Pastor Joe
It was Thanksgiving weekend, in 1982, when Pastor Joe came to know Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior.
At that time, he was a sales representative for a large beer company, but was consumed by drugs and alcohol. Then, one night in his bedroom, Joe got down on his knees in desperation asking, "Jesus, if You are real, please change my lousy life! My wife is leaving. I'm losing it all, and I hate my life." Little did Joe know from that point on his life he would never be the same. At that moment, the Lord answered Joe's prayer and delivered him completely from drugs and alcohol. The following Sunday, Joe gave his life publicly to Christ at Calvary Chapel of West Covina, which was under the leadership of Pastor Raul Ries.
Pastor Joe and his wife Tina would spend the next seven years serving at Calvary Chapel of West Covina, in various ministries, including teaching the Bible and sharing the love of Jesus Christ with the elderly at convalescent homes. In 1988, the Colemans moved to Lake Arrowhead, California, where they served under Pastor Tim Hamilton for the next three years. While in Lake Arrowhead, the Lord began to prepare Joe for full time ministry. Many opportunities arose to minister to those with drug, alcohol and marriage problems. It became clear to Joe and Tina that they both wanted to commit their fully to sharing with others the love, grace, mercy and forgiveness that they themselves had received.
In December of 1991, Joe was ordained, and by March of 1992, they were planting a new church in West Townshend, Vermont. What began as a Bible Study in a log cabin, later became Calvary Chapel of the West River Valley. For the next 12 years the Word of God would be proclaimed throughout the Valley as the Lord opened many doors to share His Word. In 2004, the Colemans were called back to Southern California to care for their family. It was then that Pastor Chuck Wooley of Calvary Chapel The Bridge gave Pastor Joe the opportunity to serve on staff for a 6-month period. Pastor Wooley then offered him a new church plant in the city of Palm Desert that would later become Calvary Chapel Palm Desert.
Pastor Ryan
One cold evening in the winter of 2005 Ryan fell to his knees, completely broken, crying out to God for help. He was beaten both physically and mentally from mental illness and many years of drug abuse. At that very moment, little did he know that he would have a personal encounter later that night and surrender his life to Jesus. Following that week Ryan would publicly give his life to Christ at a church in California.
Ryan found a home at Calvary Chapel Palm Desert and began serving in the church in any way he could help. He prayed, learned and grew in Christ. Miraculously God called him into full-time ministry, and Ryan was ordained in 2013 beginning as a youth pastor under the leadership and discipleship of Pastor Joe Coleman. Ryan is presently serving as an associate pastor. The Lord is privileging Ryan to sit on the elder board, periodically preach on Sundays and Wednesdays, lead Bible studies at senior centers, assist with the men’s discipleship, lead prayer groups, lead and oversee worship ministries, and facilitate special events. In all these things, Ryan’s desire is to love people and lead them to Christ, teaching the Word so they grow as disciples in the grace and knowledge of God.
Ryan is married to his lovely wife Tara Lynn, and they have five beautiful children –3 girls, Cassidy, Faith, and Madison and 2 boys, Tristan and Joshua . Ryan and Tara feel so blessed to be able to share the love of Christ and tell of what great things God has done. (Ezk.36:26)
Pastor Andrew
“I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service, even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief; and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus. It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life. Now to the King, eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.” 1 Timothy 1:12-17
I once was lost but now I'm found. After years of being tossed around from heavy addiction, gambling problems and many other sins, Andrew didn't know what else to do. Expelled and distant from family, he stumbled by a 5-acre ranch in Thousand Palms California (N.C.I.C) Discipleship Ministry. Seeing many tattooed and different raced men out by a pool, he was absolutely certain this was a connection for drugs where he could prosper his ways. He whistled for one of the guys who came and invited him back to the house for a "meeting" on Friday. Of course, he came back Friday thinking he would be credited an amount of drugs to sell. Yet, little did he know he walked into a Friday night Bible study and discipleship home, heard the Word of God, was convicted, and decided to ask the pastor if he could enter the program! His life forever changed.
Andrew was radically saved (Born Again) and changed from the inside out. No longer a slave to sin, he decided to stay at the ranch for 2 years, where he was brought to church every Wednesday and Sunday. Eventually he began serving with the children’s ministry. The pastors discipled him for 8 more years, until the Lord called him as the youth pastor at Calvary Chapel Palm Desert. In addition, He serves on the worship team, and also ministers at Indio Juvenile Hall. Andrew works in the medical field. Andrew is beyond blessed and has found favor in being married to his bride Elisa who is also on the worship team and is the homemaker and mother.