Leadership

Pastor Elijah Rodriguez is the author of Now What? A New Believer’s Guide and Now What? for Youth. He serves as the Lead Pastor and Co-Founder of Hope Worship Center in New Jersey, faithfully ministering alongside his wife, Pastor Lissette Rodriguez. Together, they planted Hope Worship Center with a clear mandate from God to create “A Place for Everyone”—a church that welcomes the broken, restores the hurting, and equips believers to walk out their faith with boldness and purpose.

Elijah’s journey into ministry is marked by resilience, perseverance, and unwavering faith. Having experienced personal trials and God’s miraculous grace, he preaches and teaches with an authenticity that resonates deeply with people from every background. His ministry is grounded not in lofty words but in real encounters with the living God who heals, transforms, and restores.

As a pastor, Elijah is known for his practical, dynamic, and Spirit-led approach to preaching and teaching. He blends biblical truth with everyday life application, making the Word of God accessible, relatable, and powerful. His heart is to disciple believers, strengthen families, and raise up leaders who will impact generations for the Kingdom of God.

Beyond the pulpit, Elijah is a devoted husband and father. He and Pastor Lissette are blessed with six children—Jeremiah, Vanessa, Leah, Rebecca, Alexis, and Marcus—who remain their greatest joy and legacy. Their home is an extension of their ministry, modeling Christlike love, unity, and faith in action.

Elijah’s life message is simple yet profound: salvation is not the finish line but the starting point. Every believer has a next step in Christ, and his mission is to equip and encourage them to walk confidently into God’s purpose for their lives.

With over eight years of pastoral leadership, Elijah continues to walk boldly in his calling, pouring out his life to see others come to know Christ and grow as His disciples. Whether behind the pulpit, in counseling, or through everyday conversations, his message remains the same—pointing people to Jesus and reminding them that with Him, there is always hope.

Pastor Lissette Rodriguez is the author of Exhale: A Lifeline for the Life Givers. She is a powerful teacher, preacher, and a devoted wife, mother, and daughter. As the Lead Pastor and Co-Founder of Hope Worship Center in Aberdeen, NJ, she faithfully serves alongside her husband, Pastor Elijah Rodriguez.

Her heart has always been to give selflessly—loving, encouraging, and building others with compassion and spiritual strength. In 2019, she stepped into one of the most challenging yet meaningful seasons of her life, becoming the sole caregiver for her mother, who is battling dementia, and her father, who faces multiple underlying medical conditions. She fully embraces the significant role God has entrusted to her in her home, church, and community.

Pastor Lissette never runs from challenges; instead, she confronts them with grace and resilience. She holds a certification in Christian counseling from the Sarasota Christian Academy of Christian Counseling and a certification in translation from Brookdale Community College. While juggling many responsibilities herself, she understands—and teaches others—the God-given importance of balance.

These experiences and her steadfast faith have shaped her into the God-fearing, compassionate, and impactful woman she is today.