September 13-14, 2019
The bridge | mustang, ok

Author of Book The Day the Princess Cried, which was revised and rereleased in April 2017 with a complete study guide/small group guide.

During her time at T.W.U. she was awarded the Edgar Dean Literary Endowment for her excellence in academics and for her exposition on a piece of literature. Her Master’s degree was awarded to her after successful completion of her thesis entitled, The Oppression and Deliverance of Women in Sandra Cisneros’ The House on Mango Street. Her thesis focuses on the treatment of women in various ethnic communities and discusses the cultural constraints that hinder women from reaching their full potential. In 2008, Pastor Melissa published her first book, The Day the Princess Cried: The Diaries of the Biblical Princess of Lamentations and has been a contributing author of Nuestra Gente, a magazine directed to the Latin community in the Houston area. In 2012 she received her PhD in Rhetoric from Texas Woman’s University after completion of her dissertation entitled, Breaking the Silence: A Rhetorical Analysis of Selected Works by Sandra Cisneros and Toni Morrison Through the Lens of Northrop Frye's Rhetorical Theories of Speech and Style where she examines the topic of the female voice through various literary works by ethnic writers, applying the rhetorical theories of Northrop Frye as a means of enlightening and empowering the audience to examine their communities and realize the ramifications of silence and the power that exists in the utterance of one voice.

Dr. Alfaro has over 10 years working in education as a teacher, staff development presenter, motivational speaker and District Middle School ESL Coordinator. In collaboration with public school districts, she has initiated mentoring leadership programs for at-risk teens.

Presently Dr. Melissa Alfaro, and her husband of 15 years, Pastor Jay Alfaro, serve as the Senior Pastors of El Tabernaculo A/D in Houston. TX. She also serves as the Girls Ministries Director for the Texas Louisiana Hispanic District as well as sits on the National Girls Ministries Task Force Team for the Assemblies of God. She is a writer and blogger for the Assemblies of God publication church resource My Healthy Church and loves to chronicle her personal journey on her blog Melissa’s Memoirs. It is her desire to help individuals draw closer to God as they live out their God-given purpose and enjoy the journey. Her newest and greatest assignment and delight is being “mommy” to her newborn baby boy—J. David III.

Whether speaking nationally or internationally, Christa’s passion for the Lord pours out of her. Christa delivers what she hears from the Holy Spirit with humor, accuracy and powerful personal experiences.
Because of her deep love for the presence of God, everything about her ministry is rooted in hosting His presence.

Christa’s background includes graduating from Seattle Pacific University with a degree in Communication. She then went on to Hillsong International Leadership College in Sydney, Australia where she completed the Pastoral Ministry Program. She has planted and been Director of two Schools of Ministry; one in the San Francisco Bay area and the other in Las Vegas, Nevada. Christa has also served as Associate Pastor at Garden Valley Church in Roseburg, Oregon, then Executive Pastor at Expression 58 in Glendale, California.

Christa currently resides in the San Francisco Bay area and travels full time with her husband, Sean, ministering together throughout America & beyond.