It’s almost here!

A Los Angeles native, Dr. Menjares was raised by a single mom, the oldest of four

children, in the City of Pico Rivera, CA. Pete grew up in a non-practicing Roman

Catholic household that made him question the purpose of faith. A product of the East

Los Angeles youth movement in the 1960s and early 1970s, he rebelled against his

Catholic roots and sought the answers to his deepest spiritual questions in Mexican

American culture and identity, philosophy, music, drugs, and the party scene.

In November of 1973, Pete was invited to attend a Bible Rap at a storefront building on

Whittier Boulevard in Pico Rivera where he heard a young Puerto Rican evangelist

named Jim Ortiz preach the good news of Jesus with relevance and conviction. The

Bible-based message he heard was so compelling that Pete surrendered his life to

Jesus that evening.

Dr. Pete has since devoted his life to serving Jesus in pastoral ministry, public

education, and Christian higher education. He currently lives in La Mirada, California,

with his wife Virginia where he writes full time. He is actively working on several book

projects, including his spiritual journey that is scheduled to be published by the end of

summer 2026.

In 2007 a portion of Pete’s testimony was published by Child Evangelism Fellowship for

use in their Good News Clubs nationwide. The story has since been translated into

multiple languages and as of Summer 2025, Pete’s testimony has reached over 150

million children and youth worldwide.

Dr. Matthew Lee "Doc" Smith is the Executive Director of Eagles In Leadership, a global ministry dedicated to the discipleship of the next generation of surrendered followers of King Jesus, spurring the Glocal Church to make disciples of all ethnicities, especially of men! They specialize in discipleship, leadership development, and marriage enhancement with a focus on Uganda, the Philippines, India, Mexico, and the USA. 
He has three passions: The God of the Word - Yahweh, The Master of Mercy, The Word of God - which he has read almost 50 times, and the Woman God gave him - Kate Akello, Warrior of Light. 
Adventurer on a global scale - including Israel 10 times.  Ambassador for the King of kings. - a slave of Jesus. Author of 8 books and 2 journals for the global glory of God. Husband to Kate. Father to Tabitha and Hannah. Grandparents of Bella, Heidi, Zaira, Sianna, Teddy, Eisla, Zeyphr, Jackson, and Indiana. He is also the associate pastor of 1st Southern Baptist Church, Gardena. 

1.9 million people in the U.S. are affected by incarceration each year, the most unchurched population in our country. We are on a mission to change that.

We will stop at nothing to ensure every inmate in the U.S. has direct and personal access to the Gospel. We want to help them grow their faith, heal trauma and emotional wounds, break addictions and cycles, and allow every person behind bars to step into their calling as sons and daughters of the Most High.