Our Team
We have an amazing group of people who make up our team here at XP Church.
Pastor Souzy
Lead Pastor
Matt and his wife Amanda are the founders and lead pastors of XP Church. As a big gamer himself, he grew up playing MMORPGs such as World of Warcraft and Runescape, and he also loves FPS and MOBA games. He also enjoys martial arts, playing music, and outdoor activities. Matt has a passion for sharing the love of Jesus with gamers who do not know God, and to teach the Bible in a way that is relevant to gamers.
As Lead Pastor, Matt oversees all preaching and teaching, is heavily involved in content creation as a major form of evangelism, and alongside his wife Amanda, together with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, they direct the vision and direction of the church.
After attaining a bachelor’s degree in Biblical Studies and Pastoral Ministry from Northpoint Bible College, Matt started streaming on Twitch to share the love of Jesus with gamers all around the world! During his live streams, he answers questions, prays with people, and provides hope and encouragement.
Matt has also launched a Discord and community called Unity Gaming which is on a mission to bring an end to toxicity and loneliness in the gaming community. Unity Gaming is a community full of people from all different backgrounds and beliefs. He launched this out of his passion to live like Jesus did by having a regular outlet to serve and be around people who do not believe in God.
Matt hopes that through his life, both the ups and downs, he can live in a real and authentic way that will help gamers see what it truly means to follow Jesus, and if they choose, to follow Him as well.
Amanda grew up with video games in the house, playing shared consoles and games with her siblings. Some of her favorite games are Genshin Impact, Zelda, and Fortnite. She loves outdoor activities like hiking and kayaking, and loves anime—”believe it!”
As a teenager, Amanda quickly developed a passion for music and for leading other people to experience an encounter with God through the power of worship. She later received her bachelor’s degree in Music and Worship and Biblical Studies from Northpoint Bible College.
Amanda serves alongside her husband Matt as a lead pastor, specifically serving as our Executive Lead Pastor. Even though she developed singer’s dystonia, a neurological vocal condition making it difficult to sing in 2018, that has not stopped her from worshipping and leading our worship ministries. She also oversees the weekly ins and outs of the everyday functions of the church, leads our Women’s Ministry, oversees and plans all significant events, and manages our Discord servers, among other church needs
Amanda Souza
Executive Lead Pastor
BozGS
Community Care Pastor
Ray has been a gamer for his entire life ever since he could pick up a controller. Though he plays various genres, his favorite game series are The Legend of Zelda, Final Fantasy, and The Elder Scrolls. Ray also enjoys watching his favorite football team, the Giants, and plays golf.
Ray accepted Jesus Christ at the age of six and developed a great passion for people and missions over the years. During this time, he acquired his Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology and two years later, married his wife, Danielle, in 2012. He also served as a deacon and youth leader for several years before joining to help plant XP Church.
Ray serves as our Community Care Pastor, overseeing several teams. Additionally, he serves on these teams which includes leading an XP Group, answering Bible/Faith questions, checking in with people in the community, and meeting one-on-one with individuals who need pastoral care, advice, or even just to be a listening ear.
AJ has been a devoted minister for over twenty years, seamlessly blending his lifelong passion for gaming with his mission to reach people for Christ. A fan of World of Warcraft, New World, FIFA, and Destiny 2, AJ uses video games as a dynamic tool to connect with others and share the message of Jesus.
For twenty-one years, he served as a missionary in Dublin Ireland, where he made a lasting impact and helped establish a thriving church community. In 2018, AJ returned to California, and in 2021 he joined the staff at XP Church as their Associate Pastor, eager to leverage his skills in preaching, graphic design, video editing, and print media to further the kingdom of God.
Together with his beautiful wife, Donna, and their two children, who also love the Lord, AJ is committed to making a meaningful difference in the world for God.
AJVALDEZ
Associate Pastor
Pastor Nfluence
Connections Pastor
Tony faced significant challenges in his early childhood, grappling with a physical disability and deep loneliness. Growing up, he attended church but viewed God as an apathetic overseer of his life. This perspective shifted dramatically when a close friend revealed the truth: Tony was never truly alone. God understood his feelings and longed for a personal relationship with him.
Drawing from his transformative journey, Tony is passionate about helping gamers find community and discover their purpose. He wants to show them that they are seen and loved by God. Tony serves on staff as our Connections Pastor, helping gamers get connected and plugged into XP Church, and hosting events.
In his free time, you can find Tony immersed in his favorite games, including Fortnite and World of Warcraft, as well as other MMOs. He also loves fishing and hanging out with friends, embracing the connections that bring joy and fulfillment to life.
Meet Christy: Media Director by day, adventure seeker by night! When she’s not crafting eye-catching graphics and editing videos for XP Church, you can find her strategizing in League of Legends, rolling dice in D&D campaigns, or diving into epic board games with friends.
With a love for the great outdoors, she’s always ready for a camping trip or a biking adventure. And don’t be surprised if you hear her tickling the ivories on the piano!
Leading a small but mighty Media Team of creative jedis, Christy infuses faith into everything they do, all while keeping the fun meter cranked to eleven!
SoulLux
Media Director
Mieke
Administrator
Mieke started gaming when she bought her first console, the Atari 2600, around twelve years old. Ever since then, she’s been hooked on gaming. Her favorite games are Farming Simulator and modded Minecraft, but she always returns to Everquest every so often. Outside of gaming, she loves bike riding and reading.
Mieke grew up in church and has always loved helping people where she can. At age seven she moved with her family to Canada, and at sixteen she moved back to the Netherlands mainly for school but stayed after meeting and marrying Arno (mahric). Being a stay-at-home mom with three wonderful children, she did occasional administrative work in their church.
In 2020, Arno and Mieke joined XP Church. Under Pastor Amanda, Mieke serves as the administrator of XPC. She does most of the behind-the-scenes administrative work needed to keep the church running smoothly.