Welcome to My Friend's House

 

Meet Our Pastors....


 

Our Senior Pastor, Jim Ortiz,is an Ordained Minister with the General Council of the Assemblies of God. He has held credentials with the AG since 1969. He has guided this congregation since its beginnings in 1971. He is a graduate of Vanguard University (formerly Southern California College), and has pursued graduate studies at Fuller Seminary, Pasadena, CA; C.P. Haggard School of Theology, Azusa Pacific University, Azusa, CA; Princeton Seminary, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey; and Seminario Evangelico de Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico.

     Pastor Jim is a native of New York City, New York, born of Puerto Rican parents, and attended high school in Oxnard, CA. He is married to Yolie Mendoza (40 years) and they have three children and seven grandchildren.

 

Our Lead Pastor, Ray Telles, is an Ordained Minister, and comes to us with 28 years of ministry experience as a Youth Pastor, Assistant Pastor, and Evangelist. Most recently, over the last 12 years, he served as the Senior Pastor of Hope of Glory Christian Fellowship. And, as of November 2009, Hope of Glory CF has consolidated its ministry with My Friend's House, and both congregations and their pastors have entered into a ministry partnership under the new name of My "New" Friend's House.

Pastor Ray is a native of the Whittier area, having been raised in the neighboring town of La Habra, Ca., in northern Orange County. He is married to Arlene (25 years), and they have two adult sons: Joshua, who is married to Patty; and, Josiah.

Our Senior Administrative Pastor, John Salgado, is a Credentialed Minister, and comes to us with 6 years of ministry experience having recently pastored The Storehouse Christian Fellowship. The Storehouse Christian Fellowship, its congregation and pastor, has also joined forces with My Friend's House and Hope of Glory CF as of November 2009, and all three congregations have now become one consolidated congregation!

Pastor John is also a native of the Whittier area, growing up in this community and attending the local schools. He is a graduate of BIOLA University with a degree in Business Administration. Before responding to the call of God for full-time ministry, Pastor John worked in industry serving in various administrative and management capacities in such large companies as Coca Cola, as well as others. He is married to Kathy, and they have 3 boys.

Articles & Resources for Church Workers

  • Starting a Greeter Program
    Four years ago I accepted the challenge of evangelism chairperson for our church. One of the first programs the pastor and I developed was the Sunday morning greeter program.
  • Motivating the Right Person into the Right Ministry
    One of the greatest challenges for most leaders is selecting and motivating the right people into the right ministry positions in hopes of minimizing turnover and frustration. Even in the smaller church with limited personnel, it is important to coordinate people and ministry as much as possible.
  • “I TRIED, BUT NO ONE EVER CALLED ME”
    “I tried, but no one ever called me” are painful words for a leader who has much work to do and not enough people willing to do it. These words are painful for the person who wanted to contribute, but was never called. These are also painful words for a person who is committed to helping people connect and contribute in meaningful ways within the church.