Staff and Leadership
Our Pastoral Staff
DR. MANRIQUE SALAZAR
LEAD PASTOR
Manrique holds a Doctorate in Ministry from Phoenix Seminary. He served for thirteen years as a church planter and lead pastor in his home country of Costa Rica, where he worked diligently in nurturing the health of the Latin American church through expository preaching, theological training, and equipping the saints for evangelism and missions.
He served as the professor of expository preaching at ESEPA seminary in San Jose, where he held the Ramesh Richard’s Chair of Biblical Preaching, as well as on the ESEPA Board of Trustees. He trained pastors throughout Latin America through the ministries of IBAC (Bible Institutes of Central America) and RREACH, providing theological training to those who do not have access to traditional seminary training.
Prior to studying theology, he received a degree in Civil Engineering and worked for twenty years in the construction industry.
Manrique met his wife, Rebekah, in 2006 while in seminary at Columbia International University in Columbia, South Carolina. They have three children, Gabriel, Isabel, and David.
Manrique has a heart for nurturing theologically healthy, missional churches and is dedicated to serve Christ in Emmanuel Bible Church through expository preaching, theological training, and intentional pastoral care.
Miguel Crespo
Associate Pastor of Family Ministries
Miguel Crespo is the husband of his high school sweetheart Dalia, father of two amazing young ladies, and a follower of Jesus Christ since 1995. Having served in various roles in children and youth ministry throughout the years, he now serves as the Family Ministry Pastor overseeing the Student (Youth) and Children’s Ministry.
Tino Ojeda
Worship Pastor
Tino Ojeda has a Master of Arts in Worship degree from Northern Seminary and has served as the Worship Pastor of Emmanuel Bible’s Spanish side since its inception and for both English and Spanish congregations for the last seven years. Pastor Tino combines the best of Christianity’s musical heritage with doctrinally accurate hymns along with the cutting edge of new, biblically sound worship songs to lead the entire church to the Throne every Sunday.
Pastor Tino composed and recorded a collection of English and Spanish songs that honor the Triune God – set for release in the Spring of 2020.
Tino is married to his High School sweetheart, Kathy. They have four children – Stephanie, Andrew, Emma, and Caleb – all serve with Tino in the Worship ministry.
Our Elder Team
Aminadab Lugo
Elder
Aminadab is married to Haydee and is the father of four children: Sergio, Emme, Matteo, and Jacob.
He and his family currently live in Orland Park since 2014. Previously lived in Cicero, IL, for nine years. He has attended EBC for approximately 10 years and became a Christian in 2011.
He has been a member of EBC since 2014, previously served in AWANA and as a Sunday school teacher, and also currently serves in the Men’s Ministry as a small group facilitator.
Ed Polanco
Elder
Ed Polanco and his wife Julie attend Emmanuel Bible Church since 2007 and became members in 2011.
They have four children: Sofia, Jonas, Elena and Benjamin and a granddaughter Isabella.
They currently live in Berwyn since 2004. In addition to serving as an Elder, he serves as EBC Men’s Ministry Leader. Ed also works part-time in the EBC office.
Deacons
Francisco Ochoa
Francisco is married to Elizabeth and they have two daughters, Elizabeth and Inci. He has attended Emmanuel Bible Church for 11 years and became a member in February of 2017. He has also served Emmanuel in the usher’s ministry, small groups ministry as a group leader, and currently in the second service announcements ministry.
Damian Zalazinski
Damian has been married to his wife Amparo for 31 years and they have four adult and teenage children, Andrew, Ashley, John Allen, and Emily. He has been attending EBC for 2-1/2 years and became a member in August of 2021.
Deaconesses
Ana Isabel Pulgarín
Ana Isabel has attended Emmanuel Bible Church since 2014 and became a member in March of 2017. She has served in the church with child care and as an usher for the second service. She has four sons, Jair, Jefferson, Jonathan, and Brian.
Elizabeth Ochoa
Elizabeth is married to Francisco and they have two daughters, Elizabeth and Inci. She has been attending EBC for 11 years and became a member of the church in February of 2017. She has previously served Emmanuel as a Sunday school teacher and as a small group leader apprentice.
Our Staff
Kylie Leato
Administrative Assistant
