Our Origin and Professional Preparation
Pastor Ezequiel Velez was born in New York City to a Puerto Rican family and Pastor Raquel Velez was born in Puerto Rico, both grew up in the nucleus of a Puerto Rican family.
Christian. Pastor Ezequiel is a graduate of the University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Campus, RUM, where he completed a bachelor's degree in chemistry. At the end of his university studies he moved to the city of Atlanta Georgia to practice his profession as a chemist. She currently works part time at the Environmental Protection Agency. Pastor Raquel graduated from the University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Campus, RUM, where she completed her studies in pedagogy. She has worked as a middle and high school teacher in Puerto Rico at Colegio San Carlos, and in Atlanta at Wesleyan School and Jonhson Ferry Christian Academy.
God has blessed our Pastors with two children Yessenia Velez and Giovanni Velez.
Their oldest daughter Yessenia is married to Erick Garcia and both are pastors of the Youth Ministry (GXO), also Yessenia is the worship and praise leader of this ministry. God has blessed both of them professionally which they are currently doing. Yessenia has a Master's degree from Georgia State University (Science in Communication and Disoders) Speech Language Pathology, Speech Language Pathologist. Erick Garcia is a graduate of Emory University (Bachelor's degree in Mathematics) and has a Masters Degree in Civil Engineering from Georgia Tech University.
His youngest son Giovani Velez, is married to Rebeca Velez. He serves as assistant pastor of the GXO Youth Ministry and is one of the drummer musicians for the Senda Worship ministry. Giovani is a graduate of Georgia State University with a Doctorate in Physical Therapy and is currently performing his professional service. Rebeca has a Master's degree, graduated as a Speech Language Pathologist. She is currently practicing her professional role
Our Theological & Ministerial Preparation
Pastors Velez are graduates of the Assemblies of God Theological Institute, graduating in 2000, both completed their studies in Theology and Christian Education. In 2004, Pastors Velez took the challenge to train in the area of Christian counseling and entered the university to obtain their post-graduate studies. Two years later, both graduated with high honors. Ezekiel earned his M.A. in Pastoral Counseling from Andersonville Theological Seminary University , and Raquel earned her M.A. in Christian Counseling from DOXA International University. Raquel continued her studies in counseling and in 2009 graduated with a Doctorate in Biblical Counseling from DOXA International University, where she worked as a professor of counseling. That passion and love for restoration led Dr. Raquel to found and direct the Renewing Lives counseling ministry, which has blessed multitudes of individuals, marriages and families.
Our Ministerial History
They served as Youth Pastors of the Marrietta Assemblies of God Missionary Church, where they served as Youth Pastors for over six (6) years. The passion, faithfulness and integrity of this couple led them to be recognized by the Southeastern Hispanic District of the Assemblies of God as Youth Pastors of the Year 2000.
In January 2002, Pastors Velez answered the call to found and pastor a Hispanic mission at the Smyrna Assembly of God Church in Smyrna GA. Five years later they established that mission as a church that today bears the name Iglesia Senda de Restauración Inc. which they have been pastoring for more than twenty-two years. Today, hundreds of people from over 17 nationalities give testimony of how the ministry of these anointed pastors, in conjunction with the selfless love of multiple servants to the ministry, have transformed the future of many into an abundant life in Christ.