Casey Diaz
Lead Pastor
The call came while I was attending a session where Dr. Phil Collins, Ph.D. (yes, that is his real name), presented sobering statistics about the global Church. One in particular stood out: only 2% of churches are actively engaged in prison ministry. His words resonated deeply with me.
My journey truly began during a twelve-year, eight-month sentence in solitary confinement at New Folsom State Prison. That experience profoundly shaped my faith and perspective, which is why Dr. Collins’ message struck such a personal chord. At the time, I was serving as the keynote speaker at a Prison Chaplains event hosted at Wheaton College in Illinois. As I listened, I sensed a clear and convicting prompting from the Holy Spirit: I was part of the 98% of the Church that was not actively taking the gospel into prisons.
That realization marked a turning point. Upon returning home to Burbank, California, I began praying earnestly for direction. I knew I had to plant a church with an active Prison Ministry.
Shortly thereafter, I connected with Pastor Daryll Speers of Purpose L.A. in North Hollywood, which would soon become our sending church. I entered an assessment process with the Southern Baptist Convention and the Send Network, fully committing to the path ahead.
On June 2, 2025—just eight months after that pivotal moment at Wheaton—I was officially endorsed as a missionary to serve my city and beyond.
My journey truly began during a twelve-year, eight-month sentence in solitary confinement at New Folsom State Prison. That experience profoundly shaped my faith and perspective, which is why Dr. Collins’ message struck such a personal chord. At the time, I was serving as the keynote speaker at a Prison Chaplains event hosted at Wheaton College in Illinois. As I listened, I sensed a clear and convicting prompting from the Holy Spirit: I was part of the 98% of the Church that was not actively taking the gospel into prisons.
That realization marked a turning point. Upon returning home to Burbank, California, I began praying earnestly for direction. I knew I had to plant a church with an active Prison Ministry.
Shortly thereafter, I connected with Pastor Daryll Speers of Purpose L.A. in North Hollywood, which would soon become our sending church. I entered an assessment process with the Southern Baptist Convention and the Send Network, fully committing to the path ahead.
On June 2, 2025—just eight months after that pivotal moment at Wheaton—I was officially endorsed as a missionary to serve my city and beyond.