Pedro Garcia-Bengochea became a Christian while attending the University of South Florida in Tampa, where he received his B.S. in business administration. He recently attained a marriage and family therapy (MFT) master’s degree specializing in trauma. He practiced youth and family therapy with at-risk youth and their families for over two years in Los Angeles, CA, and St. Augustine, FL. In January last year, he began serving as director of church relations at HOPE worldwide. After over 34 years in the ministry, with the last 16 years leading in the Lighthouse Region of the Los Angeles Church of Christ, he and his wife Laura experienced the joy of passing the torch of their leadership responsibilities. Pedro and Laura have been married for 34 years. They have two adult children: a daughter, Lauren, and a son, Nick. Lauren is married to Jeremiah Farias, and they have twin baby boys, Jude and Logan. Pedro and Laura lived abroad in Latin America for ten years as missionaries in Brazil, Columbia, and Mexico City, planting churches, teaching, and raising ministry leaders. His ministry experience is extensive, and he is Trilingual, speaking English, Spanish, and Portuguese fluently.
