Pastor Joel A. Peña – Top Latinos
Lancaster, PA /LWW/Pastor Joel A. Peña, Pastor of the Church of the Brethren and Director of the Alpha & Omega Community Center, has been recognized by the Top Latinos in the 2026 edition. 
Reverend Joel A. Peña is a man of unwavering faith, pastoral vision, and social commitment. His life stands as a living testimony of how faith can transform communities, inspire generations, and open paths of hope where once there was only need.
Born in Mérida, Venezuela, Joel Peña was raised in Christian values from an early age. He was baptized at the age of 12 and served actively in various congregations, growing in spiritual leadership and social commitment. He earned a degree in Public Accounting from the University of the Andes (1990) and a degree in Theology from the Mizpa Bible Institute—studies that provided him with a solid academic and ministerial foundation.
In 1987, he founded La Brigada Juvenil de Jesucristo (The Youth Brigade of Jesus Christ), a Christian youth movement that marked an entire generation of young people in Venezuela. He was also a founding member of the Christian band El Shaddai, where he served as a vocalist and musician. His entrepreneurial spirit led him to develop several businesses in his hometown—experience that he later transformed into a model of holistic leadership for ministry and community service.
However, the political and economic changes in Venezuela in the late 1990s led him to emigrate to the United States in 2001. Three years later, God called him to pastor Alpha & Omega Church of the Brethren in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where he continues to serve faithfully. Since then, he has also directed the Alpha & Omega Community Center, a nonprofit organization that for more than three decades has been a beacon of hope for thousands of Hispanic families in the area. The Center offers a food bank, professional counseling, English and music classes, computer distribution for refugees, and the radio program Hablemos en Claro, among other community services.
Pastor Peña’s leadership has extended far beyond the borders of the United States. In 2018, he founded in Venezuela the Church of the Brethren Association of Venezuela (ASIGLEH), a movement that now includes more than 45 congregations—12 of which are located within indigenous communities—and an active membership of between 1,500 and 2,000 believers. Through this ministry, agricultural projects, humanitarian aid programs, and new church plants in Colombia have been launched, expanding a vision of faith, hope, and service throughout the region.
At the denominational level, Reverend Peña has served on the Church of the Brethren’s Mission and Ministry Board, the District Atlantic Northeast Evangelism and Development Commission, and the District Ministry Commission. He is also a member of the Church of the Brethren National Advisory Team (CAT) for Venezuela. His pastoral influence has reached across the Americas and Europe, representing the denomination at conferences in Spain.
Joel Peña is married to Mary Jane Puryear, his life and ministry partner for over two decades. Together they have built a beautiful family that includes Abraham, Sofía Monzerratt, Samuel, and Max, who share the same values of love, faith, and service that define their home. Mary Jane has been a pillar of strength and a loving mother to all, contributing through her example and dedication to the strong family and spiritual bonds that characterize their household.
His story is that of a man who, driven by faith, has learned to reinvent himself in the face of adversity and respond to God’s call with passion, vision, and steadfast commitment. Today, Pastor Joel Peña continues to lead Alpha & Omega Church of the Brethren and the Alpha & Omega Community Center as a living testimony that faith in action has the power to transform communities—and even nations—for the glory of God.
Pastor Joel Peña: Fe, liderazgo y transformación comunitaria
El Reverendo Joel A. Peña es un hombre de fe inquebrantable, visión pastoral y compromiso social. Su vida es un testimonio vivo de cómo la fe puede transformar comunidades, inspirar generaciones y abrir caminos de esperanza donde antes solo había necesidad.
Nacido en Mérida, Venezuela, Joel Peña se formó en los valores cristianos desde su niñez. Fue bautizado a los 12 años y sirvió activamente en diferentes congregaciones, creciendo en liderazgo espiritual y compromiso social. Es graduado en Contaduría Pública por la Universidad de Los Andes (1990) y en Teología por el Instituto Bíblico Mizpa, estudios que le dieron una sólida base tanto académica como ministerial.
En 1987 fundó la Brigada Juvenil de Jesucristo, un movimiento juvenil cristiano que marcó una generación de jóvenes en Venezuela, y fue miembro fundador de la banda cristiana El Shaddai, con la que sirvió como vocalista y músico. Su espíritu emprendedor también lo llevó a desarrollar varias empresas en su ciudad natal, experiencia que más tarde transformaría en un modelo de liderazgo integral para el servicio ministerial.
Sin embargo, los cambios políticos y económicos en Venezuela a finales de los años 90 lo llevaron a emigrar a los Estados Unidos en 2001. Tres años más tarde, Dios lo llamó a pastorear la Iglesia Alpha & Omega Church of the Brethren en Lancaster, Pennsylvania, donde continúa sirviendo con dedicación. Desde entonces, también dirige el Alpha & Omega Community Center, una organización sin fines de lucro que por más de tres décadas ha sido un faro de esperanza para miles de familias hispanas en el área, ofreciendo un banco de alimentos, consejería profesional, clases de inglés y música, distribución de computadoras a refugiados y el programa radial “Hablemos en Claro”, entre otros servicios.
El liderazgo del pastor Peña ha trascendido las fronteras de Estados Unidos. En 2018 fundó en Venezuela la Asociación Iglesia de los Hermanos Venezuela (ASIGLEH), un movimiento que hoy cuenta con más de 45 congregaciones, incluyendo 12 iglesias entre comunidades indígenas, y una membresía activa de entre 1,500 y 2,000 creyentes. Desde esta obra se han impulsado proyectos agrícolas, programas de ayuda humanitaria y la plantación de iglesias en Colombia, extendiendo la visión de fe, esperanza y servicio a toda la región.
A nivel denominacional, el Reverendo Peña ha servido en la Junta de Misiones y Ministerio de la Iglesia de los Hermanos en EE. UU., en la Comisión de Desarrollo y Evangelismo y en la Comisión de Ministerio del Distrito Atlántico Noreste, además de ser miembro del Equipo Asesor Nacional (CAT) para Venezuela. Su influencia pastoral se ha dejado sentir tanto en América como en Europa, donde ha representado a la denominación en conferencias en España.
Joel Peña está casado con Mary Jane Puryear, su compañera de vida y ministerio durante más de dos décadas. Juntos han formado una hermosa familia compuesta por Abraham, Sofía Monzerratt, Samuel y Max, quienes comparten los mismos valores de amor, fe y servicio que caracterizan su hogar. Mary Jane ha sido un pilar fundamental en el apoyo a Joel y una madre amorosa para todos, contribuyendo con su ejemplo y dedicación a fortalecer los lazos familiares y espirituales que distinguen a su familia.
Su historia es la de un hombre que, movido por la fe, ha sabido reinventarse ante la adversidad y responder al llamado divino con pasión, visión y compromiso. Hoy, el pastor Joel Peña continúa guiando a la Iglesia y al Centro Comunitario Alpha & Omega como un testimonio viviente de que la fe, cuando se pone en acción, tiene el poder de transformar comunidades y naciones enteras para la gloria de Dios.
Top Latinos is a prestigious New York publication dedicated to honoring the achievements of the Latino community. They meticulously identify and honor outstanding Latino professionals nationwide who have reached impressive levels of success in their respective fields. By showcasing their accomplishments, they aim to foster growth and appreciation of the Latino industry and culture. Since their establishment in 2010, Top Latinos has been wholeheartedly committed to fulfilling their mission of bringing awareness to the exceptional contributions made by the Latino professional and executive community.
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