Meet Gabriella Lee | Pastor & Church Planter

We had the good fortune of connecting with Gabriella Lee and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Gabriella, what do you want people to remember about you?
I want to be remembered as one who truly loved others! The word love is easily tossed around these days and it has lost its meaning. There are many times of Love. But Agape love is the strongest of them all! Agape in the Greek means Love! it means a general empathy or lovingkindness for all people. Agape isn’t born just out of emotions, feelings, familiarity, or attraction, but from the will and as a choice. Agape requires faithfulness, commitment, and sacrifice without expecting anything in return. I might not agree with people on everything. But regardless of our differences in our backgrounds, age, gender, marital status, education, bank accounts, work industries and belief system. I want to value people for who they truly are, for being human who are wonderfully made. I want to be a friend to the one who has no friend and a mom for the motherless. I want to create a community where people can belong regardless of where they come from. I want people to feel truly seen, valued and loved unconditionally!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am a Pastor & Church Planter. Church Planter just means, someone who started a new church from scratch, from the ground up. But I honestly consider myself a Spiritual Coach. I am excited to be starting a new Church in Los Angeles! A place where people can have a community to belong to, learn about who God is and learn about who they are, get free from any struggle and receive physical and emotional healing! I want people to feel empowered and take charge over their lives. I want them to know that they are loved and they are not alone!

I honestly did not think I would be doing what I am doing today! But I know how it feels to be alone. I have spent many holidays just by myself. I know how it feels to be sick physically with no hope of getting better. I know how it feels to feel like I don’t belong anywhere. I know how it feels to be depressed and hurting! And because of that, I don’t want anyone to ever feel this way. Now I can’t stop everything but I can be a small solution to this problem. One of my favorite things to do is to pray for people, because I know how it feels to be on the other side. I am dedicating my life to help others find freedom and healing! Yes, miracles still happen! You just have to know the source!

It is hard to be in this profession. Many people judge as soon as they hear words like, pastor, church or Christian, they immediately raise their guard up and reject. I know that there is probably some hurt there. But I want to encourage people to think for themselves. Not every person who say they are a Christian is a true Christian (Christ Follower). You have to see their actions to know. For example, a person can call himself a vegan but if they eat meat, then they are not a vegan regardless of what they says, right? So the same thing applies to people who call themselves Christians when they don’t act like Jesus or follow his commands. Remember Jesus loved well! He spend time with the sinners, prostitutes, thiefs and the rejects. I want people to know that we love them and it is okay to ask questions and have discussions. Even if we don’t believe the same thing, they are always welcome around my table.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I would take her to,

Day 1, The Griffith Observatory to see the view. And then we would have Birria tacos at Tacos Le Goloso
Day 2, Hollywood Walk of Fame and some street hot dogs, elote, and fruits.
Day 3, Korea Town and have dinner at Sun Nong Dan
Day 4, A Morning hike at the Runyon Canyon, then a mid day treat/dessert at Mango Mango and then Dinner on the roof of Mama’s Shelter to enjoy the view.
Day 5, Venice Beach to sight see, walk and enjoy some street food.
Day 6, Santa Monica 3rd street Promenade and the Pier
Day 7, A theater show or a comedy show then ramen for dinner

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
In life it is hard to find a great mentor and it is even harder to find a great mentor who loves you deeply. I was blessed to be mentored by Nene Abosi, an immigrant from Nigeria. Who is always in the back ground and not the stage. However, I would not be where I am without her pouring into me. I have learned so much from her. And have seen crazy miracles. She taught me to persevere through every circumstance and to believe the Bible fully. Not that I did not believe it fully before, but she challenged me to truly look into my heart and ask myself if I truly believe every written word in the Bible. And if I did, what will I then do about it. This is just one of the many things she has challenged me in. She is not a pastor nor someone who is popular with many followers. But she has touched many lives. Her prayers protected churches and people for years. She has taught me more than I could have learned in a 100 sermons. She is quiet but when she speaks, she speaks with authority and power. Even the demons (which people call negative energy these days) can not stand her presence and flee away with terror.

Website: www.ignitelachurch.org

Instagram: gabriella.saeed.lee

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Gaby.Faten/