Adult Film Star Angela Dela Cruz Sparks Controversy as Pastor of San Diego Church
An adult film actress, Angela Dela Cruz, has ignited widespread debate after revealing that she also serves as a pastor of Living Faith Church, a new congregation in downtown San Diego. Angela and her husband, Stephen Dela Cruz, launched the church this summer, describing it as “a church for sinners by sinners.” The church’s website further proclaims that its leaders are “the biggest sinners, and this is the most non-judgmental church around.” Although the website does not list the pastors by name, the couple has openly shared their dual roles on social media.“Where else will you find an adult actress who is also a pastor?!” read a September 6 post on the church’s official Instagram page. The Dela Cruzes have also promoted events discussing their unconventional ministry. One invitation urged followers to “peek behind the curtain of Angela, an adult actress, and her husband, Stephen Dela Cruz, starting a church for sinners by sinners,” ending with a call to RSVP by texting “GOSSIP” to a dedicated number. Religious scholars react Religion researcher Scott Thumma, director of the Hartford Institute for Religion Research at Hartford Seminary, expressed astonishment at the development.“I’ve never heard of anything quite like this,” he told The Roys Report. Thumma, who reviewed the church’s statement of faith and watched several of its sermons, said its theology appeared evangelical and consistent with traditional Christian teachings about salvation through Christ.“It would seem incongruous with the possibility of also being a porn star,” he noted. “Even Jesus said to ‘go and sin no more.’” The Dela Cruzes’ background The couple did not respond to The Roys Report’s requests for comment. According to Stephen’s business website, he owns “over ten multimillion-dollar corporations” and works as an author and motivational speaker. Angela is listed as his co-founder and has an extensive acting and modeling background. Under a different stage name, Angela maintains an active online presence where she posts explicit content and promotes appearances at adult entertainment industry events. The website further states that both Angela and Stephen are ordained ministers who met while attending Bible college. Stephen’s LinkedIn profile indicates that he graduated from Bethany University, a now-defunct Assemblies of God institution that closed in 2011 due to financial difficulties and declining enrollment. A new kind of “church for sinners”? Living Faith Church continues to describe itself as a haven for those shunned by traditional congregations. Still, many within the broader Christian community question whether its message of radical inclusivity can coexist with leadership involved in the adult film industry. As the Dela Cruzes press forward with their “church for sinners,” their story has sparked heated discussions about morality, ministry, and the modern face of faith in America.
