Rafael Lara, known by most as Macho, grew up as a pastor’s kid with deep roots in church and community life. His early years were steeped in music and worship. He began learning music at the age of two and was performing with his family's ministry by the time he was five. By ten, he had joined his church’s worship team, and at seventeen, he began leading worship himself. Even with such a strong foundation in music, he sensed a broader calling on his life.

At twenty-three, Macho pursued that calling through formal theological education at Nyack College, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Pastoral Ministry and met his wife, Erica. He continued his academic journey with a Master of Arts in Christian Studies from Crown College and a Master of Professional Studies in Church Development from Alliance Theological Seminary.

Over the past fifteen years, Macho has served in a variety of roles that allowed him to grow beyond music. He has preached, taught worship courses at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, and contributed to church planting and redevelopment efforts. Mentoring others and walking alongside them in their faith journeys remains one of the most fulfilling parts of his work.

Currently, Macho serves as a Technology Instructor at Year Up United, a nonprofit committed to closing the opportunity gap for young adults. He and Erica are also planting a new church called The Table NYC in Sunnyside, Queens, where they live with their children, Eliana and Elias.

In July 2025, Macho releases Those Who Wait, a reflective and pastoral guide through six biblical stories of waiting, written for those navigating seasons of delay and uncertainty. His next book, Ctrl+Alt➔Believe, is set to release in 2026 and will explore how faith can be rebuilt from the ruins of spiritual disorientation. Through his writing, teaching, and ministry, Macho invites others to discover grace and formation even in life’s glitches.