Staff

Lead Pastors: Gilbert & Eileen Silva

Gilbert began teaching and preaching God’s Word at the tender age of fourteen. He has been in full-time ministry for 19 years. Prior to being called into full time ministry he served his local church as a volunteer youth minister for 5 years under the leadership of the late Pastor Iluminado Marrero.

In January 1991 he became the senior pastor of the House of Praise International Church and has continued to the work God has called him to. Gilbert has a strong teaching anointing on his life. His ministry focuses on the equipping of the body to go out and impact their neighborhood, city and nation. He is a sought out speaker and has traveled and ministered in Puerto Rico, South and Central America, Cambodia and many churches in the United States. He is happily married to his wife and ministry partner, Eileen, and has three children: Celeste, Chelsea and Josiah.

Associate Pastors: Mark & Sol Hebebrand

Mark Hebebrand has been on staff at the House of Praise International Church since 1999. Mark’s field of work for the past12 years has been youth ministry, music ministry and outreach. He has a passion to help build families, coach small group leaders and partner with Pastor Silva to see the city of Lorain reached for Christ. He has been married for sixteen years to his wife Solmaria and has two daughters; Kayla, age 10 and Lydia, age 6.

Founding Pastor: Luisa G. Rosado

The House of Praise to God (the original name of our church) was founded in 1976 by Iluminado & Luisa Marrero. Luisa took responsibility of the ministry due to her husband’s illness in 1988. Luisa led the church with faith and vision and anchored the ministry to the prophetic word declared over this church. During this time she knew that she was going to release the ministry to another person. After much prayer, in 1991 the eldership of the church selected Gilbert Silva, her son-in-law, to pastor the church.

Today, She continues to serve on our church’s board of directors and as an associate pastor. She has an apostolic calling with a prophetic voice to the body of Christ. She has ministered in Puerto Rico, Venezuela and the United States at conferences and churches. She lifts her voice with passion, faith and victory in Christ.

Pastor Art Copeland

Art Copeland was born in a small town in southern California; In May of 1989, he made a decision that would change his life forever. He went into a residential home in Chicago, and it was there that God worked a miracle in his life and set him free of drug addiction. He worked with the residential homes for the next 10 years, where he saw the home in Chicago grow to 150 men and 50 women before he went to Milwaukee for a year. In December of 2002, he moved to Lorain with a call of God to reach drug addicts in this region. He is an example that there is hope after drug addiction.

Youth Pastors: Max & Rebecka Perez

Max Perez has been at the House of Praise for over four years. He grew up in Lorain, OH and has been saved for over 6 years. He is passionate about the Word of God, prayer and evangelism. In october of 2008 he got married to Rebecka Ocasio.

His wife has been at the church since birth and has been saved since childhood as well. She is passionate about seeing young girls grow in the things of God. Max and Rebecka Perez have a vision to see this next generation in love with God and serving people.