Eli Garza

Pastor Eli Garza, a Detroit native, became fully bilingual in English and Spanish through his summers in Monterrey, Mexico. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Michigan–Ann Arbor in 1979 and obtained his State of Michigan Registered Professional Engineer License in 1984.

In 1999, he transitioned from engineering to ministry by becoming associate pastor at First Spanish Baptist Church in Detroit, where he had been a member since 1969. He served as associate pastor until 2008, when he pursued a Master of Divinity degree from Moody Theological Seminary–Michigan, graduating in May 2010. Installed as senior pastor in April 2011, he led the church until October 2019.

Currently, he mentors pastors and seminary students internationally, preaches and teaches at area churches and ministries, and serves on the Presidential Advisory Committee for Our Daily Bread Ministries. Alongside his wife Diane — who holds a Bachelor's Degree in Bible/Christian Education and worked as an LPN at Corewell Health Hospital–Dearborn — they have two children, Cristina and Daniel.