I was born in East Los Angeles, right in the heart of a deep and rich Mexican culture. A few years later my family moved to Whittier, California, where I spent my elementary and junior high years in a “Leave It To Beaver” neighborhood with an army of kids to play with and the majority of the neighbors knowing each other. My high school years were spent in Baldwin Park, California and I graduated from Sierra Vista High School. Go Dons!
I married Lucy Almaguer, my high school sweetheart in 1973. We raised our 3 boys, James, Jason and Stephen in the San Gabriel Valley and ultimately moved out of Glendora in 1993 to Texas. After spending 2 years in San Angelo, Texas we returned to California to settle in Camarillo, California in Ventura County along the coast. Today, we are the proud parents of not only three grown men who love the Lord, but also, three daughters-in-law, 10 grandchildren and one great-granddaughter! Praise God!
Lucy and I accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior in 1981 while attending Calvary Chapel West Covina with Pastor Raul Ries. Over the ensuing years, we volunteered in a variety of ministries, e.g., children’s, radio, marriage, youth sports, hospitality, special events, etc.. Upon moving to Ventura county, I served at two different Calvary Chapel’s as a Sunday School teacher, special events coordinator, leadership development teacher, Elder and Business Administrator. During my early walk in the Lord, I even found time to earn a B.A. in Business Administration and graduating from Calvary Chapel West Covina's School of Ministry.
In 2004, after leaving the corporate work life, the Lord place a calling on my heart to pastor and plant a new church in Ventura county. A few years later, the Lord called me to minister to senior adults. Although I was unsure of this calling, I was still obedient to respond. In doing so, The Lord has given me a great and compassionate heart for this calling as Lucy and I minister to our flock in a senior community in Camarillo. This is an example of not leaning our own understanding and trusting God.
Today, I am a bi-vocational pastor. During the week, I have a "tent making" financial services career and serve as a Controller for church in Ventura coutny. Not only does my tent-making business pay the bills, but it gives me the opportunity to interact with a diversity of people. It also provides opportunities to share my life in Christ with the people I meet and serve.
In between ministry and my tent-making work, I find time for recreation in a great part of California- the Central Coast, My favorite pastimes are- hanging out with my “high school sweetheart”/wife" Lucy. We enjoy going out to the movies, dining out and just hanging out together. However, I’m still the sports guy I was growing up as a kid and in high school. You can often find me riding my mountain bike, jogging, playing any sport with a ball, Boogie boarding in our cool waters off Ventura’s coastline, hiking in our Santa Monica Mountains, supporting my favorite sports teams- L.A. Dogers, Washington Redskins and UCLA Bruins. Not to mention, whatever other extreme mischief I can get into!
My ministry today also includes teaching and coaching leadership skills within the Church at large. A few years ago, in conjunction with the senior pastor of Calvary Chapel of Oxnard, I taught 9 years on the administrative side of ministry leadership through Calvary Chapel of Oxnard’s regional school of ministry. I taught topics like; Administration, Planning and Organization, Problem Solving, Conflict Resolution, Communication, Leadership, to name a few.
My spiritual gifts of teaching, administration and leadership enable me to come along side faith-based ministries that are in need of coaching. My teaching modules combine the practical side of leadership skills which are underscored with biblical foundations for these applications. Please feel free to contact me if your ministry would be interested in me coming out to your church to teach these skills. God Bless!