Spencerville Seventh-day Adventist Church is pleased to share that Pastor John Gonzalez has accepted the call to serve as the Pastor for Youth and Young Adults.
Chad Stuart, Spencerville’s Senior Pastor, said, “We’re excited to have John as part of our team. His teaching and pastoral experience make him a good fit for a Youth Pastor position, but his love for God, our kids, and Christ-like disposition make him the right fit for Spencerville Church.” Pastor Stuart added, “Sometimes the pastoral search process takes us to the far corners of the country, and sometimes, God blesses us with a highly qualified person who is already part of our community.”
After accepting the call to Spencerville Church, John shared, “This call is clear evidence of the Holy Spirit’s leading, as a position at Spencerville Church wasn’t something I’d considered before discussing the open position with Pastor Chad. God’s plans are so much better than what we think of on our own! I look forward to working with this pastoral team and the wonderful leaders and volunteers at Spencerville Church.” He added, “It’s also a huge blessing to continue my relationships with the kids at Spencerville Adventist Academy. My goal is to inspire and encourage them in the Way of Jesus so they can understand the goodness of the Gospel and the God we serve!”
John was born in the Bronx (New York) to parents originally from the Dominican Republic, although he spent his formative years in Reading, Pennsylvania. He holds a B.A. in Theology from Andrews University and a Master of Divinity (MDiv) from the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary at Andrews University. After graduation, John pastored in Grand Rapids, Michigan, before accepting a call to serve as a youth pastor in the Texas Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. In 2022, John and wife Nayeli relocated to Maryland.
John is currently serving as the high-school Bible teacher and elementary and middle-school chaplain at Spencerville Adventist Academy. He is happily married to Nayeli (Moretta) Gonzalez, and together, they have two dogs: Toby, a 130-pound Great Dane, and Kalil, a black Labrador retriever. Nayeli teaches second grade at Spencerville Adventist Academy and is a longtime member of the Spencerville Church community.
John will begin his service with Spencerville Seventh-day Adventist Church on June 1, 2024, following the end of his contract with Spencerville Adventist Academy.