“I remember telling my pastor,” Marco Topete recalled, “once upon a time, way before I ever did any form of full-time ministry, I said, ‘I want to become a pastor.’ And he said, ‘Why do you want to become a pastor?’ I replied, ‘Because I love preaching.’ And he shared with me after I made that comment that that was the smallest part of the job description. And I’ve always remembered what he said, but I never really understood it, obviously, until I became a pastor myself. Seeing people grow spiritually is the reason why I’m a pastor today.”
Topete’s ministry began with Youth Rush in the Central California Conference in the summer of 2014. His time spent door-to-door talking to people about God was the stepping stone for a career in ministry. He gained further experience at the local church as a youth leader, an elder in training, and as a Bible worker in that conference before being called to serve in Southern California Conference’s literature ministries department beginning in 2017. In 2023, he transitioned to pastoral ministry, first as pastor at Van Nuys church and currently as pastor of Palmdale church. Everywhere he went, mentoring people in their spiritual growth was embedded in his ministry.
Palmdale church was packed with family, friends, and colleagues for Topete’s ordination service this spring to affirm the call God placed on Topete many years ago.
At the ceremony, Tony Rodriguez, pastor of Lancaster church, whom Topete cites as his mentor, spoke of this new beginning in Topete’s ministry.
“As baptism is pivotal in the life of a believer, for the gospel ministry and gospel minister, ordination is essential,” Rodriquez shared. “But in both situations, it’s just the beginning. As you hold onto Jesus, as you hold onto your wife, as you hold onto your boys, God will continue the good work that He started in your life days and years ago.”
Sharing the love of Jesus with others has been such an integral part of Topete’s life, and as his ministry evolves, he’s hopeful in the ways God will continue to guide that mission.
“Looking into the future, I definitely want to continue to grow in my understanding of God’s love and grace,” Topete said. “I want to grow in my understanding on how I can communicate these things. Because if these little glimpses of love, light, and hope are impacting me, just imagine if I’m able to communicate these things effectively to my congregation and how those things will also affect them.”