Yuji Ogura

My name is Yuji Ogura, and I was born and raised in Southern California for most of my life. At the age of 11, after being diagnosed with cancer for the second time, I came to faith in Jesus Christ. During that difficult season, I realized I didn’t have a personal relationship with Jesus—I didn’t truly know Him, and He didn’t know me. In a moment of surrender, I turned to Jesus as my Lord and Savior, and a peace that surpasses all understanding washed over me. It was during that time that Psalm 27 became my favorite chapter in the Bible.

After high school, I pursued a Bible degree at Biola University and later earned my M.Div. from Talbot Seminary. Shortly after graduating, I served as the youth minister at Home of Christ Church in Cupertino for 13 years, where I gained most of my experience as a pastor. More recently, in 2023–2024, I volunteered for a year at His Mansion recovery ministries in NH, where I witnessed Christ’s transformative love change lives in the context of community.

I am excited to serve here in Gaithersburg, Maryland, as the Assistant Pastor for Family Ministries, and I look forward to seeing how God will transform all of us for His glory.