The idea of developing a Holiday event started at Pastors Cortes’ house one afternoon in the Summer of 2010. Pastor Rolando was drinking a coffee at his dinner table as he was watching Pastora Silvia, his wife, having a conversation with Zorayda Mejia. Zorayda was volunteering in the administration of the new church in Los Angeles pastored by the Cortes'. Pastora Silvia and Zorayda Mejia had developed a close bond since 2007 when Pastora Silvia acted as the supervisor of the Children’s Ministries at La Iglesia En El Camino Van Nuys, pastored by Dr. Jim Toll. At this conversation, they were both bringing good memories of the children’s ministries. Pastora Silvia said, "let's do something for the children in Halloween." Pastor Rolando quickly reacted acknowledging the idea. Zorayda loved the idea and added, "let's do a Christmas toy drive instead. I have coordinated two in the past, and I know we could do a good one this year." They developed a plan the same day, expecting to receive 500 people. To their surprise, the first Family Day of Joy brought 700 people who did not mind about the rainy weather and enjoyed the event to the fullest. As they were watching people lining up by dozens, they worried about the limited resources. Nonetheless, at the very end, everything was enough for 700 people.
Since then the trio has not stopped. The desire to bring hope to people during the holidays has driven them this far. They are now celebrating eight years of hard work for the community they love. Pastors Cortes and Zorayda agree that despite all the limitations they encounter each year, it is worth serving the city of Los Angeles the way they do. So much was the impact of Family Day of Joy that this became a conventional nonprofit organization in 2014 called Life En El Camino. In the present, Life En El Camino offers free year-round programs to help the Angelenos with a food bank and counseling services.