system. In a striking turn of events, a white judge in the Jim Crow South ruled in favor of this faithful Black pastor against the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Pastor Manns then formed The Christian Negro Seventh-day Adventist Church in response to the discrimination he faced after being dismissed and sued. However, he later came to understand the deeper issue was not only racial prejudice but also the need for freedom from oppressive control. In 1923, he founded the General Assembly of Free Seventh-day Adventists, built on the principles of independence, freedom, and faithfulness to conscience. Historically, the Free SDAs have stood firmly against lawsuits, authoritarian control, and discrimination—principles that Steps to Life seems to have forgotten or abandoned.

The General Assembly officer concluded by telling me that both the public and the court must understand that Free Seventh-day Adventists strongly oppose lawsuits and have absolutely no involvement in the legal action Domingo Nunez and Steps to Life have initiated against fellow believers. He even hinted that, if necessary, he would be willing to testify in court against Steps to Life to make that clear.

Steps to Life and their Free SDA Global Evangelism Corporation

According to corporate records filed in the State of Kansas, Domingo Nunez first legally adopted the name “General Assembly of Free Seventh-day Adventists” on October 6, 2014, when he filed an amendment to a corporation he previously owned, changing its name from “Ministry Hebrews 4:4, Inc.” to “Inter-America and Global Evangelism of the General Assembly of Free Seventh-day Adventists, Inc.” Therefore, based on these official filings, Domingo Nunez did at one point legally incorporate the name General Assembly of Free Seventh-day Adventists. [6]

Yet, for some reason, on August 4, 2017—three years later—Domingo Nunez’s wife, Hilda Nunez, filed another corporate name change, removing the phrase “General Assembly of Free Seventh-day Adventists” and renaming the entity “General Evangelism Corporation.” [7] This new name represents a generic 501(c)(3) organization with no explicit Seventh-day Adventist identity. However, in his ministerial activities across various locations, Domingo Nunez continues to use the name “Free Seventh-day Adventists” and even extends to others the offer of using that name for protection, despite having legally removed it from his principal corporate headquarters.

When a ministry removes the word “Free Seventh-day Adventist” from its official corporate registration, it is legally declaring it is not part of the Free Seventh-day Adventist Association. The corporate name is what defines a legal identity before the state—so if “Free Seventh-day Adventist” is gone, that organization becomes a generic religious entity.

However, if the ministry continues to publicly use the Free Seventh-day Adventist label—in evangelism, publications, websites, or fundraising—as Steps to Life and Domingo Nunez are still doing in 2025, the group is essentially misrepresenting its legal status. This can create serious problems.

It misleads donors and the public into thinking the ministry is officially part of the Free Seventh-day Adventists when it is not. If a ministry removes “Free Seventh-day Adventist” from its legal name but still uses it to attract members or claim protection “under their umbrella,” it is taking advantage of a name it no longer wishes to stand behind. That’s not honest stewardship—it confuses the public and shows a lack of transparency and integrity. Scripture warns us that the work of God must be conducted “honestly in the sight of all men” (Romans 12:17), and we must “provide things honest, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men” (2 Corinthians 8:21).

In the lawsuit against the Free Adventists in Mexico, Domingo Nunez failed to disclose to the court his own connection with the Free Seventh-day Adventists. Instead, he accuses the brethren in Mexico of forming a so-called “Free Adventist Association,” portraying it as a fraudulent organization. He is now attempting to charge them rent—and even back rent—for using the church building, claiming that it belongs to Steps to Life rather than to the Free SDAs, despite the fact that he and his group also claim to be Free SDAs.

The Way Steps to Life Operates

According to published reports from Steps to Life, when Domingo Nunez enters a new territory, he works with independent companies, churches, and ministries by offering them protection if they agree to come under his umbrella. [8] Once connected, he tells the churches their members need evangelism training to become more effective missionaries. The result? Domingo Nunez enrolls them in his own training program through Global Evangelism Corporation, Inc., while many of the participants believe the organization is called Global Evangelism of Free Seventh-day Adventist Churches. [8] Then, the local lay leaders are told they also need pastoral training—again, through his programs. [8] In this way, the local believers are drawn in through promises of name protection, evangelism training, and pastoral development—allowing Domingo and his organization to gradually assume influence and control.

This is exactly what the brethren in Mexico described to me. This is also what the executive officer of the General Assembly told me. He said it’s very much like a “protection racket”—the kind that, once you’re in, is difficult to get out of. In Mexico, a group of believers eventually said, “No, you are not going to control us.” They made it clear that while they were willing to collaborate as fellow workers in the gospel, no one owned the mission or the people, and no one could claim that everyone worked for Steps to Life. And what happened next? They were sued in court.

Note: This is the first in a series of articles we will be covering on this subject. If and when this case goes to trial, as I told Pastors Grosboll and Nunez, I will see them in Mexico, where we will continue reporting on this important story and bringing updates to the worldwide community of Seventh-day Adventists. We plan to bring you an interview with the Seventh-day Adventist attorney representing the Free Adventist Association.

Please reach out to Steps to Life and urge them to immediately withdraw this lawsuit against fellow believers. Remind them that taking brothers and sisters in Christ to court is a direct violation of Scripture, a betrayal of the Spirit of Prophecy, and a reproach to the name of Christ. This legal action must end now—before it deepens division, brings further dishonor to God, and destroys the very message that Steps to Life once sought to uphold.

Steps to Life Ministries
PO Box 782828
Wichita, KS 67278
1-800-843-8788
orders@stepstolife.org

Sources

[1] https://adventmessenger.org/wp-content/uploads/1ra.-Notificacion-judicial-Septiembre-2025.pdf

[2] https://adventmessenger.org/wp-content/uploads/352-2025-J-2-civil-17-09-2025-14.31.pdf

[3] https://adventmessenger.org/wp-content/uploads/352-25-contestacion.pdf

[4] https://www.stepstolife.org/article/editorial-what-is-behind-religious-lawsuits/

[5] https://www.stepstolife.org/article/report-on-the-lawsuit-against-raphael-perez/

[6] https://adventmessenger.org/wp-content/uploads/3958765.pdf

[7] https://adventmessenger.org/wp-content/uploads/4901004.pdf

[8] https://www.stepstolife.org/article/testimony-my-journey/