Three Questions is a semi-regular series introducing individuals across the NAB by asking them about their story, their ministry, and what they are learning. This week, we hear from Rommel Ticas, the pastor of Casa de Luz Stockton in Stockton, California.
What’s your story?
My name is Rommel Ticas. I was born in El Salvador in 1973 into a family of twelve siblings. Ever since I was a child, I had a desire in my heart to serve God. I came to know about Christ at the age of 12. I was introduced to Jesus through a sister in Christ who would come to my house to pray for my father, who was sick. I have been married to my wife, Mirna, since 1996, and we have three children: Cinthya, Rommel, and Genesis, as well as two grandchildren.
I came to the US at the age of 26 with my wife and our first daughter. My mother had arrived many years earlier, and it was through her that I was able to obtain legal residency and come to live in this country. God worked in a miraculous way to grant me what millions of Hispanics desire but cannot attain.
From a young age, I was involved in youth groups, and when I arrived in the US, I began attending a church. There, I had the privilege of serving in various ministries. My wife and I cleaned the church building for many years, starting with the simplest yet necessary tasks. Gradually, we took on more responsibilities, such as caring for the children, teaching the youth, and eventually becoming a Sunday school teacher for adults. This journey led to my invitation to serve as a co-pastor of the church, a role I gladly embraced for over eleven years.
What’s ministry like for you?
Serving the Lord in these ways was a great blessing. However, there was a burning desire in my heart to serve God in a more precise way. It was around that time that God put it on my heart to start a church for Hispanic immigrants. Little by little, God prepared me and opened the doors for this dream to become a reality.
God connected me with individuals who influenced and supported me throughout this process. This is how Casa de Luz Stockton came into being. I am thankful to God for the lives of brothers like Rick Weber, Marc Maffucci, and Tony Campos, among others. I am also immensely grateful to my NorCal and NAB family of churches, particularly Quail Lakes Church.
Since 2018, I have been serving as a planter and pastor at Casa de Luz Stockton, located in the city of Stockton, California. Our church is part of the ministry of Quail Lakes Church, but we operate like any other church, with Sunday services in Spanish, Bible studies, Sunday school, and many other events and services for the Hispanic community in our city.
Casa de Luz Stockton is a church where, above all else, we exalt God and his Word. We emphasize that Christ is the only one who receives glory in everything we do. Our aspiration is to be a light and salt in the world, and we firmly believe this can only be achieved through close communion with God.
Over the past five years since the church’s inception, we have worked tirelessly to share the Gospel message with the Hispanic community. Our church is composed of individuals from various nationalities, including Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Colombia, and Peru. The cultural diversity is reflected in our gatherings (particularly our meals!), which offer a taste of a dozen different cultures, all united by a common language, shared immigrant experiences, and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
What are you learning?
During my ministry, I have learned much more about the character of Christ. I have learned to see people with a loving, understanding, and godly perspective. It encourages and sustains me to know that our Lord loves them and went to the cross to provide salvation. I believe in the potential of each of them, no matter what they look like or what condition they are in. I am convinced God can change their lives as he did with me.
Jesus is the one who has brought healing and transformation to our people through his grace. Our church welcomes entire families and individuals with diverse spiritual needs. Some come from the traditional religious backgrounds of Latin American countries, while others bring atheistic or agnostic beliefs. Nevertheless, in all of them we have witnessed God’s transformative work, changing lives and fulfilling his promise of freedom.