Rev. Dr. Shaji Daniel PhD, LPC, NCC – Senior Pastor
Rev. Dr. Shaji Daniel was born and raised as the second youngest of six children of missionary parents, all raised in various parsonages throughout the state of Kerala, India. It has been a challenge for Rev. Daniel’s family to do the Lord’s work as they have endured many struggles such as poverty, lack of support from family and friends, and extreme opposition from other religious fundamentalists and further social pressures to conform. Such events enable him the opportunity to understand the struggles and emotions that people experience.
God graciously allowed Rev. Daniel to open his heart to receive Jesus Christ as his personal Savior and Lord in 1979 and received water baptism in 1982, and baptism of the Holy Spirit subsequent to his rebirth experience. After the completion of his High School graduation (Pre-Degree) in 1987, he joined Faith Theological Seminary, India for Bachelors in Theology and graduated in 1991. He received his Bachelors in Divinity (B.Div.) from United Theological College (UTC), Bangalore in 1994 and Masters in Theology (M.Th.) from Union Biblical Seminary (UBS), Pune in 1999. He earned his Masters in Education majoring in Professional Counseling from University of Houston- Victoria and licensed as Professional Counselor (LPC), and certified as National Certified Counselor (NCC). Pastor Daniel is a Certified Marriage Counselor. He holds a doctoral degree (PhD) in Counselor Education & Supervision from the University of Cumberlands, KY.
Rev. Daniel has over 30 years of experience in pastoral ministry, multicultural mission, and counseling. He joined the faculty of Luther W. New Jr. Theological College, Dehradun, India in 1994 and continued in teaching ministry from 1994-1999 and 2003-2006. He also served as the Senior Pastor of Indian Pentecostal Church of God congregations in Kerala, Kuwait, and the United States of America for over 20 years. In the United States, he was the Senior Pastor of Emmanuel Pentecostal Church, Stafford and IPC Houston, Texas. Currently, he is the president of Houston Bible Seminary along with his Senior Pastoral responsibilities at Christian Assembly of Houston.
Rev. Daniel is blessed with his wife Dr. Mary Daniel, a Nurse Practitioner by profession, and two children – Luke and Lydia who are a source fo great strength and support for his ministry.