Pastor Joseph Yoshimura

Born and raised in Calvary Chapel I grew up knowing of who Jesus is, but not intimately knowing Him as my friend and savior. I had done the “raise your hand if you want to receive Christ” thing as a child on a Christmas Eve service, but I hadn’t truly committed to follow him. Growing up as a homeschooler I never did anything that you would call “really bad”. I wasn’t a partier, I didn’t have sex, I didn’t drink. But as C.S Lewis puts it in the Screwtape Letters, I was quietly and comfortably progressing to hell. It wasn’t until my junior year of high school, in 2008 when I went on a mission trip to Puerto Escondido, Mexico that I really understood what it meant to “Come, follow Me” Mathew 4:19. There I saw young adults living out their faith in Christ, those that had a personal relationship with Him. Those with true joy and freedom in Christ, rather than a rigid faith built upon works. A life lived for Jesus, and not for oneself. A life devoted to making disciples and caring for others more than yourself, and though I still struggle with that as a sinner, I know that I am being perfected until the day of Christ Jesus return!
Leaving Puerto I made that decision, that I would know what it means to follow Jesus and have a relationship with Him. He started to change my desires, and revealed gifting’s in my life. I had a very shy personality, I was an introvert, but He took me out of my comfort zone. After graduating he gave me a heart for the youth, and in 2014 by the grace of God, Pastor Al invited me to come on staff at CCW to lead the youth group. This is not what I had planned, this is not what my shy personality wants, but God’s ways are so much higher and greater. And He blesses above and beyond... On July 9th, 2017 I got to marry the love of my life, Sammantha, and now we have a 3 year-old son, and beautiful 1 year old daughter. Our God has great plans for each of us, He never promises it to be easy, but He does promise He will be with us. And that’s the hope I want to bring to this next generation.