OURSTAFF

Abel Aguilar
Lead Pastor

Abel preached his first sermon in the third grade. While his teacher was discussing the theory of evolution, he stood up, rebuked the teacher, and declared to the entire class that "people were created from DIRT (by God) - NOT evolved from monkeys."

God's hand was evident on Abel's life through his younger years. He was healed of a crippling incurable bone disease, and later of severe asthma. As a result, his faith growing up was strong and passionate and would serve God's purpose later in life as he became a professional BMX racer and later an evangelist.

Going to church was an enjoyable experience for Abel during childhood, however during his teenage years Abel "was looking for love in all the wrong places," (just like the country song said) in an attempt to fill the love void he experienced when his parents divorced. It was when he met Kari, a sweet little Baptist girl who would later become his wife, that God brought him back to a life of surrender, commitment, and unshakable faith.

Entering Bible College in Fresno, California as a pastoral major, Abel became involved with many ministerial opportunities and even executed an evangelistic trip to Russia. In October of 1991, right after the coupe attempt in Moscow, Abel, his wife, and two friends blazed through several cities for one month preaching the gospel and praying for the sick. Thousand were saved and healed.

Shortly afterward, he transferred to an Assembly of God college in Florida to finish his degree. After two semesters he transferred to Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, OK, where he changed his degree from pastoral to Theological Studies so he could more accurately divide the Word of God. After completing his bachelor's degree he was inspired to complete a master's degree in Biblical Literature and Advance Languages.

While in Tulsa Abel was exposed to some of the finest ministries and youth-pastored for two ministries, one of which was a church plant.

Upon completing his degree in 1998 Abel and Kari moved to Phoenix, Arizona and became involved with a non-denominational church in Mesa. After a year of volunteering he was hired as one of three youth pastors who took a youth group of 150 to 650. He was affectionately nicknamed "Bible Man" by the youth for his in-depth knowledge of scripture.

After a series of church wide restructuring, Abel's position was cut, leaving him searching for another place to minister. For nine months Abel served as the associate/youth pastor at a United Methodist church in Phoenix.

Abel has a passion to minister to all age-groups, seeing their lives transformed and healed by the power of God. He truly believes that a church can exist where people care for one another, work collectively in a spirit of humility, continually grow in friendship together, and exhibit God's power just like the church in the Book of Acts.

I am a simple mid-westerner turned Arizonan ...born to Christian parents and have spent most every Sunday of my life in church.  In 1987 Prince Charming (aka Abel) swept me away to travel the world studying theology (CA, FL, OK) and spreading God's good news in Russia (1991) and Venezuela (1996).  After our first daughter was born (1998) I became involved in the leadership of the MOPS (Mothers Of PreSchoolers) group at Word of Grace Church in Mesa, AZ ... a great ministry!  My favorite song ???  "Jesus Loves Me ... this I know, for the Bible tells me so ..."