Our Senior Pastors
Joshua and Paula serve as the Lead Pastors at The Cityline Church, one of the fastest growing bilingual ministries in the Northeast of the United States. The Cityline Church is a congregation of more than 1,600 members in Jersey City, and is represented by over forty ethnic groups. Their weekly television broadcast airs in over 100 cities and towns throughout New Jersey, reaching more than one million households. Joshua and Paula founded a private Christian School for grades K-8, as well as planted a Church in Gibraltar, Europe. Their ministry philosophy entails empowering people through the restoration of their God-given identity, so that they positively impact every segment of society.
After enjoying a lucrative 10-year Wall Street career in Investment Management, Joshua resigned in 1996 to enter full-time ministry in order to improve the quality of life of people globally. In 2006, Joshua was appointed as the first Hispanic Police Chaplain of the 177 year old Jersey City Police Department. Bishop Rodriguez has had the pleasure of serving on several Governors’ Transition Teams and has worked closely with Governor James McGreevey, Governor Jon Corzine, Governor Chris Christie and Governor Phil Murphy. He was a member of the Governor’s Hispanic Advisory Council for Policy Development, and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission of the State of New Jersey. Governors, Senators, Members of Congress, Assembly Members, Mayors and various organizations in the Greater New York area have recognized his leadership.
Joshua is a Vice-President of NaLEC (The National Latino Evangelical Coalition), an advocacy group that focuses on improving the quality of life of all people by addressing key national and global issues such as poverty, immigration, and education. He is a founding member of Jersey City Together, the leading and most influential community organization in Hudson County and is the Senior Advisor of the New Jersey Coalition of Latino Pastors and Ministers. Joshua also serves on the Board of Directors for the Hispanic Chamber Fund. Most recently, he was appointed by Governor Phil Murphy to serve as the Chair of the New Jersey Puerto Rico Relief Commission.
In 2009, he was awarded “Alumnus of the Year” from the Alliance Theological Seminary as a result of his leadership and outstanding ministry. In August of 2010, during the 50th Anniversary celebration of the “Jersey City Puerto Rican Heritage Festival and Parade,” Joshua was recognized as “Puerto Rican Man of the Year.” He is a leader that has been called to empower people and bridge the gap between generations.
Bishop Rodriguez has mentored Pastors and Bishops in the United States and in several nations around the globe for more than 14 years. He is also an accomplished author and a leader that has been called to empower people and bridge the gap between generations. Joshua holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Organizational Management from Nyack College, and graduated with honors from the Alliance Theological Seminary, with a Masters of Divinity degree. He completed his Doctoral degree in Global Leadership at Nyack College in 2016.
Paula enjoyed a short career on Wall Street as well as in radio broadcasting before coming into full time ministry. Paula is more than just a Pastor’s wife. God has granted her the abilities and gifts to preach, teach and to provide dynamic leadership. She has been called to liberate, empowering people through the teaching of the Bible and through song. God has infused her with a prophetic song to heal and deliver people in the nations of the world. God has granted her the privilege of recording three musical productions, “Eres Todo” (You are Everything), “Que es la Vida” (What is Life), and her latest recording, “Que es la Vida- LIVE.” She also produced her first Musical, Christmas in the City, in December 2012. Paula has an earned Bachelor of Science degree in Music in Worship (Magna Cum Laude) from Nyack College. During her studies, she received the Most Improved Singer award and the Musicianship and Scholarship award from the Nyack College School of Music.
They are a very dynamic and pleasant couple who have inspired and empowered people in many nations of the world including Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Ghana, Gibraltar, Guatemala, Holland, Honduras, Italy, Mexico, Morocco, Panama, Puerto Rico, Spain, the United States and Venezuela, as well as many others. Joshua and his wife Paula have four children, Joshua, Timothy, Gabriella, and Daniella, two daughters-in-law, Aryana and Jaqueline, and three grandchildren, Caleb, Camila and Aria, and live in New Jersey.