A devoted team of pastors and leaders, united by faith and a heart for service, committed to guiding people with wisdom, compassion, and a Christ-centered vision.
Rev. John W. Gaines Jr. – Senior Pastor
Senior Pastor and Co-Founder at Culture Life Wesleyan Church. While serving as an associate pastor at Gloucester County Community Church, He and his wife heard the call to plant a multicultural church (Culture Church). God led them to join the Wesleyan family three years ago, merging Jersey Life and Culture Church to form Culture Life Wesleyan. He is married to Pastor Dana Gaines and has four children, two daughters-in-law, and three grandchildren.
Dana Gaines – Women’s Pastor
Pastor Dana Gaines serves as the Women’s Pastor at Culture Life Wesleyan Church in Blackwood, NJ. She was called to ministry in 2019 as she assisted in the start of Culture Church. In September 2022, God joined Culture Church and Jersey Life Wesleyan Church together to create Culture Life Wesleyan Church.
She has a deep desire to encourage women to find their confidence in who God has created them to be through the Word of God. She is married to Revered John Gaines. They have four children, two daughter-in-law‘s, and three grandchildren.
Alex Rodriguez – Pastor
Alex grew up in a Catholic household, but while in USAF Basic Training in May 1984, he prayed to receive the Holy Spirit and was born again. In 2013, while attending a non-denominational church in Gloucester County, he began serving as a Spanish service interpreter and started studying toward licensed ministry. Since then, Alex has served in a variety of leadership roles. He especially enjoys short-term missions, teaching small groups, and previously served as the financial lead for Culture Church until his retirement from that role in 2025.
Looking ahead, Alex is preparing to begin a ministry in Pastoral Counseling in 2026. Outside of ministry, he enjoys creating art—both graphite and acrylic painting—as well as reading and watching science fiction shows and movies.
Richard Shorter – Pastor
Richard was born and raised in Mannington Township, Salem County, NJ. He graduated from Montclair State University and served as a Trustee in a Methodist Church in Essex County, NJ. He helped start a Boys To Men mentoring program for young boys growing up in primarily single parent households. He relocated to Gloucester County, NJ in 2007. Richard currently oversees and serves in the Men’s Ministry, Food Pantry and Care Ministry. He is also a member of the Advisory Board. He and his wife Victoria have been married over 40 years. He enjoys spending time with his three daughters, two sons-in-law, three grandchildren and extended family. In addition, he enjoys traveling throughout the U.S. and abroad on mission trips.
Lou Perrone – Pastor
My name is Louis Perrone, and I am a dedicated disciple of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior. I am a licensed pastor of the Wesleyan Church. It’s been my honor to serve our Lord at Culture Life Wesleyan Church since January 2019.
My parents were first-generation Americans; my mother was of Ukrainian Jewish descent, and my father was of Italian Catholic heritage. They decided to raise my brother and me Jewish. I attended a conservative synagogue, attended Hebrew school, observed the Jewish Holiday, and was bar mitzvahed at the age of 13. The Holy Spirit took hold of my heart on Groundhog Day 2003.
GOD has blessed me with a faithful wife, as described in Proverbs 31. Cheryl and I were married in 1996. We have four children and five grandchildren, so far. Together, we shepherd our church’s marriage ministry “One Flesh”.
I am an honorably discharged veteran of the United States Army. I hold a Bachelor of Arts degree (BA) in Biblical Studies from Philadelphia Biblical University, now known as Cairn University. I have served on multiple boards, including church and para-church organizations.
I am excited to see what GOD has in store for my future.
Justin Hellyer – Youth Pastor
Justin Hellyer is the Youth Pastor at Culture Life Wesleyan Church. His journey in ministry started at Gloucester County Community Church, serving with the Royal Rangers boys mentoring program. That’s where he discovered his passion for helping young people grow in their faith and character. He later led the young adults ministry, The Rising, before stepping into full-time ministry with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) in 2018.
Justin loves Jesus first, then his wife, daughter, and family—and he brings that same love and energy into everything he does. He’s passionate about seeing students encounter Jesus in real ways, build lasting relationships, and live out their faith boldly. Whether he’s at church, on the field, or just hanging out, Justin’s heart beats for faith, family, and sports.
Josh Willett – Ministerial Student
Josh Willett’s journey into ministry began on the shores of Puerto Rico in 2021, when God stirred his heart during a missions trip and called him into pastoral ministry. Today, Josh is a Ministerial Student at Kingswood University and serves at Culture Life Wesleyan as Board Secretary, Puerto Rico Missions Leader, and Tech Team Leader. He is especially passionate about combining his love for missions and teaching to help others grow in faith.
