Raul
Gonzalez, D.Min.
Raul Gonzalez, D. Min. was born in Bayamon, Puerto Rico. He is one of
seven brothers and sisters, son of Maria Luisa Villanueva and the late
Pedro Gonzalez. His formative years were spent in Puerto Rico and New
York City. Dr. Gonzalez has been married for 37 years to First Lady Guillermina
Gongon Gonzalez. They have four wonderful children, Major Raul Gonzalez
Jr. US Army, Yvette Hopping, Esther 
and
Braulio, and they have three Grandchildren, Jade Gonzalez, Jason Ricardo
and Daniel Raul Hopping.
He is personally acquainted with the power of Jesus Christ to save and
transform lives. In 1969, he was delivered from eleven years of drug addiction
and saved by the power of Jesus Christ. His life was radically transformed
and he received the calling to minister deliverance. Having completed
the Teen Challenge Discipleship Training Program, in Puerto Rico and Pennsylvania,
he graduated with academic honors from Teen Challenge Institute of Missions,
New York, now known as Youth Challenge International Bible Institute in
Sunbury, Pennsylvania. In 1971, Dr. Gonzalez traveled to Vietnam as part
of an U.S. Armed Forces Drug Education Specialist Team to share the life-changing
message that there is a positive cure for drug addiction.
In 1973, he again traveled to South East Asia under contract by the Pentagon
to teach drug education classes to our Armed Forces and their families
in Thailand, Japan, and the Diegos Island, in the Indian Sea. In 1979,
he graduated with an Associate of Science Degree from Manchester Community
College, Manchester, CT. He received a Bachelor of Biblical Studies in
1986 and a Master of Theological Studies in 1987, both from Logos Bible
College and Graduate School, Miami Fl. Dr. Gonzalez has two Honorary Degrees:
a Doctor of Divinity from the Great Commission Theological Seminary, Bowling
Green, GA., and a Doctor of Humane Letters, from The Evangelical Seminary,
Dixon, MO. He has also a Doctor of Ministry from the Evangelical Theological
Seminary, Dixon, MO., in June of 1993. That same Year Dr. Gonzalez was
also awarded an "Achievement Against The Odds" award by The
National Center for Neighborhood Enterprise in Washington, DC, headed
by Robert L. Woodson. Dr. Gonzalez has also served, for over twenty years
as a Chaplain to the city of Hartford Police Department and served on
the City of Hartford Mayor’s Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse.
Dr. Gonzalez first came to Hartford, CT. in 1971 to help start the Youth
Challenge Men’s Home, a Christ Centered drug free program. He then
went back to finish his studies at the Teen Challenge Institute of Missions,
NY. After graduating he traveled extensively doing missions work. In 1974,
Dr. Gonzalez returned to Connecticut and became the Executive Director
of Youth Challenge of Greater Hartford, Inc., where he continues to minister.
He also serves as President of Youth Challenge International, providing
leadership in the establishment and oversight of missions in Florida,
New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Venezuela and
Kenya.
Dr. Gonzalez has a shepherd’s heart. He is founder and senior pastor
of Glory Chapel International Cathedral, Hartford, CT., founder and President
of the Corinthian School of Urban Ministry, in Hartford, CT., and President
of the Board of Directors for Youth Challenge International School of
Ministry, Wildwood, FL., all functioning under the biblical mandate expressed
by the Lord Jesus Christ in Luke 4:18-19: "The Spirit of the Lord
is upon me, because He has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoner and recovery of sight
to the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s
favor."
Dr. Gonzalez continues to reach the poor, the drug addicted, the prisoner,
and the outcast with the transforming power of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Dr. Gonzalez has a love and vision to reach cities with the gospel, taking
his directive from God’s word through Joshua, "Shout, for the
Lord has given you the city." (Joshua 6:16). His ministry encourages
others to reach, teach and serve those in need. The helped become the
helpers and the mission grows from transformed individuals to stronger
families, without doubt an effective impact on the urban environment.
Through Dr. Gonzalez’s ministry of deliverance, thousands of drug
addicts, both men and women, have been set free. May all the glory and
honor go to The Lord Jesus Christ!
Truly, the life and ministry of Dr. Gonzalez has been successful against
all odds and obstacles. Like the Apostle Paul, he is one born out of season,
for his call to the ministry and office of Bishop has been not only unconventional,
but indeed miraculous. Dr. Gonzalez is a living testimony that with God
all things are possible.
Dr. Gonzalez is also the author of his autobiography, "Raul A True Story", available in English and Spanish.