Meet The Pastor
Bishop Mario Villaverde
Our Bishop is passionate about our Lord Jesus Christ. After losing everything life had to offer in 1996, Bishop Mario Richard Villaverde gave his life to the Lord and never looked back. He lived as a single father raising his three children for 10 years. If you asked him he would say these were the years of learning what true intimaticy, and daily trust walk was with Christ.
Close friends often compare him to Elijah because he too, spent lots of time in the mountains just to get alone with God.
Also during this time of singliness Bishop interned with the Joni and Friends Organization. Making weekly trips to nursing homes around the valley to pray and minister to the sick and shut-in.
In 2006, after 10 years of committing his body, spirit and mind to the Lord, he meet his wife Rhonda Villaverde. Together, they knew that Lord had called them into a Covenant Marriage with each other.
Shortly after their marriage they began ministrying and co-leading at a Friday night service called Life's Challenge. After serving six years and establishing their calling to the ministry.
In August 2011, Bishop heard the call to oversee God's people; And so with his wife, Bishop Rhonda right along side they birthed Desert Hills Bible Church.