Life Pacific University is honored to announce Pastor Anais Macias as the recipient of the 2026 Young Alumnus Award. This recognition celebrates an alumnus age 30 or younger who exemplifies LPU’s mission of serving God in the Church, the workplace, and the world. Through her leadership, creative gifting, and commitment to ministry, Pastor Anais reflects a life fully surrendered to God’s call, demonstrating the heart and impact of a Spirit-empowered leader in today’s world. The award will be presented at the 2026 Alumni and Friends Lunch on May 26, 2026, in San Antonio, Texas.

LPU President Dr. Angie Richey shares, “Anais Macias leads with a wholehearted yes to whatever God places before her. With obedience and creativity, she serves both locally and globally, using her gifts to advance the Kingdom. Whether supporting a ministry, highlighting powerful stories through media and communications, or sharing the gospel, Anais leads with a faithful and generous heart. She surrounds herself with strong and faithful leaders, and there is no doubt she will continue to flourish in the Lord and in ministry, making all of us very proud.”

Younger Years

Anais Macias was born the eldest daughter of Jorge Macias, Jr. (MASL ’20), and Hismelda Macias. She and her twin sister Marina, also a 2022 LPU graduate, are part of a close-knit family of seven marked by a strong commitment to both faith and education, with several family members holding degrees across diverse fields.

Born and raised in Los Angeles in a first-generation Christian home, Anais gave her life to Jesus at a Vacation Bible School in 2nd grade, and has actively served in ministry since the age of 10.

At her home church, Compañerismo Cristiano Foursquare Church (CCFC), in Downey, CA, she learned how the arts can be used not only to worship God, but also to transcend language and lead the lost to Christ through their various creative expressions.

In high school, without any formal photography or video training, she and her twin sister placed second in the 2015 Los Angeles Regional SkillsUSA competition in the category of Digital Cinema Production, revealing to Anais her passion and talent for digital media.

Then, at a youth summer camp in 2016, after hearing FMI Missionaries Yaseer and Monique Handall share about their work with Native Americans, Anais received her call to missions.

University Bound

Pastor Anais discovered Life Pacific University’s Communications major during her junior year of high school, and the integration of biblical studies within a professional major solidified her decision to enroll.

Her freshman year at LPU, Pastor Anais developed skills in photography and videography as she worked under LPU Marketing mentors like Prof. Andrew Hawksworth ’09 (now Chair of Arts, Media and Communications).

With a goal of entering the ‘mission field’ of the entertainment industry, Pastor Anais hadn’t thought to actively pursue pastoral ministry. It seemed that God had other plans.

Reigniting and Refining

Then, Pastor Anais’ missions calling was reignited on her first student missions trip to Hawaii, and through the mentorship of her freshman resident director, Laurie Walz, she learned about using business as mission. Pastor Anais would also go on to travel across the U.S. as an LPU student representative. She continued to develop skills and hone passions at LPU’s east campus in Christiansburg, VA, where intentional discipleship, outreaches, worship teams, and U.S. missions enriched her student experience. It was during this time that the Lord called her to be a pastor who would be intentionally missional everywhere. She knew she was called to “plant seeds, not roots.” She received her pastoral license in March 2020 through her LPU Foursquare Polity course, and completed her A.A. in General Studies in May 2020.

In the summer of 2021, Pastor Anais organized a two-month mission trip for herself and her twin sister, coming alongside an FMI family in Panama where they served the indigenous community, local nonprofits, and a YWAM base, discovering the importance of storytelling and media in the mission field and nonprofit sectors.

During Pastor Anais’ senior year at LPU, Director of Diversity & Reconciliation Dr. Marcus Robinson (now Dean of Students) gave her the opportunity to serve as a student leader in a role that prepared her for her future work in social media marketing. She also served on the LPU Chapel Gospel & Latin worship teams and became the children’s pastor of Lifehouse Foursquare Church at the LPU west campus. Then, at an Internship and Career Fair on the LPU campus, Pastor Anais was selected for a summer internship at Yakima Foursquare Church, led by co-pastors Chantal and Jake Edler, both LPU alumni.

“Anais is a loyal friend, a diligent worker, and an exceptionally gifted individual,” Pastor Chantal shares. “I am struck by her deep passion for God and her drive to live it out. I’ve seen her grow into a leader who not only thrives in her own calling, but faithfully develops and empowers others along the way. Recently, I’ve had a front-row seat to her inspiring, courageous obedience to the call of missions on her life. I am incredibly proud of Anais and wholeheartedly believe she is deserving of the Young Alumnus Award. She exemplifies courage, faithfulness, and a steadfast commitment to follow God’s call wherever it leads.”

Serving in the Church

In May of 2022, Pastor Anais graduated from LPU with a B.A. in Mass Communications (with a focus in Digital Media Production). After completing her internship at Yakima Foursquare Church, she was brought on staff as Communications and Production Pastor. She led her first two mission trips to Hawaii and Montana during that time.

In December 2022, upon returning from a mission trip to Mexico, Pastor Anais asked the Lord for a new dream, and He answered her – this time calling her to an ambitious year-long international missions assignment.

Serving the World

In March 2025, she launched onto the mission field through Foursquare Missions International. Pastor Anais’ contributions supported workers throughout Europe, North Africa, Central America, and Asia, and her travels totaled over 50,000 miles.

Pastor Anais traveled to each location as a willing servant, often discovering her work was an answered prayer to those she served, as God revealed His provision for each local missionary. From supporting local churches through discipling, teaching, leading worship, and investing in the next generation, she embodied the heart of a servant-leader, adapting her gifts to meet each need. She also used her digital media background to help share stories, and during her time in Mexico, she served as an interim youth pastor.

During this assignment, Pastor Anais celebrated five years of ministerial service, culminating in her ordination as a Foursquare Pastor in October 2025.

Heart to Serve in the Workplace

“Towards the end of my mission assignment,” Pastor Anais shares, “as I was praying if I was meant to continue in this missions capacity or root myself in a country and be a full-time missionary, the Lord directed me into workplace missions in the media and communications field, reminding me of the dream I had as a high schooler, working in entertainment as a workplace missionary.”

Pastor Anais is currently back in the U.S., and after devoting time to prayer over her new assignment from the Lord, has recently accepted a position as a Mulitmedia Specialist for the Yakima Valley Pippins in Yakima, WA. She believes that the Lord is raising up a new generation of missionaries and pastors in the workplace and the world to use their unique giftings to serve in new and unconventional ways. Her mission is to be intentional in every space, letting her love for Jesus lead people back to Christ and into community.

Professor Andrew Hawksworth says, “Anyone who knows Anais knows that, when her heart is set on a goal, there is literally nothing that can stop her! She is driven by a deep passion for both people and the Gospel, and showcases how modern media can and should be used to elevate stories and promote the Kingdom across all kinds of borders.”

Life Pacific University is honored to celebrate Pastor Anais Macias as the 2026 Young Alumnus Award recipient, recognizing her embodiment of LPU’s mission through her service to Christ in the Church, the workplace, and the world. Please join us in honoring Pastor Anais at the 2026 Alumni and Friends Lunch on May 26, 2026, in San Antonio, Texas.

🔗 For more information or to RSVP, visit: lifepacific.edu/events/2026-lpu-alumni-and-friends-lunch/