Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus! I wanted to give you an idea of who I am, where I've been and where I am going. My name is Joell Perez. Born in New York, brother to three sisters and two brothers. I’ve been working in the same company for over twenty years filling the role of Design Engineer, Product Manager and Salesman. I started in this company at the age of fifteen working as a file clerk and continued working my way up the corporate ladder. I have enjoyed a great amount of success and thank God for using them to put me through school and get me ahead, but I know clearly that this career is not where I have been called to be. In an effort to be direct with you, the best way to describe myself is as follows: I am an ex-drug user, ex-fornicator, ex-adulterer, ex-thief, ex-liar, ex-etc. (I’m sure you didn’t expect to read all of that in my bio but why should I lie? Or why should you hear about it from someone else?) But ultimately I am a new creation in Christ and I don’t allow my past to dictate who I am today or who I will be in the future, but I do believe I have to be open about who I was and I encourage you to do the same. (Testify!)

            Now back to ministry, it was late October 1986 on a cold Sunday morning, I walked with my mother into a building that was not what I had known as the prototypical "church". I would have never thought at that young age that I was walking into a place that would represent the starting point of the career I was born to do. Years passed in this place and I was instructed in many areas of religion fulfilling seminaries as a child and learning many lessons from my own life experiences. Prior to this experience I had been involved in a few religions varying from the occult to the traditional church. Throughout all my walk I always had a passion for God though at times quite misguided. Through the years being in this church, God frequently used different vessels to pronounce the call over my life, time and time again, unfortunately I didn't always listen. I spent close to fifteen years in this church until it came to an unfortunate end because of a church division. I guess what impacted me the most about the division was (at the time it took place I was fulfilling the role of a youth and worship leader) we had just come back from a youth retreat with about 300 teens that were on fire for God. Just like the devil to cause division after such an awesome release of blessings. After this awful division a small group of us started getting together in my house for prayer and the group started growing until we had to move down to our basement, then eventually we rented a store front. All seemed to be working but there was still something missing. As the worship director in this new church I saw some awesome moments of intimacy & worship with God evolve and our worship team was without equal, we were made up of a group of men and women who were sold out for God. No reservations, no obstacles and no politics, but as time progressed, politics entered the church once again. Alongside my wife we spent about 3 ½ years trying to help purge the politics out of the church that we grew to love so dearly but unfortunately our efforts were without reward.

            After about seven years of being part of this church the time came when we had to walk away, we weren't willing to compromise our faith for any relationship or person just as we are not today. After these struggles we made the leap of faith and ventured out on our own. During these years God continued to confirm the calling over our lives, stating how he would use us and where he would take us but it was not easy. For the next three years we were affiliated with another Church where through divine appointment we were ordained to be Pastors over the Hispanic ministry. Initially we began with six people, but we out grew our location quickly. Then once again came the moment we were told it was time to be planted outside of our "comfort zone". Again, we had to say good bye to relationships and all that was familiar and venture out on our own. The one thing that was different than any of the other times was that this time we would be walking solely under the covering of God (what better place to be!).

                Over the last five years God has done many wonderful things, we have been through many challenges, but we have also experienced many super natural blessings as well. We have had the pleasure of seeing many brethren walk through the doors of our church and we have seen many walk out as well. The truth is we are not a perfect fit for everyone, I don’t think anyone is for that matter. There will be people who love us and stand in the gap for us and there will be people who don’t and that's ok as well. It has been hard, but over the years I have come to the understanding that I can't change the way people think of me, I can only be myself! Like my wife tells me, you either Love me or hate me and today I finally understand that statement.

               As a ministry we have experienced super natural growth and development, we have seen what God started with six people develop into a group of six Pastors and four Elders. It has been quite a journey and for those who have known me in this process, know that I suffered from micro managing, but God has also helped me change that! As you come to the end of reading about us, you should get a notion as to whether or not this "Imperfect" bunch and church is for you. I will tell you clearly you are not going to find "Perfection" amongst us, but you will find a group in process towards attaining that perfection through Christ-Jesus. I will leave you with this: If you are looking for a "Perfect" church you are on a never ending journey, but if you want to gradually reach that state of perfection scripture talks about, then New Beginnings Ministries is for you. We are simply servants called to bless His people, people with flaws looking to God for strength realizing through Him we can do all things!

 Blessings,

 Pastor Joell Perez