Salinas church pushes to rename park after slain pastor

A Salinas church is pushing to rename a park after their former pastor who was killed by a fellow parishioner in March 2017.

Victory Outreach Church members say Pastor Herb Valero died doing what he was called to do: to bring help to those who needed it most.

“He was a loving person. He was caring. He was always there. When you needed Pastor Herb, he was there no matter what time, day or night, he was there,” said Virginei Leonor, the women’s home director at Victory Outreach Church.

Leonor met Pastor Herb in 2012 when she came into the church’s women’s home. She was addicted to drugs, but found new faith through Pastor Herb.

“I didn’t believe in myself, so he believes a lot in me,” said Leonor. “So he pushed me to do the things I didn’t believe in myself.”

Pastor Herb touched thousands of lives in the community here for almost 30 years.

“He’s committed to reaching the less fortunate: the drug-addicted, the gang member and just people who were just down and out,” said Ruben Marquez, a parishioner at VOC.

Now, the church wants to rename Monte Bella Community Park after their beloved pastor. Valero actually lived in a neighborhood right across the park, and he and his congregants would come to the park on many occasions for barbecues and church events.

People say Pastor Herb would open his home to them, give them his time and encouragement and his motivation, they say, came from his faith.

“The love for the people, having that relationship with the LORD and knowing he was a recipient of that great love, he turned around and reflected it into the world,” said Marquez.

The church has gathered about 120 signatures from residents in favor of renaming these grounds to Pastor Herb Valero Memorial Park. It is a way to honor his legacy and inspire future generations to love their neighbors as themselves.

“He loved people, he wanted to help people, so he taught me how to help people and how to be there for people,” said Leonor.

The Salinas City Council will consider the renaming of the park on April 16.