Staff
Joseph Nieves, Lead Pastor
Pastor Joe became the Lead Pastor of Transformation Church on May 3, 2009. Together with his wife Ruth, they bring passion, vision, and leadership to our church and community. Pastor Joe and Ruth were married in June 1997, and have three boys, Joey (11), Josiah (5), and Seth who went to be with Jesus on April 10, 2004.
Prior to entering Bible College, Pastor Joe had dreams and aspirations of being a New York State Trooper. Pastor Joe earned an Associates Degree in Police Science from Orange County Community College,Middletown, NY, and attended John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City. After a radical encounter with Jesus at Times Square Church in New York City, God changed the course of Pastor Joe’s life and he answered the call of God. In 1993, Pastor Joe enrolled into Zion Bible College in Barrington, RI.
Pastor Joe graduated in 1997 from Zion Bible College with a Bachelors Degree in Bible,majoring in Pastoral Studies and minoring in Christian Education. He was ordained by the Assemblies of God in 2001. Pastor Joe and Ruth together began ministry as Youth Pastors at Providence Assembly of God in Providence, RI. After serving in Providence, they left to Boston to plant a church that they called International Worship Center in Roslindale,MA. After several years in Boston, the Lord called Pastor Joe and Ruth to Western Massachusetts to pastor a church there from 2003 until April 2009 where they sawremarkable growth. Then after 15 years, God opened the doors for Pastor Joe and Ruth tocome back home to Middletown, NY.
Pastor Joe was born and raised in the Bronx, NY, and grew up attending Second SpanishBaptist Church located at E102nd street in Manhattan (El Barrio). In1985 he and hisfamily moved to the Middletown area and attended Trinity Church until going to Bible College in1993. He graduated from Pine Bush High School in 1989 where he played 4 years of football. He loves the New York Yankees and the New York Giants. He enjoys reading, working out, NASCAR, Starbucks and watching a good clean movie with hisfamily.
Ruth Nieves, First Impressions/Admin. Assistant
Ruth is the wife of Lead Pastor Joe Nieves. She oversees First Impressions and serves as Pastor Joe’s Administrative Assistant. She was born and raised in Puerto Rico until her family moved to Brooklyn, NY when she was 7. She Graduated from John Dewey High School in Brooklyn, and attended Orange CountyCommunity College in Middletown, NYandSoutheastern University in Lakeland,FL, where she majored in psychology. Ruth became a Christ follower as a young adult at Trinity Church.
Her challenges in life have equipped her to ministertowomen from all walks of life. Her passion is to show women their true value and worth in God’s eyes and help them fulfill their God given potential. She also has a heart to connect, encourage, and support Pastor’s wives and women in ministry.
She loves to read, write, bake and blog. She also loves hanging out with Joe and her two boys.
Domingo Rodriguez, Arts Director
Domingo joined our team in July 2010. Domingo isgifted in music and creative arts. Hisexperienceplaying in churches goes backto when he was about 13 years old. Domingo has served on staff in several churches as worship leader and band director. He comes with a wealth of experience, passion and creativity. His mainfocus in Transformation Church is worship leading and assisting Pastor Joe with the use ofcreative arts in the Sunday morning worship experience. His passion is to lead the Church into a deeper experience with God through worship and creative arts.
His wife Zory Co-Directs Transformation Kids Elementary on Sunday mornings. She brings much experience with working with kids as well as a Degree in Childhood Education. Zory also serves as the Finance Director at Harmony Christian School.
Domingo and Zory have been married for 15 years. They have two beautiful children, Arianna and Gabriel. Domingo and Zory love Mexican food, Starbucks, Broadway plays in NYC, and spending time with family and friends.
Melissa Hoffman, Children’s Director
Melissa began volunteering in the children’s ministry at Transformation Church in the spring of 2010. She joined our staff in November 2011. She is passionate about kids and believes that their energy, humor,and ability to love and forgive is inspiring! She believes that God wants to have a personal relationship with kids and wants to use them to transform their families, schools, and communities!
Melissa was raised in Warwick, NY. She grew up in Goshen Christian Reformed Church, where she made a decision to follow Christ as a child. When she was 13 years old, she attended Word of Life Island, a Christian summer camp. There, her faith was ignited,leading her into a deeper, more personal relationship with Jesus Christ. As a young adult, she attended the Mission Church in Holmes, NY where she taught in the children’s ministry. Melissa has a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education, Special Education, and English from Gordon College. She holds a Master’s Degree in Literacy from Long Island University and acertification in Early Childhood Education. She has worked in public education for the past 12 years. She has a special place in her heart for children with disabilities, or as she likes to say different “ABILITIES.”
Melissa is married to Brandt, her number one supporter and helper! Brandt is on the band and runs his own business, Integrity Building and Remodeling. The Hoffmans have two children, Ryan, who was born in 2008, and Makenzie, who was born in 2011. The Hoffmans love spending time hanging out together, playing, listening to music, going out to eat, drinking coffee and going on camping trips. They love spending time talking and laughing with friends and family.
