Pastor Elias Samano Jr. currently pastors Centro de Amistad Cristiana of the Apostolic Assembly. He was born in Fresno, California, on November 22, 1983.

Elias was inspired to preach the gospel at an early age and was baptized in the name of Jesus Christ on March 3, 1996. In 2004, he felt a strong calling to attend Christian Life College in Stockton, CA. He received his ministerial ordination at the Southern California District Convention on October 19, 2007. He served as Youth Pastor, Evangelism Director, and Associate Pastor at Iglesia Roca Fuerte in Escondido, California, where he began his preaching ministry.

In 2012, Elias was appointed pastor of the church in Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, under the National Missions Department of the Apostolic Assembly. In 2014, he took the pastorate of the mission in Sioux City, Iowa, now known as Centro de Amistad Cristiana. Under his leadership, the congregation has experienced steady growth, and in 2018, the church purchased its own building.

He has served as Secretary of the Mid-America North Region under National Missions and currently serves as the Regional Elder of the Mid-America North Region under National Missions of the Apostolic Assembly of the Faith in Christ Jesus, Inc.

Elias is also part of the Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) program at St. Luke’s College and serves as the Director of the Pastoral Care Department for UnityPoint Health – St. Luke’s Hospital in Sioux City, Iowa.

He holds a Bachelor of Science in Medical Administration from Bellevue University and is currently pursuing a Master of Divinity degree from Robert T. Cooley Theological Seminary.