About Me
Intercessor. Pastor. Bible Teacher. Thought Leader. Writer.
Welcome to Karina Speaks! I’m so glad you’re here.
I’m Karina — a lifelong Jersey Girl, and proud! I was born and raised in Jersey City, just a few minutes outside of Manhattan. I’ve since moved to the suburbs, but I can still hop on a train and reach NYC pretty fast.
I’m a proud Latina (Puerto Rican and Panamanian), married to Nelson, who is Indian — his family is from Kerala, the lush land of coconuts in South India. We met at our home church, Hope Center Tabernacle in Jersey City back in 2008, and God definitely arranged our marriage! Together, we’re cultivating a home and a life that increasingly reflects the culture of God’s kingdom. We have a daughter named Victorie — we picked her name long before she was conceived, and little did we know her healthy arrival into this world was going to be a true victory! She is a bright, sensitive, spunky almost tween.
Prayer Is My Oxygen
I’m an intercessor through and through, with a deep burden for cities and nations. My mom is a prophetic intercessor, so carrying the burden of the Lord was modeled for me from an early age. (It also meant I could never get away with lying!) The ministry of Prayer Storm has deeply impacted me and is a huge part of my formation as an intercessor.
My heart is not just to pray, but to equip the saints to step into the place of intercession with authority and confidence. I’ve been leading online prayer meetings for my church since 2020. I’m also part of a couple of state and national prayer initiatives. I love to be in a room full of fellow intercessors who carry the heart of God!
Certified Nerd
I LOVE the Bible and have been teaching it in different capacities for 25+ years. Nelson and I were ordained as Hope Center pastors in December 2020, and are currently campus pastors at Hope Center Hackettstown in northwestern NJ. I have a Master’s degree in Ministry Leadership and take special joy in improving our church systems better to maximize impact.
Before motherhood, I taught high school French. I’ve also had stints as a journalist and a freelance writer. Writing has always been a consistent thing in my life — and I still love nothing more than stealing away to an independent coffee shop with my laptop, a journal and a case full of colorful pens.
What is Karina Speaks?
Karina Speaks is a kingdom-focused space for prophetic insight, intercession, and biblical teaching. Here you’ll find thoughts on current events and the Church at large, especially where it concerns the Micah 6:8 imperatives to “love mercy, act justly, and walk humbly before your God.” You’ll also find personal stories and reflections on faith and kingdom culture.
If you’ve followed me before, you know I only write when Holy Spirit gives me something to say — not when the news cycle demands it. My primary response when controversy arises is to humble myself and seek heaven’s perspective. I don’t care about algorithms! I care about releasing what the Lord deposits in my belly.
My hope is that something on here sparks a fire in you as you pursue God.
And one last thing — I recently released my first devotional, Beloved: Embracing Your True Identity — a 4-day journey exploring what it means to be God’s beloved through the life of John the disciple. You can grab your copy here.
Thanks for joining me on this journey.
Blessings!
Karina