Joseph A. Lopez

Joseph Anthony Lopez.

Joseph Anthony Lopez was born on April 23, 1969 in Orange, CA to Martha and Joe Lopez.

Joe was the eldest of his siblings; Darlene, Danny, Melissa, and Jeremy. He was also the first grandchild on both sides of the family, so Joe could do no wrong! Joe attended Elementary School in Garden Grove, CA up through the 5th grade. When the Lopez family moved to Moreno Valley (at that time known as Sunnymead) Joe attended Armada Elementary School and later Moreno Valley High School. There are many memories that Joe’s family has about him. Joe's sister Darlene remembers that Joe had a gift for drawing portraits of people. At Christmas time he would create pictures on the windows at home and then paint them in festive colors. As a big brother he was not overly protective but was very caring and considerate of people's feelings. Although the jokester, he had a gentle spirit. He was a brother that you could always go to for advice. Joe had time for everybody; he even made time to cook meals for all the neighborhood kids that his brother Danny would bring home. Joe's sister Melissa recalls the following memories. "I remember that my brother Joe would take care of us when we were younger, he would never ever get mad at anyone. He was also a great cook. One time he came over and made us egg rolls and fried rice! My brother Joe bought me my first and only Bible and he would tell me, “Sis... God doesn't give you anything that you can't handle." He was a wonderful big brother with the biggest heart." Joe's brother Danny recalls;”My memories of Joe were always cooking for us and how as a big brother was the one to watch over us while mom and dad would work. He shared a room with me as a kid and he would listen to music every night. He would look after me because he loved me, I just didn't listen to him but I wish I had. He looked after us because he was the BIG BROTHER, and I will never forget that!" Younger brother Jeremy states, “What I remember about Joseph is that how he always taught me how to be on the righteous path and that his prayers always made me feel comforted and how it would restore my faith whenever I felt doubtful."

Pastor Joe was all about family. He loved and prayed for his parents, siblings and whoever came his life. On May 19, 2001, Joe married Olga Salazar in the wedding of their dreams. Many friends and loved ones witnessed as they became one and have watched them over the years as an example of a Godly husband and wife. When Joe married Olga, he married Ronni girl too. They became an instant family and on July 25, 2003, baby Matthew Jude Lopez entered into the world and now the family was complete. Ronni always considered Joe her "PJ" which stood for "Papa Joe" and Matt would call him "daddy". Ronni and Joe would have happy and fun filled conversations. Ronni felt that Joe was a very smart man especially regarding the Bible and she would always look to him for answers to the questions that she would have. Joe believed that God had a plan for Ronni's young life. In a birthday card to his daughter here is what he wrote to her: "somewhere around twelve years ago, in a land far far away, there was a little princess that crossed my path in life. She was so special! I knew for sure God had a very special plan for her and her future. Over the next few years I seen her grow and show the whole world that she was such a bright person. As the years passed and she grew under God's protected hand, I seen the leader that God was preparing for this world, such wisdom and compassion with a love for the Lord! Today that baby girl is a young lady! Full of God's gentleness and promise... Ronni as I remember you on this day I thank God for you! You are a blessing to my life! Never be afraid to believe in what God can do in & through you. "Happy Birthday #1 Mija... P.J. Joe and Matt spent a lot of time together and did a lot of things. One of the things they did was have bedtime worship and prayer every night. Matt would always have questions about everything and he would look to his dad for the answers. The time came to teach Matt how to ride a bike, Joe googled on the computer, "How to teach a child to ride a bike". At first, it was not a successful attempt but after a while the attempt was made again and this time they succeeded. Joe enjoyed family outings whether they were at the beach, on a field trip with the kids or out on a family camping trip at Featherly Park with the Salazar Family. Those camping trips were such fun. They would always have church on Sunday around the camp. They would sing worship songs and then Joe would give a message. Sharing the Word and the Lord with those you love, that was Joe.

