In the News ... "A passion just to serve’: Carranco leads as both principal and pastor"

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• “We want to be encouraging and let people know that Jesus will meet you wherever you are”

By Bob Campbell, Reporter
• Odessa American

ODESSA, TEXAS - The Rev. John Carranco has always had parallel interests in public school education and the ministry, and he is pursuing both of them to the fullest as principal of Andrews High School and pastor of Impact City Church.

A Rio Grande Valley native who graduated from Sabastian High School and took degrees from Texas State Technical College and the University of Texas Pan American, the Rev. Carranco served in a youth ministry in his hometown and taught Spanish at Lyford in the Valley before teaching and coaching in Andrews until he became assistant principal in 2014.

He earned a master’s degree in educational administration at Lamar University in Beaumont and was appointed AHS principal in 2019. He and his wife, Desiree, have two children.

Carranco had worked as an untitled assistant at Impact City before he became pastor Feb. 21 after the Rev. Ralph Emerson left. The church averages around 250 people at its 10 a.m. Sunday services.

“We want to be encouraging and let people know that Jesus will meet you wherever you are,” he said. “We preach the Gospel and make the Word applicable to the current life challenges we face.

“The God of the high moments of our lives is also the God of the low moments. Our mission is to preach Jesus.”

One of Carranco’s favorite scriptures is Romans 8:28, which says: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

“I believe there is a lot of overlap in my two positions, serving in ministry and in education, caring for people,” he said. “I had a passion just to serve, not necessarily to be a minister, but that’s where God led me after Ralph went back to his father’s church in Fort Worth.

“It’s just one small part in the dynamics of what a church is, and we want to do our part. The pastor’s role is a matter of caring for people.

“‘Shepherd’ is synonymous with that word. We tell people we love them. If they genuinely feel like they’re valued, that’s what we try to do,” Carranco said ...

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