Rev. Paul Aihara （in Japanese 相原雄二）

 Pastor Paul was born in Tokyo in an non-religious home. Realizing that life was empty and meaningless without God, he became a Christian when he was 17.  After graduating from the Immanuel Bible Training College, he pastored churches in Japan for fourteen years in the cities of Osaka, Mito, Nagoya and Sendai under the appointment of the Immanuel General Mission.  In 1976 he was dispatched with his family to Papua New Guinea as the first Christian missionaries from Japan.  He served there for 18 years in the Wesleyan Church of Papua New Guinea together with missionaries from the USA and Australia.  He studied in the Fuller Theological Seminary and graduated with a MA degree.

 After planting a self-supporting church in the city of Lae (the second largest city in the country), he came to the Orange County in southern California to preach the Gospel and plant a church among Japanese-English speaking people. 

 He enjoys reading books and walking with his wife, Michiko (Sarah).

 

   Rev. Lily Roe           

Pastor Lily was born and raised in Michigan.  As a teen-ager she felt a call to service.  During college the call became clear that God was directing her to local church ministry.  She graduated from Indiana Wesleyan University (then Marion College) in 1987.   After college she attended Asbury Theological Seminary.   In 1988, she felt led to move to Southern California.  In January 1999, Lily began her ministry in the church and attended Azusa Pacific University – Graduate School of Theology.  Lily was  ordained in the Wesleyan Church in 2000.

Before coming to West Coast, she ministered in the Wesleyan Church as:

Youth and Children Pastor in Buena Park Wesleyan Church Buena Park, Ca from 1998 – 2005.

Youth Ministries and Senior Ministries, Lawndale Wesleyan Church, Lawndale CA, from 1989-1991 and from 1993-1998.

Visitation and Assimilation Pastor, Sunset Wesleyan Church, La Puente, Ca from 1991 – 1993.

She came to West Coast in 2006 as youth minister.  Lily now leads the English service. Lily enjoys ministering in the Wesleyan Church.  Her passion is to see people grow in their faith and becoming all that God wants them to be.  Lily has been active in the Pacific Southwest District.  She has served on the Women’s Ministry Board since 2000.  She assists with the leadership and planning of the Southern California Women’s Retreat and is the Wesleyan Kids for Missions Director for the district.

She enjoys walking, friends, reading, spending time with Buddy and Tuddy (her Poodle and Yorkie pals)