Greetings from the office of University Lutheran Church and Campus Ministry at Arizona State University!!!!
I’m Pastor José Valenzuela. I’m originally from Arizona, and I grew up west of Phoenix in a little town called El Mirage. I’m currently residing in the West Valley of the Phoenix Metro Area, but I am in the process of relocating to the East Valley in July.
I began the Call Process with ULC back in February 2026 when I had discerned a call back to full-time ministry. For the past six years, I have been running my own chaplain business and working part time at an ELCA congregation in the West Valley. I was ordained here in the Grand Canyon Synod in 2009.
In 2020, my daughter graduated from high school and began her studies at ASU in the fall of that year. As you may recall, we were in the middle of COVID at that time. Because I was also caring for my elderly parents, it made it difficult for her to come home for visits. What resulted was a deep sense of isolation. She showed up one night at ULC for the Wednesday night program. What she found was a community of faith that didn’t judge her, welcomed her in, and most importantly, fed her.
When the Bishop’s Office asked if I would be open to serving as the pastor here, it was with a great sense of humility that I said, “Yes.”
I’m in my third week here, and I’m looking forward to having a month before the students return.
In Christ,
Pastor José Valenzuela