Joe grew up in a Catholic family in San Francisco, California, moved to San Antonio in 2003, and graduated from Trinity University in 2007. He received God's call to pastoral ministry on May 18, 2008, served as a youth minister from 2008-2010, and became a Methodist in April 2009. The United Methodist Church's emphases on the fullness of God's grace, and Christ's call to pursue both personal and social holiness, connected him spiritually and intellectually to the Methodist tradition. He has served as a pastor since 2011, and was fully ordained in 2016. He has served congregations in Kempner, San Antonio, Lyford, Edcouch, Rio Grande City, and now feels blessed to serve St. Mark UMC-McAllen.

Joe has a passion for discipleship formation and community ministries that further God's mercy and justice. He isproficient in Spanish, or at least the "TexMex" dialect of the Rio Grande Valley. He enjoys spending time with his family, which include his wife Leigh Ann and their two daughters, Elizabeth (8) and Emily (4). He also reads theology, fantasy, and Texas history; follows current events; and plays nerdy games with friends, and passionately roots for the San Francisco 49ers, Baylor Bears, San Antonio Spurs, and Houston Texans.