Joe received the Lord as his Savior at the age of 19. Most young men at that age are into cars, girls, and money. Joe was into the things of God. When Joe became a Youth Pastor at Victory Outreach Riverside it was all about the kids. Joe would make himself available morning, noon and night to everyone. There was not one individual that he didn't instill a part of himself into. The ages of this particular ministry was so diverse, not only were the ages diverse but so were the individuals and their needs. However, Joe always seemed to have a listening ear and an encouraging word for each one.

Joe worked in the church office of VO Riverside for more than 12 years as the Church Administrator. He handled many aspects of the church and its administration along with the banking, correspondence and the legal aspects of the department as well.

Before Joe became a Licensed Minister in VO Riverside, he ventured out into the Mission Field by going to London, Puerto Rico and Little Rock, Arkansas. His experience left an impression on those he met. He had a way of making an impact on the lives of others. He supported those who would later go out to pioneer new churches with an encouraging word and prayer.

Joe was a man of prayer. He was sensitive to the movement of the Holy Spirit. You would hear him pray with an urgency in his voice. He would open up church service with the prayer requests from the church. He would make it personal to the congregation by telling them, "God is mindful of you and your requests" those words alone would drive a hard hearted individual to their knees to seek the Lord. Joe would attend many retreats and church events. One of his favorites was the Prayer Retreat in Philadelphia, PA. Another favorite retreat was the Rehab Conference in Chicago, Illinois. He also had a love for the City of Boston, which he had once visited and enjoyed.

Pastor Joe was a true teacher either behind the pulpit or in front of a classroom you knew you were in the presence of a professional. Pastor Joe was an instructor for Victory Education Training Institute for years. During that time, he taught many classes and modulars to countless students who later went on to be Pastors and Missionaries for Victory Outreach International.

When Joe became a Licensed Minister and Associate Pastor of VO Riverside, he always had the best interest of the church and its members at heart. The Senior Pastor knew that his Associate had his back and would always be there to lift his arms when needed. Pastor knew the inside of VO Riverside inside out. He knew what made it tick and he knew of its strongholds, for which he would constantly pray for.

As a family, Joe and Olga said yes to a challenge and found themselves with their young daughter at the VO Riverside Men's Home on Park Street, baby Matthew would join them a few years later. They ran the home for 4 years and the doors of the Men's Home were open to all. Many men who came through those doors were bridged into the church once they graduated. Some of those men are now leaders in their local churches. Pastor Joe was a spiritual farmer, he raised men out of the dirt and planted the Word into their lives, he cultivated structure, discipline and integrity into them and once ripened, they would be harvested and that fruit was sent out to feed others. The Lopez family was all about ministry. They would have people in and out of their home all the time. As a husband and wife and being leaders in the church we learned to balance both family and ministry.

Later on in life, Joe worked in the secular sect. He was a full time employee at Norco CRC State Prison as a counselor to the inmates. He also worked for the City of Riverside for a number of years. He then worked for a DUI Program as an instructor. His last place of employment was when he returned to work at Norco CRC State Prison this was the job he loved most.

Everything about Pastor Joe Lopez speaks family and ministry. One word doesn't go without the other. Pastor Joe and Sister Olga were the prime example of a family in ministry. There was never an event that Pastor Joe would not release his wife to so that she would fulfill her position as a leader. Sister Olga was the same, releasing her husband for weeks at a time to teach a class or prepare messages late into the evening, knowing full well that this family was taking care of business, God's business. They would often counsel couples in marriage and family sessions. Together they were a team in the area of ministry and relationships.

The life and memory of Pastor Joe will go on forever because of the lives that he touched in one way or another. If you were a member of the church, a resident in the home, a family member, a student in his class, an inmate at the prison or just a lost soul on the streets in need of Jesus, Pastor Joe made an influence in your life. His legacy on this earth had spread from one end of this continent to the other because of his love for God. There will be a day when we shall see Pastor Joe again and all the saints who went on before him. In the meantime, if he spoke a word into your life or touched your heart in one way or another remember we too will meet the Lord and hopefully He will tell us..."Well done good and faithful servant". One of Pastor Joe's favorite worship songs was "I Exalt Thee". Today as we remember the man and his legacy he is basking in the warmth of his Savior, hands lifted to his Master singing his expression of love to the one who loved him..."I Exalt Thee..."