Josh Yang currently serves as the Marriage and Family Ministries pastor. As the primary counseling pastor at Rockford First, he also has oversight of various ministries including DivorceCare and GriefShare, and teaches a dual-credit psychology class at Christian Life High School. He served previously as the Children’s pastor, overseeing all children’s ministries from birth to 5th grade, and served as Christian Life Elementary School pastor, counselor, and parent educator.

The Lord called Josh into full-time ministry in 1983, and he answered that call with no clue as to where it would lead him. He felt directed into counseling and teaching, and is passionate about helping people develop a healthy relationship with God and others. Pastor Josh’s educational and professional backgrounds reflect this passion, as he has received numerous degrees and licenses, including masters of Arts in biblical literature and clinical psychology.

Josh is also currently credentialed through the Illinois District Council of the Assemblies of God and is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in the State of Illinois. Prior to serving at Rockford First, Josh used his degrees and passion in many different capacities, including as an adoption and family counselor, psychotherapist, lead pastor, adjunct Bible college instructor, and was appointed as home missionary to Chinese, ministering to multicultural populations in inner city Los Angeles and Taipei, Taiwan.

Josh was born in Taipei, Taiwan, and moved to the US in 1963 when he was 4. He grew up in New York City, Plainview, New York, and Randolph, New Jersey. He and his wife Esther have been married since 1987, and have 4 children: Matthew, Melissa, Jonathan, and Emily. All of the kids are lifers at Christian Life Schools.