OCEANSIDE, CA
Adam was born and raised in Oceanside, Ca. Making him an official native Osider.
ABANDONED
At the age of 10 yrs old, Adam’s father abandoned his family. In order to make ends meet and raise 3 children on her own, Adam’s mother worked 3 jobs. As the eldest child, Adam was thrust into the role of helping his mother manage the household.
JR. HIGH
With no direction of a father-figure, Adam turned to sports. Adam sooned discovered innate abilities that put him in the limelight of sports. By the end of his 8th grade school year, Adam had broken nearly all of the school track records. To this day, Adam still has the fastest recorded mile at Jefferson Middle school in Oceanside… 452.
HIGH SCHOOL
As an alumni of Oceanside High-school Adam enjoyed playing football, as the best defensive back his freshman year, lettered, made all-league and won a championship in soccer as a freshman, as well as lettered as a freshman in track & field
REAL ESTATE IN HAWAII
Shortly after high-school, Adam set out to Hawaii to make a career and life for himself as a real estate agent.
WRONGFULLY CONVICTED
Adam was incarcerated for a crime he did not commit and spent 13 years 8 months in prison
MIRACLES
Adam Riojas began his journey as a pastor, when he got ordained as an inmate pastor at Calipatria State prison. During this time, Adam witnessed the power of the Holy spirit transform thousands of lives.
Adam was one of Justin Brooks first clients released through their California Innocence project located in San Diego, California.
What man meant for evil, God meant it for good. God allowed the tragedy of him being wrongfully incarcerated to draw him close to Him and to fully trust in the plan God had for his life. God had a plan not to hurt him but to prosper him, to love and nourish him. Pastor Adam’s testimony shows us that we have to trust God even when it seems impossible to get through something. Persevere and God will show you the way. Trusting God on your journey and knowing He, the creator of the universe has you and knows you by name because you are His.
FRESH START
From the 12 vocations that Adam completed in prison, it gave him the ability and skills to be a successful handyman.
He spent 7 years as the outreach pastor at a local church, serving the people of his community
MR. AND MRS.
Pastor Adam met his wife Cleta while leading similar ministries at their home churches. It was a divine appointment that God had orchestrated. The encounter led to their friendship. During their friendship, they had committed to both prayer and fasting. After getting confirmation from The Lord, they were prepared for the next step in their journey; courtship. During their courtship, Adam and Cleta prayed for God’s perfect will for their lives. After much prayer and fasting, The Lord led them to unite in holy matrimony, and have been blessed with two beautiful girls, Bella and Talia along with their Golden Retriever Joy and German Sheppard Rex.
THE BIRTHING OF AT THE CROSS CHURCH
Adam Riojas is the founder and Senior pastor of At The Cross Oceanside. At The Cross was birthed in January, of 2014, with no affiliation to any denomination. At The Cross quickly became known as the church that truly walked by faith and trusting God on the vision and purpose He laid before His church. At The Cross had its first-ever church service at Oceanside High School on Sunday February 2, 2014.
A PLACE TO CALL HOME
In January of 2016, At The Cross found their church home building located at 2112 South El Camino Real Oceanside, CA 92054. This home gave At The cross the opportunity to reach more people and At The cross family grew!
Bistro at the pier
In 2016, Adam designed and constructed the building for the coffee shop, which has now been a tourist favorite and local hangout.
FREEDOM
Throughout the years Adam’s story has captivated many, as it is an amazing story of survival, of hope, of faith, of redemption… and one man’s struggle to forgive the ultimate betrayal. The California Innocence project has worked relentlessly over the years to initiate law that helps innocent men and women get justice for being victims of a failed system.
Currently The California Innocence project is in the Judicial system seeking full exoneration and compensation for the years Adam Riojas was wrongfully incarcerated.
