Joseph Carty was ordained to the ministry Jan. 6, 2018 at the North Platte Church in Nebraska. Carty has served the North Platte, McCook and Gothenburg churches for the past two years. During this time, he and his wife, Raluca, have successfully grown the churches. They have also grown their family, with the birth of their daughter Ellie.

Carty was raised in Chowchilla, California. While in elementary and high school he loved God’s word and was a serious Bible student. In college, though, he stopped practicing his faith until his senior year, when he had a powerful reconversion. He was soon active in church again, teaching Bible studies and participating in evangelism.

Carty attended Amazing Facts College of Evangelism to learn to share his faith effectively. When he finished, he believed God was calling him to full-time ministry, so he volunteered as a student missionary with Adventist Frontier Missions. He was sent to Albania for nine months as a church planter.

When he returned to the U.S., he enrolled in Southwestern Adventist University’s online course in theology. He finished his BA while serving the Valentine, Nebraska, district as a part-time pastor.

During his time pastoring in Valentine, he and Raluca were married. Carty says, “She has been the perfect companion in ministry.”

Carty was then sent to Andrews University Seminary where he graduated with a Master of Divinity degree.

Carty shares, “After working in ministry full time for almost a decade I feel more convicted than ever to keep my hand on the plow.”

John Sweigart is Vice President for Administration.