Pastor R.J. Strickland has served as the lead pastor of Bend Naz Church since 2018. A husband, father, author, speaker, touring reggae musician, and abuse survivor, RJ brings a unique perspective to his ministry.

He earned his Bachelor’s Degree from Northwest Nazarene University, an MBA from Aston University, and completed his ministry course of study through Fuller and Emanuel Seminary. RJ is also ordained as an Elder in the Church of the Nazarene. With over 25 years of ministry experience, he has served in diverse locations, including Idaho, Colorado, California, Hawaii, Washington, and now in Bend, Oregon, where he serves as a co-pastor with Oscar Acosta at Bend Naz Church.

Throughout his ministry journey, RJ has pioneered and led several intercultural, multicultural, and multilingual church plants. He was the founder and president of Kokua Compassion Group, a network dedicated to supporting homeless and immigrant populations in Hawaii, and was also a founding partner of Skaters in Christ, a West Coast skateboard ministry.

Beyond his pastoral duties, RJ has served as an associate district superintendent for ORPAC and currently mentors future pastors as a pastoral coach for the Center for Pastoral Leadership at Point Loma Nazarene University.

RJ has been married to his wife, Kacy, for 22 years, and together they have four children. In his free time, RJ enjoys reading, playing music, skateboarding, snowboarding, spearfishing, and having outdoor adventures with his family. He is deeply passionate about personal transformation and dedicates his life to helping others grow more like Christ.