Pastor Joe has been our Lead Pastor since August 2004. Together with his wife Ruth, they bring passion, vision, and leadership to our church and community. Pastor Joe and Ruth were married in June 1997, and have two boys, Joey (7) and Josiah (2).
Prior to entering Bible School, Pastor Joe had dreams and aspirations of being a New York State Trooper. Pastor Joe earned an Associates Degree in Police Science from Orange County Community College, Middletown, NY, and attended John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City. After a radical encounter with the Lord at Times Square Church in New York City, God changed the course of Pastor Joe's life and he answered the call of God to preach. In 1993, Pastor Joe enrolled into Zion Bible College in Barrington, RI (www.zbc.edu).
Pastor Joe graduated in 1997 from Zion Bible College of the Assemblies of God with a Baccalaureate Degree in Bible, majoring in Pastoral Studies and minoring in Christian Education. He was ordained by the Assemblies of God in 2001. Ruth attended Southeastern College of the Assemblies of God where she majored in psychology. Pastor Joe and Ruth together began ministry as Youth Pastors at Providence Assembly of God in Providence, RI. After serving in Providence, they left to Boston to pioneer a new church that they called International Worship Center in Roslindale, MA (www.iwcag.org). After several years in Boston, the Lord called Pastor Joe and Ruth to Christian Assembly in 2003.
Pastor Joe also serves on several boards and committees. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of Berkshire Christian School in Lenox, MA (www.berkshirechristianschool.com). He serves the Western Massachusetts section of the SNED (www.snedag.org) as sectional Christian Education Representative, and he serves on the Berkshire County Revival Fires in Pittsfield, MA (www.berkshirerevivalfires.org). Ruth is our Women's Ministries Leader.
Pastor Joe says, "I am excited for what God is doing in Pittsfield and Berkshire County. I truly believe that we are on the brink of a mighty move of God. These past few years we have seen growth, unity, and increase. I truly believe that the best is yet to come."
For sermons, click on Sermons
Check out Pastor Joe's blog at josephnieves.blogspot.com
