Mondo Gonzales – Tahoe Community Church

Mondo was our pastor from September 2017 to July 2021. He is now a Bible teacher and Co-host at the Prophecy Watchers Ministry. You can find him HERE.

Mondo and his wife Angela

One of my favorite life Bible verses is Ephesians 2:4-5 where we are told that God “who is rich in mercy, because of His great love for us, Has made us alive together with Christ.” I grew up in the beautiful state of Oregon, but was not raised in a Christian home. Yet, at 18 years old, God reached out of heaven and showed me His mercy by giving me new life and purpose in His Son Jesus. Soon after, God gave me my lovely wife Angela and blessed us with three wonderful adult daughters (Allie, Emily and Sarah) and one grandson.

God then called our young family to Illinois where I served as a youth pastor and senior pastor for 9 years. It was also during this time that I had the joy of getting trained in the backgrounds and theology of the Bible. I attended Moody Bible Institute where I received a Bachelors degree and studied the Jewish background of the Bible along with pastoral leadership. I really had a strong desire to continue to learn the background of Scripture so it would sharpen my ability to teach.

The goal for every Christian is truth, facts, data and to understand the processes which lead us there. We should all endeavor to seek truth through authentic empirical science and understanding the philosophy of science. God does not call us to a blind faith, but as the Creator and Most Intelligent designer of our amazing universe, He invites us to research, study, hypothesize, test and examine His creation in order to understand Him better. We should evaluate all disciplines of research.

Because of the desire to understand and pursue genuine research I went to graduate school at Trinity International University and received a masters degree in Biblical and Near Eastern Archaeology and Languages. We had the joy of learning the richness of the culture, history, theology and original languages of the Bible. In addition, we learned the science and methodology of archaeological/anthropological research. It is true that God does require faith, but He never asks us to have blind faith, but “to always be ready to give a reason (logical defense) of the hope that we have”
(1 Peter 3:15). Genuine science and faith are not opposites and I am saddened that many people who say this are misinformed. Most scientific disciplines that now exist were established by scientists who also were theists. Isaac Newton, Maxwell, Faraday, Kepler are just a few. To see a full list click HERE.

God also has given me the privilege of traveling to Israel on seven occasions, Egypt and Jordan twice, Turkey, Greece, Patmos and the opportunity to lead three tour groups through the land of Israel.

After we left the Midwest, God moved our family to serve three years at a church in Washington state and now have the privilege of serving at Tahoe Community Church (since September, 2017). God continues to show me the riches of His mercy in calling us sinners into His service. I thoroughly enjoy the outdoors, trail running, mountain biking, as well as attempting to be an amateur astronomer. If you want to catch a trail, talk theology, or observe the Milky Way, shoot me an email and we’ll make it happen!

~Mondo

philologist7@hotmail.com

My academic interests include Bronze and Iron age Near Eastern Archaeology, 2nd Temple Period, OT/NT Textual Criticism, Historical Geography of the Levant, Biblical and Systematic Theology, and ancient Semitic Languages (and modern Hebrew).

I am currently a student in the PhD program in Biblical Theology and Hermeneutics at Liberty University.

I wrote a book recently on the Red Heifer Ritual after Israel brought 5 red heifers to the land in September 2022. You can find this book at

Prophecy Watchers Bookstore Red Heifer

Amazon- Red Heifer

Who says we have to be limited to only one discipline? 🙂
I am a C.S. Lewis fan and have spent many years writing a comprehensive study guide and commentary on the Screwtape Letters. I feel honored the Lord put this on my heart. This is the first full blown commentary ever written on C.S. Lewis’ classic book. It is designed for small groups and Sunday school classes.

You can find more info at: www.screwtapestudyguide.com

If you are interested in supporting a Christian ministry and getting an autographed copy,
you can purchase it through the Prophecy Watchers Ministry:

Prophecy Watchers Bookstore ($19.95)

The publisher page: Xulon Press ($22.99)

Christian Book Distributors ($20.69)

Amazon ($22.99)

Some topical papers that I have written that hopefully are enlightening or encouraging:

The two different titles for the next two articles are due to spelling variations between the British and American style. The content of the two articles are identical. Lewis wrote in 1941 that Screwtape sought to create the Materialist Magician…their perfect work.

To emotionalize and mythologize their science

To emotionalise and mythologise their science

Is the Rapture in the Olivet Discourse?

A Brief Survey of the Pre and Post Flood Origins of the Nephilim

Are the 10 Kings Financial Oligarchs?

Is There Really A Separation of Church and State? Understanding the Historical and Judiciary Context

Was the Holy Spirit active in the life of Israel?

The Reality of Everlasting Punishment

Historicity of United Monarchy 10th Century BC Israel

Syro-Ephraimite War in the Bible

Two Views of Women in Ministry

Who and Where Did the Arameans Originate?