Our Pastors

Pastors Richard and Alana McDonald

Pastors' Welcome Message

We believe that it takes a family to build a home. Our passion is building the family of God here on earth. We aim to create a warm and welcoming environment for you to grow in your faith and experience the love of Jesus.

We live the great commission given by Jesus in Mark 16:15 to “go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature”. We have a heart to reach people across the globe, that they may come to know the salvation of the Lord. All are welcome, come and worship with us!

Pastor Rich McDonald

Pastor Richard McDonald

Pastor Richard McDonald is a well-valued leader who is deeply committed to God, Family and community. He has chosen to answer God’s call with excellence measured by the love patterned in Jesus Christ. Pastor Rich is a native of Harlem, NY and later moved to New Jersey in 1984 and gave his life to the Lord in November of 1986.

True to Psalm 1:3, “He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bring forth his fruit in his season,” Pastor Rich bloomed where he was planted.

Although he did not grow up in church, Pastor Rich grew quickly in the Lord. He fervently served in the ministry under the leadership of Pastors Jason and Gale Alvarez, founders of the Love of Jesus Ministries. Pastor Rich was ordained as a minister in 1997 and was sent out to fulfill his call as a Pastor in 1999.

As a pastor, teacher, intercessor, and author, God has anointed Pastor Richard to teach with such simplicity that it reaches people of all backgrounds. Pastor Rich’s messages uproot ignorance and inspire people to develop their relationship with God. Pastor Rich is the founder of the Love of Jesus Family Church Bayonne/Jersey City that first opened its doors on April 18 th,1999. Pastor Rich has been serving as pastor for 21 years. Pastor Rich is happily married to Pastor Alana McDonald and father to son, Christopher, and daughter, Sydney.

Pastors Richard and Alana McDonald are obeying God’s Word along with their members to make Love of Jesus Family Church of Jersey City “A Home for All Nations”. Pastor Rich always seeks to be a man of God who looks beyond self-serving goals and seeks to serve others with pure intentions.

Pastor Rich oversees works designed to reach the East Indians in Edison, Jersey City, and Piscataway, New Jersey. As well as a new mission’s outreach in Bangkok Thailand.

His love for people flows from a heart that is hungry for God and a demonstration of His glory.

Pastor Alana McDonald

Pastor Alana McDonald

Pastor Alana McDonald is a native of New Jersey and gave her life to the Lord in 1990.  In 1993, she became a member of the Love of Jesus Ministries under the leadership of Pastors Jason and Gayle Alvarez.

While at the Love of Jesus Family Church in Orange, NJ, she was a team leader for the telephone counseling ministry, a prayer minister and a mentor for many women.  In 1998, God visited Pastor Alana in a dream.  The Lord showed her “Eagles Soaring” and later the Lord revealed that she would train women to be servants in the army of the Lord from various ethnic backgrounds.

In 2002, the Lord brought Pastors Rich and Alana together in marriage for His Glory.  Today she ministers alongside her husband overseeing the women’s ministry, the prayer ministry, the evangelism ministry, children’s/youth ministry, as well as fulfilling her call to train women to become eagles that soar.  Pastor Alana is also a graduate of Rutgers University where she obtained her Bachelors Degree in Sociology.