Outside of ministry, Josh and his wife Lindsey—married for more than a decade—share life with their lovable German Shepherd, Loki. During the week, Josh works as a tractor trailer mechanic, living out his calling bivocationally. A dedicated Philadelphia Phillies and Eagles fan, he also enjoys time outdoors fishing, golfing, and tackling projects at home. When it’s time to relax, he can often be found watching sci-fi shows or movies, or unwinding with a Lego build.
Meet The Pastors
THE LEADERSHIP OF CULTURELIFE
A devoted team of pastors and leaders, united by faith and a heart for service, committed to guiding people with wisdom, compassion, and a Christ-centered vision.
Rev. John W. Gaines Jr. – Senior Pastor
Senior Pastor and Co-Founder at Culture Life Wesleyan Church. While serving as an associate pastor at Gloucester County Community Church, He and his wife heard the call to plant a multicultural church (Culture Church). God led them to join the Wesleyan family three years ago, merging Jersey Life and Culture Church to form Culture Life Wesleyan. He is married to Pastor Dana Gaines and has four children, two daughters-in-law, and three grandchildren.
Dana Gaines – Women’s Pastor
Pastor Dana Gaines serves as the Women’s Pastor at Culture Life Wesleyan Church in Blackwood, NJ. She was called to ministry in 2019 as she assisted in the start of Culture Church. In September 2022, God joined Culture Church and Jersey Life Wesleyan Church together to create Culture Life Wesleyan Church.
She has a deep desire to encourage women to find their confidence in who God has created them to be through the Word of God. She is married to Revered John Gaines. They have four children, two daughter-in-law‘s, and three grandchildren.
Alex Rodriguez – Pastor
Alex grew up in a Catholic household, but while in USAF Basic Training in May 1984, he prayed to receive the Holy Spirit and was born again. In 2013, while attending a non-denominational church in Gloucester County, he began serving as a Spanish service interpreter and started studying toward licensed ministry. Since then, Alex has served in a variety of leadership roles. He especially enjoys short-term missions, teaching small groups, and previously served as the financial lead for Culture Church until his retirement from that role in 2025.
Looking ahead, Alex is preparing to begin a ministry in Pastoral Counseling in 2026. Outside of ministry, he enjoys creating art—both graphite and acrylic painting—as well as reading and watching science fiction shows and movies.
Richard Shorter – Pastor
Richard was born and raised in Mannington Township, Salem County, NJ. He graduated from Montclair State University and served as a Trustee in a Methodist Church in Essex County, NJ.
He helped start a Boys To Men mentoring program for young boys growing up in primarily single parent households. He relocated to Gloucester County, NJ in 2007. Richard currently oversees and serves in the Men’s Ministry, Food Pantry and Care Ministry. He is also a member of the Advisory
Board. He and his wife Victoria have been married over 40 years. He enjoys spending time with his three daughters, two sons-in-law, three grandchildren and extended family. In addition, he enjoys traveling throughout the U.S. and abroad on mission trips.
Lou Perrone – Pastor
Justin Hellyer – Youth Pastor
Justin Hellyer is the Youth Pastor at Culture Life Wesleyan Church. His journey in ministry started at Gloucester County Community Church, serving with the Royal Rangers boys mentoring program. That’s where he discovered his passion for helping young people grow in their faith and character. He later led the young adults ministry, The Rising, before stepping into full-time ministry with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) in 2018.
Justin loves Jesus first, then his wife, daughter, and family—and he brings that same love and energy into everything he does. He’s passionate about seeing students encounter Jesus in real ways, build lasting relationships, and live out their faith boldly. Whether he’s at church, on the field, or just hanging out, Justin’s heart beats for faith, family, and sports.
Josh Willett – Ministerial Student
Josh Willett’s journey into ministry began on the shores of Puerto Rico in 2021, when God stirred his heart during a missions trip and called him into pastoral ministry. Today, Josh is a Ministerial Student at Kingswood University and serves at Culture Life Wesleyan as Board Secretary, Puerto Rico Missions Leader, and Tech Team Leader. He is especially passionate about combining his love for missions and teaching to help others grow in faith.
Outside of ministry, Josh and his wife Lindsey—married for more than a decade—share life with their lovable German Shepherd, Loki. During the week, Josh works as a tractor trailer mechanic, living out his calling bivocationally. A dedicated Philadelphia Phillies and Eagles fan, he also enjoys time outdoors fishing, golfing, and tackling projects at home. When it’s time to relax, he can often be found watching sci-fi shows or movies, or unwinding with a Lego build.