Meet Daniel Gouveia: Central California Conference's New Ministerial Director

CLOVIS, Calif. — Central California Conference announced that on December 14, 2025, the Executive Committee has voted Daniel Gouveia as the new Ministerial Director. He will officially begin his new role on January 15, 2026. We had the opportunity to speak with Pastor Gouveia about his faith journey and vision for supporting pastors across our conference.

Following God's Call

Pastor Gouveia was born into a young Adventist family in Portugal. His recently baptized parents did their best to share their newfound faith with their children. "I have early memories of seeing my Mom praying fervently, with tears in her eyes, and my Dad reading his Bible every single morning," he recalls.

During his teenage years, he experienced a profound faith crisis and struggled with suicidal thoughts. In the midst of tears, he cried out to God, "I would like to believe in you, but I can't!" In what he describes as a panic attack, he grabbed a Bible in contemporary Portuguese that his parents had given him. Opening it randomly, he read Isaiah 41:10: "Don't be afraid because I am with you, don't be afflicted because I am your God. I will help you, I will strengthen you, I will sustain you with My victorious right hand."

"Suddenly, I was not alone in the Universe anymore. Someone could see me and understand everything I was going through," he said. Though it may not have been his true conversion moment, it became a turning point that affirmed God is real and hears our cries.

A couple of years later, while consistently reading his Bible and Ellen White's book The Desire of Ages, he fell in love with Jesus and began to sense a call to ministry. Though he was studying psychology at the time and thought he was cut out to be anything but a pastor, his church pastor invited him to preach. After the members heard him speak, they strongly encouraged him to study theology and become a pastor. Following a period of prayer and fasting, he became convinced this was God's purpose for his life.

Leadership Shaped by 21 Years of Ministry

With over 21 years of pastoral experience, Pastor Gouveia has served in a variety of roles, including youth leader, evangelist, radio host, video host, district pastor, associate pastor, and senior pastor. He has served on different church committees on two continents and pastored both small and large churches. He has also earned a Master in Theology from the Adventist Faculty in France and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Andrews University.

"I have been loved and hated, healthy and sick, I have experienced great joys in ministry and great sorrows," he honestly shares. He has experienced seasons of burnout, at times unsure if he could continue in ministry. Yet he affirms that through it all, God has been his refuge, his rock, and his salvation.

"I pray and trust that my experience, through great trials and great blessings, will help me to be a friend to pastors in times of need, pastors who are most likely going through similar things. I ask God to use me to inspire them and strengthen them to keep holding on to the hand of Jesus, no matter what."

A Vision for Supporting Pastors

As the new Ministerial Director, Pastor Gouveia has clear plans to support pastors. Beginning with daily intercessory prayer, he plans to visit pastors, listen, pray with them, offer counsel, and refer them to professional counselors when needed. He also aims to provide meaningful resources for personal growth and ministry, help pastors navigate theological complexities, understand the specific needs of pastors and their families, advocate for them during conflicts, and organize meetings and workshops for learning and professional development.

He will also be organizing retreats where pastors and their families can find a safe place to rest, reconnect, and enjoy the presence of God and one another.

Intimacy with God: The Foundation of Ministry

When asked about the most pressing needs facing pastors today, Pastor Gouveia points to something extremely vital, yet often overlooked. Pastors face a constant temptation to rush through ministry, but meaningful work can only flow from a daily quiet time with God in prayer. He draws inspiration from the great prophetic books of Daniel and Revelation, noting that both were written by individuals who were very close to God. In his words: “Daniel was a deeply spiritual man. The Bible says that he was greatly beloved by God and was constantly in prayer. The apostle John was so intimate with Jesus that he even had the trust to lay his head on Jesus’ chest during a very tense moment and considered himself as the disciple that Jesus loved.”

This intimacy, Pastor Gouveia believes, is essential—the assurance of God's love and the ability to hear the heart of Jesus. From this place of spiritual connection, pastors can lead with love, integrity, humility, and passion for God's work in these last days.

Sitting at Jesus' Feet

Pastor Gouveia offers a simple yet profound encouragement to his fellow pastors: to look to Jesus, regardless of their circumstances. He reflects on the story of Mary and Martha, where Jesus defended Mary's choice to sit at His feet rather than stay busy. "Mary was most likely hurt when Martha asked Jesus to rebuke her for not helping in the kitchen. But Jesus defended Mary and showed that she had chosen what mattered most: to be close to our Creator and Savior."

That same Mary, who appeared so still that day, later demonstrated extraordinary capacity for action and sacrifice when the Holy Spirit guided her to anoint Jesus with precious perfume—an act Jesus said would be remembered and shared throughout the world. Pastor Gouveia draws a powerful parallel: "As pastors, we need to sit at Jesus' feet, like Mary, until the Holy Spirit leads us to rise and move under His guidance. I believe that as we do, the whole world will be filled with the perfume of Christ’s love."

An Invitation to Prayer

As Pastor Gouveia prepares to step into this new role, he humbly asks for the conference’s prayers. He acknowledges his deep need to be filled with the Holy Spirit each day, to love Jesus wholeheartedly, and to glorify God in every aspect of his life, including his personal life, family, and ministry. Above all, he asks for a humble heart, ready to serve God's servants, and for divine empowerment to inspire pastors throughout the Central California Conference. His prayer is that pastors would lead in ways that draw hearts closer to Jesus and His unfailing love.

The conference welcomes Pastor Gouveia and looks forward to the spiritual leadership and pastoral care he will bring in this vital role.

Written by Bryan Bong