User:RevPalma

Who is the Rev. Rafael Palma? Born Rafael Ojeda Palma on April 8, 1977 to Rafael Alfonso Palma and Rosa Delia Ojeda in French Camp, California. Rev. Rafael Palma is an ordained minister of the Apostolic Assembly of the Faith in Christ Jesus and currently minister at Apostolic New Life Center in Tracy, CA. Rev. Rafael Palma is the oldest of six siblings. He is the brother of Alejandra Palma, 10/08/1979, Rosa Anahi Palma, 2/28/1982, Gabriel Alonso Palma, 7/14/1989, Pablo Isael Ruiz, 10/02/1995, and Veronica Ruiz, 7/11/1998. Rev. Palma's parents divorced when he was 16 years old and in 1994 his mother met Pablo Moreno Ruiz with whom she is still with today and had Palma's other two siblings with. Rev. Palma married Patricia Alvarez on December 19, 1998 in Turlock, California. On August 1, 2004 the couple had their first child, Noah Melchizedek Palma. They are currently expecting the birth of their second child in August of 2006.

How Did Palma end up in Tracy? Palma's parents imigrated to the United States in 1977 from Mexico. Palma's mother was 7 months pregnant when she moved to Tracy, CA. Palma's father was addicted to drugs and alcohol and was in and out of his life. Palma was raised primarily by his mother and grandmother Francisca Gonzalez.

Growing Up in South Side Tracy Growing up in South Side Tracy was difficult for Palma. His mother was on welfare and worked long hours doing various types of jobs. The South Side of Tracy was known for its gang and drug culture. Norteños ruled the streets and drugs were available anywhere. Not many alternatives were given to children growing up in South Side Tracy. It was either grow up and join the local street gang and sell drugs for them or get out of South Side as soon as possible. To get out was not as easy as it sounds.

Palma grew up a big fan of the WWE, NFL,NBA, and MLB.