Hello! My name is Israel (aka Pastor Izzy), and we are the Piedade family.

 

Piedade is a Portuguese surname meaning “mercy”. In a sense, our family name carries the very thing that saved us: the mercy of a loving God. A God who loved us so greatly that He gave His one and only Son, so that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life in His glorious presence (John 3:16).

 

I was born in Brazil, though I spent much of my childhood in the UK, where my father served as a missionary. Hastings became home for many years, until my father's ministry eventually took us to the South of Portugal.

 

Years later, back in Brazil, I met my wonderful wife, Beatriz. Today, we are blessed with two beautiful children, Miley and Oliver.

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​​​​​​​​​​While working as an English teacher in Brazil, I began teaching the Bible to some of my ESL students. What began in the classroom gradually grew into a passion for opening God's Word, teaching its truth and sharing with others the wonderful grace He had shown me.

 

Over time, that passion grew into a calling to pastoral ministry: to preach Christ biblically, shepherd His people, make disciples of all nations, and equip others to do the same.

 

And now, by God's providence, that journey has brought our family to Valley Church. We are deeply grateful for the privilege of joining this church family, and we look forward to sharing life with you all—worshipping together, growing in God's Word, serving our community, and, above all, making known the saving name of Jesus Christ.

 

Our prayer is that everything we do here at Valley Church would point back to the only One who is worthy of all praise, honour and glory—Jesus Christ, our King!

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