Dr. Lawrence “Larry” Perez is the founder and senior pastor of U-Turn Covenant Church in Northlake, Illinois, with additional campuses in Chicago and Orlando.

Larry’s first love is discipleship, evangelism, and developing emerging leaders—as a pastor, speaker, and teacher. He is an ordained minister with the Assemblies of God, a director of the Church Coaching Network for CORE Inc, and a ministry coach for the Chicago Partnership (TCP).

His ministry journey includes serving as national youth director for Young Defenders Ministry and as a trustee for MCIN, a global discipleship movement. Larry holds a BA in Communications (Northeastern Illinois University), an MA in Christian Ministry (Northern Seminary), and a DMin (Southeastern University).

The writing of Evangelship unfolded amidst a challenging personal season. While completing his doctoral work, he cared for his mother until her passing in 2023. In 2024, two weeks after submitting his dissertation, Larry survived a heart attack that led to a quadruple bypass surgery. He completed his degree, continued pastoring faithfully, and later that same year, laid his father to rest.

Through profound loss, miraculous survival, and unwavering perseverance, Larry emerged with a conviction that Evangelship is a timely, essential message needed to accelerate and advance the Great Commission in today’s world. Larry lives in Illinois with his wife, Yezenia, and their three children.