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meet the team

sbtc church planting team

  • Julio Arriola

    Send Network Director SBTC

    Julio received Jesus as his Savior at the age of 19 while he was studying Computer Engineering at the University of Guadalajara, Mexico. A year later he felt God’s call to ministry. After marrying his beloved wife Carla, together they traveled to Argentina to begin their theological studies at the Word of Life Bible Institute.

    At the end of 2002 they moved to the United States of America. Julio was ordained as a pastor in Texas, where he served in different ministries as a Youth Pastor, Director of Evangelism, and Worship Pastor.

    In 2011, Julio became a US Citizen. That same year he graduated from Liberty University with a B.S. in Religion. It was also that summer that he accepted the position as Global Worship Pastor for Cross Church in Northwest Arkansas under the leadership of Pastor Ronnie Floyd.

    At the end of 2016, Julio and his family moved to Guadalajara, Mexico following God’s direction to plant a church there. They started the church in September 2017 with Julio being the lead Pastor, and in less than two years it became one of the fastest growing churches in Guadalajara with about 700 members and more than 500 people in weekly attendance.

    In December 2019, Julio and his family returned to live in the United States in the Nashville, TN where Julio served as the Executive Director of Hispanic Relations and Mobilization.

    Julio completed his Master’s studies at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas and is currently pursuing his doctoral studies at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

    Julio and Carla have three children, Daniel, David, and Elizabeth.

  • Chuy Avila

    SBTC en Español Lead Associate

    Chuy Avila serves as a Church Planting Associate and catalyst for the DFW area.

    Chuy is tasked with networking with pastors to call out planters from their churches, facilitating training for new planters and supervising current planters.

    Chuy also serves in leading SBTC en Español. SBTC en Español exists to support the development of Hispanic churches in Texas to become healthy and effective congregations to fulfill the Great Commission.

  • Jason Crandall

    Church Plant Lead, SEND Network SBTC

    Jason Crandall leads the SBTC church planting team.

    Jason is the founder and lead pastor of CityView Church in Pearland. He is the author of the book Proliferate, A Church Planting Strategy for Everyday Churches and a frequent blogger at jasoncrandall.org. Jason has a Master of Arts degree from Liberty University, a Master of Divinity from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, and a Doctorate from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

    Jason is married to Allison and they have 3 boys, Drew, Blaise, and Judson.

  • Alicia Violante

    Spanish Church Planting Assistant

  • Gayla Harris

    Missions Ministry Assistant

    Gayla Harris serves as a Ministry Assistant.

    Gayla manages Reach Houston, Reach Austin, Reach El Paso, Reach the Rio Grande Valley and other mobilization partnerships, Reach Texas offerings and the annual Church Planter retreat.