Goodwin Deng is a California kid through-and-through: born in Monterey Park, raised in South Pasadena, and a double graduate of UCLA, with a bachelor’s in biology and master’s of education. The church Goodwin attended as a child was deeply formative in his family’s life. His parents immigrated to Los Angeles from Taiwan in the early 80s. Coming from atheist and Buddhist backgrounds, they joined a Chinese-speaking church due to its reputation for providing support to immigrants. The care and love they received in this community eventually led to them following Christ. Goodwin himself is the result of his childhood church’s intervention! After ongoing struggles with infertility, his parents were encouraged to pray for the Lord to provide them with a child, and Goodwin was the Lord’s answer to that prayer. Goodwin’s name in Chinese means “the Lord is victorious”

Despite his Christian upbringing, it wasn’t until high school that the Gospel took root in Goodwin’s heart, and he started to see his need and desperation for Jesus in all aspects of his life. In college, Goodwin got plugged in with CRU and went on both stateside and overseas summer missions with them—a formative experience was going to East Asia and seeing 80 people come to Christ over his junior and senior years. He changed his career direction, wanting to return to East Asia after senior year, but a knee injury ended that dream. Even so, the grace of Jesus met him in his darkest moment, turning them into some of his sweetest moments

Goodwin started coming to Reality LA in 2008, burnt out on ministry after helping his dad plant a church, met his wife in 2012, got married in 2013, helped out when Reality planted Collective Church plant, and returned to Reality in 2017. He witnessed so many college-aged kids responding to sermons, things felt renewed, it was refreshing to see the outpouring of people’s response to the gospel. God not only gives us a new family—he invites us into the family business! Goodwin saw the joy and privilege of partnering with God in what he was doing in the lives of people and wanted in.

Goodwin is CRU Team Leader for Los Angeles. He connects with God through silence, solitude, extended times of contemplation, and musical worship. He and his wife Justine live in Castle Heights with their two children. He is passionate about reading, coffee, riding motorcycles, and mobilizing people toward global missions. His favorite parts of LA are its density and diversity, incredible food, and richness of culture and community. And the Lakers, of course.

Alex Hitchens is proud of his Midwestern roots—he was born in Lansing Michigan, and grew up in Cleveland Ohio. He spent two years at Central State University before graduating from Cleveland State University. He is now a self-employed music producer/composer.

Raised in a non-denominational church, Alex first encountered Jesus at a Billy Graham Youth Night in 1992. It was during this event that he realized that he’d been bought by the blood of Jesus, who had called him to more. Alex’s faith was a roller coaster through high school and college, but he truly began to experience the freedom of surrender in his late 20s. Since living in LA, he’s come to be more dependent on the Lord; he’s grateful for the Holy Spirit empowering him to live a life that testifies to God’s goodness and strives to leave his family, workplace, and community better each day.

Alex connects with God through Bible reading, meditation, and worship music. He also seeks to advocate the Lord’s kingdom agenda in how he approaches his vocational craft, both musically and relationally. He has a big heart for discipleship and seeing brothers and sisters connect their kingdom calling with their earthly endeavors.

Alex first got connected to Reality LA via the recommendations of friends in Cleveland prior to moving to LA in 2015. His first church experience was serving on the tear down team for the Easter Sunday service at the Dolby Theatre; the 5AM call time made him truly feel like part of the life of the church that morning. It was through his volunteering that he also met his future wife, Chaundra, who was serving in Kids Ministry.

Alex and Chaundra live in Sherman Oaks with their daughter, Kennedy. Alex is an avid golfer (5 handicap), a good swimmer, and a classically trained violin player. He also loves to creatively express himself, especially through cooking. His favorite parts of living in LA are being able to golf all year round, the diversity of people, and the incredible FOOD.