Our church planting team is led by Rev. Israel Gonzales. Israel has lived in Santa Maria since 2005 and grew up in Oxnard, CA. He was raised in a bilingual Assemblies of God church (Centro Evangelistico), received his undergrad from Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, OK, and married his lovely wife Ada in 1996. Israel is the founding pastor and "Lead Missionary" of Central City. He also serves as a chaplain: Dignity Health Hospice, Hardy Diagnostics, and the US Navy (Reserve).

Ada is a LCSW and received her MSW from Cal State Northridge in 2013. They had four children together (Sarah, Hannah, Elijah, and Josiah) and also have another daughter (Rui) who was once a foreign exchange student in their home.

Israel began did youth ministry during college in Oklahoma, worked with at-risk youth in Ventura County through City Impact for three years, and then became Youth Director at Westminster Presbyterian Church of Hueneme in 2001 where he was mentored by Rev. Dr. Tim Fearer and encouraged by the church to continue his Master of Divinity studies at Fuller Theological Seminary. Upon graduation in 2005, Israel became the designated pastor of New Covenant Presbyterian Church which later united with First Pres of Santa Maria in 2007 to become a new congregation: Santa Maria Presbyterian Church. He enjoyed serving as a catalyst for reconciliation and renewal until the church and presbytery decided to sell the property to the Salvation Army in 2012. He then served as an Associate Pastor at Orcutt Presbyterian Church fo 10 years.

Pastor Israel enjoys investing in people, preaching the Gospel, teaching through books of the Bible, mentoring and coaching students, cooking, playing chess, and watching sports. His passion is to see people deepen their faith in Christ. His honor is to serve in a new church and leadership team that is led by the Spirit prayerfully, bibilically, contextually, strategically, and joyfully.