Meet Joel
Joel is part of the Lead Team of pastors at Light & Life. He grew up in one of the largest cults in Mexico in which his grandfather planted over 30 churches. Miraculously, God delivered his family from the cult in 1998, moved to the US, and soon began seeing the hand of God that was drawing him to follow the real Jesus.
In college he began experiencing an inside-out transformation when he started following Jesus through the ministry of CRU. Since then God has had him on a path of discovering his call to be a pastor, leading, preaching, and raising up disciples.
Joel joined the Light & Life team in 2014 and since attained an MDiv. from Azusa Pacific Seminary. His greatest passion is helping people find their way to Jesus and living out God's call for their lives. He became the co-lead pastor of Light & Life in 2021 and is passionate about leading a River Church that 'Reaches the Lost and Sends the Saved'!
On a relaxing weekend you might find him hiking in the wilderness with his wife Jenese, and son, Leo. He also loves coffee and traveling and is a foodie! If he wasn't a pastor he might be a local food guide by day and Bible scholar by night.
More about Joel
What's your ideal day? Bike ride to the beach with my son, with a good coffee and breakfast, home cooked dinner with the family
Place you'd most like to visit? (again or for 1st time) Swiss Alps
What makes you laugh? Funny videos on Youtube
What brings you to tears? Learning about suffering around the world; particularly when I visit a new country and see the lost, least, last
Favorites: Food: Moo's Craft BBQ, Bavel, Sonoratown Music: Forrest Frank, Hulvey, Natalia Lafourcade Movie: Jurassic Park
What's your favorite word and why? Facetious: I just like how it sounds
What do you do for fun? Ride my road bike with my son along the river
What do you want for your last meal? Texas BBQ
What are you excited about in this season of life? Roots growing deeper in Long Beach
What's the most compelling reason you're serving on the Board? I want to collaborate with our city's best for the good of Long Beach