Elder Salvador Ayala

Elder Salvador Ayala

Elder Salvador “Sal” Ayala is a dedicated man of God who is humble and steadfast in his faith. He accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior in 2003. He worked diligently within his church and community in the East Harlem neighborhood of New York City. After serving as a deacon for a number of years, he accepted the call to the ministry in 2007. In 2011, while seeking God in prayer, God led him to move from New York City, New York, to Indianapolis, Indiana.

In 2012, he was ordained as an elder under the leadership of the late Bishop Mark H. Blade, who diligently led the Historic Indiana First Jurisdiction. Elder Sal, as he is affectionally called by many, has made himself available to the church in many capacities throughout the years. He has been blessed to work in various leadership roles, including serving as the Jurisdictional Chairman for the Pastors & Elders Council and as an Executive Board member for the Jurisdiction of Puerto Rico. After his service concluded with the Jurisdiction of Puerto Rico, he served in multiple capacities in his local congregation under the pastoral leadership of the late Superintendent Nathaniel Draughn. Elder Sal currently serves as the jurisdictional director of Urban Initiatives and as the president of the Missions Department for the Historic Indiana First Jurisdiction under the leadership of Bishop Carl J. Steen, Jr.. Under his leadership, the Historic Indiana First Jurisdiction was awarded the distinct honor of being awarded the Missions Department’s “Jurisdiction of the Year” in 2023.

Elder Sal is proud of his Puerto Rican and Dominican heritage and is passionate about ensuring that people of all races, ethnicities, creeds, and colors are exposed to the word of God. Elder Sal used this passion to drive him to translate Sunday School lessons to aid Spanish Ministries in disseminating the word of God. He also assisted with translating the Church of God in Christ Manual into Spanish. Elder Sal is honored to serve as an executive board member of the Hispanic Initiatives of the Church of God in Christ and is dedicated to ensuring that the Gospel is spread abroad. He is passionate about assisting churches with strategies to better reach diverse communities.

Elder Sal is happily married to his bride of 14 years, Sister Kellye Ayala, and is a proud Godfather of nine, Pop Pop of three, uncle of two, and father figure to hundreds through his time of service in youth and community development and education.