Since the month of October is Pastor Appreciation Month, we are using our October blog posts to feature our Logos Community Church pastors. Check out our interview with Pastor Jeff and Pastor Chris, and give them a hug when you see them on Sunday!

How long have you been a pastor at Logos?

PJ: Almost three years.

PC: I have been a pastor at Logos for nine months, since January 2016.

Can you tell us some about the story behind your calling as a pastor?

PJ: I think God initiated the call after college, when I was in the Marine Corps. For me, perhaps uniquely, it was a gradual calling over about a decade. As I kept growing and maturing in my faith, I grew in my passions for missions, preaching, and ministry in general. Finally, in 2005, I realized fully God’s call on my life and was ordained as a pastor in the church I was ministering at in North Carolina.

PC: In August 1996 my father unexpectedly passed away in the middle of the night. We were extremely close and the sudden loss was devastating. Months later, while still recovering from the loss of my father, I suffered a severe hand injury that forever altered the course of my life. I had to go through 3 surgeries, 2 skins grafts, and endure months of extensive physical therapy before I could even use my hand again. I wasn't able to work and was unemployed for almost 9 months. Since I didn't have medical insurance at the time of the accident I was now in debt to the moon and back. To make matters even worse, for the first time in my life, I began to struggle with depression. So, as I lay on my couch contemplating suicide, with no other options on the table, I decided as a last ditch effort to grab and read the only book I had in the house, the Bible. I opened it up and just began to read. Within a few days I came across Exodus 34, and for some reason, it was that passage that God used to quicken my spirit and save my soul. I can still remember repenting and crying out for forgiveness as I placed my faith and trust in Jesus Christ. My life has never been the same since. I began helping with a local youth group, and the moment I walked in the door at youth group I was hooked and instantly knew that God was calling me into the ministry. As soon as Christine and I stepped on campus at Marine Military Academy in Harlingen, we were both convinced that God was calling us to MMA to serve as the Academy Chaplain. That was June 2004. For many years our family struggled finding a church to call home, that is until Logos Community Church McAllen planted a church in Harlingen. I was eventually asked to hang out with the sermon prep team each week and it gave me a closer look at the men God was using to lead Logos. It also gave them an opportunity to get to know me. During that time I was asked to consider going through the elder candidate process. As it turned out, God used that lengthy process to clarify and solidify my call to pastor.

If you weren’t a pastor or working in full-time ministry, what would you be doing with your life?

PJ: I would probably be doing something in real estate/development/construction. Or be a professional wrestler!

PC: Before moving to the RGV 13 years ago, I was working as a machinist in Houston, doing work in the petrochemical and aerospace industries for about a dozen years. Toward the end of my career as a machinist I was actually working at NASA and loved every minute of it.

If you could vacation anywhere for two weeks (with money being no object), where would you go?

PJ: Some great tropical isle with clear water, great diving (wrecks and sea life), and awesome food. And hammocks.

PC: Alaska

Who is your favorite Bible character and why?

PJ: The apostle Peter. I have always loved his passion and zeal for the Lord. And I guess I’ve also identified with the big promises he made…and failed to keep in serving his Lord.

PC: It is a close call with several names in the hunt, but I'd have to say Amos because of his godly boldness that he displayed as he prophesied of God's impending judgment, not only to the enemies of Israel, but also to God's own people. Besides that, he had a "famous" cookie named after him and did some weather forecasting in his spare time.

If you planted a church, what would the name be?

PJ: Church of Many Chances. Or Hope Church. Or Logos. Probably Logos!