The Assembly​
Fairfax & Crawford
Pastors
We are five pastors from different parts of the world that have formed a special bond to speak to our very diverse culture. We have committed to doing something we think the world needs, and that begins with our commitment of trust to each other. Our groups share resources, finances, workers, talent and energies with the goal of being ONE church. None of our groups are renters and no one leader is above the others.
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Our lay leaders serve together on one church board and we frequently meet in combined services - four groups, three languages, ONE church family. It's exciting and our meals together are fantastic! We want to be the place our city can point to and say, "They are getting it right," as we learn what life together in Christ is all about and what Jesus meant when he prayed we "would all be ONE" just as Father, Son, and Spirit are ONE.
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Melvin Martinez
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​Growing up in Puerto Princesa City, Philippiness, Pastor Melvin is a 1980 graduate of Bethel Bible College in the Philippines. He planted and pastored numerous churches there until coming to Bakersfield in 1990 to plant the very first Filipino Church in Bakersfield.
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Pastor Melvin's vision to reach the ever growing Filipino population of Bakersfield has inspired many others throughout Southern California. He and his wife Ruth have given generously of their time and resources to see others fulfill their ministries. After an unexpected financial miracle, Pastor Melvin and Ruth did not enrich themselves, but built a very successful children's school in a needy area of the Philippines.
Ramon Vera
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​Ramon Vera directs Iglesia Evangelica Emmanuel which meets at our Crawford Street location. He was born in Puerto Rica and has been a missionary to Zimbabwe, Tanzania, and South India. He has served churches in Los Angeles and Bakersfield, senior pastoring four times.
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He earned a bachelor's degree in Bibical Studies from Latin American Bible College, a Master of Arts in Theology and a Master of Divinity, both from Fuller Theological Seminary. He is currently working on a Doctoral Degree.
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He has three daughters, Nancy, Tanya, and Darlene. His wife Iris grew up in El Salvador and leads worship for their growing international church family.
Marcelo Rodriguez
​​mrodriguez@summitbiblecollege.com
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​Born in Ensenada, Mexico, Pastor Marcelo serves The Assembly at Fairfax as Youth Pastor and is the Pastor of Iglesia Christiana that meets at our Fairfax location.
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He is a graduate of Summit Bible College where he is now part of the Administration. He began a Spanish language Bible Study in his aunt's home which grew to become Iglesia Christiana. It is a thriving, very active church family of mostly new believers from the Fairfax area. Pastor Marcelo is a gifted artist and knows how to get everyone to use their gifts. He is assisted by his cousin Luz who is a talented worship leader and has uncovered and developed hidden musical ability in the church family.
Daniel Esperanza
​dbeministry062et@yahoo.com.ph
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​Pastor Danny was born in Pozorubbio, Pangasinan, Philippines and is fluent in English, Tagalog and Ilokano. He graduated in 1980 from Bethel Bible College, Valenzuela City with a degree Sacred Music. He also holds a Master of Divinity in New Testament from Asia Pacific Theological Seminary, Baguio City, Philippines.
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He has planted and pastored churches in The Philippines and served as a seminary professor. After planting a church in Delano, California, he began a work in Bakersfield which recently merged with the ministry of Pastor Melvin Martinez and now meets at our Crawford Street location.
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Pastor Danny is assisted in ministry by his wife Esther and their gifted sons Duane, Dan, Dale, and Darl. Their daughter Danae is a missionary with YWAM - Youth with a Mission.
Pete Baker​
​​bakerpastorpete@sbcglobal.net
imnotafraidtoask.blogspot.com​
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A native of Indianapolis, Indiana and a 1981 graduate of Central Bible College, he has served three other churches - in Indianapolis, Granite City, Illinois and in Bakersfield. He has been Senior Pastor of The Assembly at Fairfax since September 2000, leads the English congregation there and oversees the ministries of the other churches meeting at both the Fairfax and Crawford Street locations.
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He and his wife Becky, an accomplished musician and chairperson of the fine arts department at Mira Monte High School have four daughters. Becky Directs the Fairfax Worship Team and is involved in many of the children's programs.
He is also head coach for the East Bakersfield SAL Boxing Program and coordinates Future Champions Boxing, a network of several area boxing clubs sponsoring exhibitions for young, beginning boxers. Practice is held at the Kern County Sheriff's Station - 1700 Flower Street