Event Speakers

  • Rev. Dr. Tanya Paniagua

    Tanya offers professional Christian counseling, coaching, mentoring, and speaking through Breath of Life, and has journeyed with hundreds of couples of multiethnic backgrounds as well as community and spiritual leaders from all over the world. Tanya's heart is to encourage others to flourish into all that God has called them to be in their personal, spiritual, academic, and professional lives. Her ability to integrate a biblical foundation with everyday life application and a candid way of communicating difficult issues makes her relatable in her unique essence. She is dedicated to the mental, emotional, and spiritual health of individuals as she wholeheartedly believes that we are called to live in the fullness of God and taste a piece of heaven while here on Earth. She is committed to raising up the next generation to serve the future of the church and their communities. Tanya is passionate about seeing individuals grow into who God has designed them to become by embracing their past, growing in their present, and aspiring to be the world changers they were made to be. Her transparency in sharing about her battles and victories allows her to connect with others as she leads them to the hope of Jesus Christ. 

    Tanya is an ordained minister with the Assemblies of God and the founder and CEO of Breath of Life Foundation, an organization that strives to lead hurting people to hope in heart, mind, body, and spirit and also equip others to do the same. She is an ordained minister with Assemblies of God and she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from the University of California, Irvine, and attended Liberty University where she obtained her Master’s in Pastoral Counseling and her Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Counseling and Community Care.

  • Rev. Rudy Paniagua

    Rudy is currently the COO and Lead Mental Health Coach at Breath of Life Foundation. He is also the Español Director for City to City LA and the Teaching Pastor at Luminate Church. He feels a strong burden to train and equip people to influence their communities, sustain growth, and multiply. He is passionate about making the Bible comprehensible, which allows him to guide individuals on their life journey to effectively fulfill their personal goals. He also motivates community members to find their life purpose and become fruitful contributors to their families and communities.

    Rudy embraces both academic and biblical education, believing they are key components of success in life. He attended Fuller Theological Seminary, where he earned an MA in Theology and Ministry, and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Organizational and Global Leadership. Additionally, he is a certified Mental Health Coach, a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors, and an ordained minister with the Assemblies of God.

  • Rev. Rudy & Rev. Dr. Tanya Paniagua

    Rudy & Tanya bring a decade of experience in the field of professional Christian counseling & coaching where they marry theology, psychology, and life story. Their biblical foundation, everyday life application, and candid way of communicating difficult issues make them relatable in their unique essence. They are transparent, authentic, and bold. They don’t shy away from sharing their battles and victories which allows them to connect with their audience as they lead them to the Hope of Jesus Christ and His redemptive power, which they have experienced firsthand in their own marriage. Rudy and Tanya enjoy spending time with their four children, daughter-in-love, and two amazing grandchildren, Julia and Elijah.

  • Alana Gallardo

    Alana has extensive experience working with ethnically diverse clients in churches, private practice, schools, and community mental health settings. As a Pastoral Counselor for Breath of Life, she has a heart for serving children, families, couples, and premarital couples, specializing in attachment, self-esteem, grief, loss, trauma, spiritual formation, anxiety, and depression. With gentle compassion and a serene demeanor, Alana considers it an honor to come alongside others as they process their struggles, providing wisdom and the tools they need to enhance their

    Alana holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology with a minor in Religious Studies from Vanguard University of Southern California and a Master of Science degree in Marital and Family Therapy from Fuller Theological Seminary. 

  • Angelica Hernandez

    Angelica is a Pastoral Counselor at Breath of Life Foundation and is passionate about seeing people shift their mentality from surviving to thriving in their emotional, mental, spiritual, and physical health. She is adamant about providing a safe place where people feel heard and valued. With empathy, wisdom, and an utter dependence on the Holy Spirit, Angelica walks alongside people who are hurting and guides them to a place of hope. Angelica's experiences and education have equipped her to connect with people from all walks of life. She focuses on spiritual health, relationships, life transitions, and grief. She has extensive experience working with families and student issues ranging from middle school to college.

    Angelica earned her Bachelor of Arts in Law & Society, and Spanish from the University of California, Santa Barbara, her Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling from Liberty University, and is currently pursuing her Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Counseling and Community Care: Traumatology, also at Liberty University. Angelica is proud to be an ordained minister with the Assemblies of God and serves as an Executive Pastor of Neighborhood Church in San Bernardino, California.

  • Lili Ramirez

    Lili is a Pastoral Counselor at Breath of Life. Lili is passionate about helping people find freedom from unhealthy thinking patterns and deeply rooted core beliefs. She believes that by doing so, people will find their identity, design, and purpose ordained by God himself. She helps individuals look back at attachment and childhood experiences, connecting them to how they might impact bonds as adults. Lili specializes in working with pregnant women, women in the postpartum period, and mothers of children. She has helped mothers overcome perinatal distress while teaching them to restructure their thinking and give themselves grace. She also has extensive experience working with individuals and couples. 

    Lili has her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Vanguard University of Southern California and a Master of Science degree in Counseling Psychology from California Baptist University. She also holds a Reproductive Grief Care Certificate and a Maternal Mental Health Certificate.

  • Izzy Valenciano

    Izzy is a Pastoral Counselor for Breath of Life Foundation. Her work is focused on helping others find healing by exploring their past and understanding their relationships with others and themselves. She is passionate about guiding people to their God-given purpose and helping them develop the skills needed to fulfill this purpose with a healed heart. It is becoming harder for people to understand their identity and it is Izzy's goal to help others understand and be rooted in their identity in Christ. She encourages people to seek holistic well-being as she emphasizes the deep connection between physical health and emotional health. 

    She is currently pursuing her Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Community Care and Counseling with a specialty in Marriage and Family from Liberty University. She received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology from UC San Diego and her Master of Science degree in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology.

  • Syrena Womack

    Syrena is a Pastoral Counselor at Breath of Life. She spent a decade in overseas missions and ministry work and is passionate about seeing the Word of God made applicable to people from all nations and walks of life. She loves encouraging people to walk in their God-given gifts and learn to embrace the unique way God created them.

    Syrena received a Bachelor's of Divinity from Trinity Theological College in Singapore and a Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling with a focus on Marriage and Family Counseling from Liberty University.