Our church is now entering a new phase. We just had a leadership meeting and we left all bubbling up inside ’cause God is about to do something and He orchestrated a play that none of us could have thought possible, imaginable and it all came from something that most of us would have considered a nightmare. More on all that later. But just so ya know…we will now be known as

Demographic studies showed we needed to do a name change for intellectual purposes amongst other things. We’re moving soon, we’re planning a major marketing effort, and a special Rock the Park event in the Fall. Our story is so interesting because all the books written by white guys who "planted churches" don’t fit us AT ALL (that’s why I’m writing a book one day on Church Birthers: Perspectives on Church Planting from Women Who’ve Done It with some of my national friends who started their own churches…some have succeeded and some haven’t but we need to hear the whole story not just when all things work out according to plan!).  I had a friend tell me to STOP reading those books (they are kind of depressing if you aren’t experiencing what they did).

Our church has had a few "sacred accidents"…you know those things that have worked out but not because it was part of the plan or those things that didn’t work out that were part of the plan but was where you needed to be at the time because God wanted to teach ya something.

More things coming, stay tuned!

Eliacin Rosario wrote this open letter on his blog and I think he’s right on. I’m writing back to you dear friend…

You ask how I am doing…well, I must confess its been a whirlwind for me lately. I’ve been stretched in ways I never thought I could be. I’ve struggled and continue to struggle with my pentecostal roots and the "faith" perspective and my too logical mind telling me that I’m "too pentecostal" believing that God did call me, that God does have a plan to prosper me and make me a blessing. I’ve cried over the way I’ve been treated different times of my life, I’ve been frustrated over how many times I trusted and got burned but continue to trust anyway, I’ve laughed at my belief that there ‘are’ good people out there even though I’ve had more of my share of ‘evil’ people. Hmmm, how I’m doing…to play off the movie "I Think I Love My Wife," I would say, "I Think I Love My Life" but sometimes I wish it didn’t have so much pain and unanswered questions. I’m sure I’m not the only one.

You ask if I have time for community? Honestly, I wish I had more of it. In Florida, people drive everywhere, have 2 or 3 jobs to keep up with the Rivera’s and are comfortable thus they have to have a super compelling reason to leave their home to work on community. Sometimes in the midst of many, I am lonely. So, I think I need work in this area.

You ask about the Word in my life…As I read the word this past week, a scripture verse that has spoken to me and that I’ve been reflecting on since is Psalm 20:6 which says "Now this I know: The Lord gives victory to his anointed." I’ve been challenged with the first part of this scripture, now this I know. I’ve asked myself, "Liz do you really KNOW this NOW?"

My prayer life? One of the great things of not having a nine to five is time for spiritual disciplines. I’ve had time to pray and reflect and journal. My friend and I are going to a silent retreat as well. Although I could always time more time to pray and listen to God, I feel good about where I am right now.

I don’t have a spiritual director besides the Holy Spirit (oh oh my Pentecostal comes out lol). My friend, my comforter does guide me and speaks to my heart. Sometimes truth is that I don’t like what I’m told or shown.

Eliacin you mention you wish I would show more of myself…I think I show alot of myself on this blog. I’ve even been told too much. That is almost a no-no for those aspiring to be anything in the church. But I don’t care. I’m "gonna be me" and I like you wish I would see more of the "people" on the blogs I read instead of just "news" but that won’t get your blog visits up. I was sharing with my friend just yesterday after I made dinner for all of us (community si?) that it would be interesting to see how many leaders waver between faith and fact, between anger and peace, etc. Imagine that!

I have many thoughts this a.m. on many issues that need decisions to be made and I’m thinking of all of them from the viewpoint of my # 1 job, that of a mom. One issue is employment. I’ve been unemployed professionally since November (although I’ve been doing ongoing consulting work) and truth is, I don’t want to work professionally anymore. It’s more because I like being home, having dinner cooked, picking up my son early, having time to do homework without stressing over work I brought home with me, etc. Good thing is that I don’t "have" to work anymore. I’ve mentioned before that I am seriously considering homeschooling my older son. That is still a very real option after this school year. HOWEVER, I’m not the only one who as a professional woman is pondering all these issues of "to work or not to work". Mom Force helps women get connected with flexible jobs so they can continue to do their most important job , MOM CEO (Chief Everything Officer). Another innovative place that does the same thing is Mom Corps. 

If going back to work is something you moms out there are contemplating, check out the best places for moms to work list.  I have a second interview this afternoon at Miami Dade College, pay is super, right across the street from Bayside hot spot in Miami but I’m going just to go, I don’t think I want it. 

My ideal is focusing on my family, working for continued development of our church, writing more and I am thinking of going back to school, Bethel Theological Seminary for their D.Min. program that starts in July 2007 so my mind continues to be stimulated as I get prepared to make the decision to teach my son, Samuel, full-time. My husband is contemplating working only four days a week as well.

It’s amazing the decisions that you make driven by your love of your children.  Even Angelina says she will stay at home (granted she got millions!). I only have one opportunity to pour into my children, its an honor to have them, I want to do the best job I can, even if I don’t get monetary compensation for being Mom, CEO.

If you can make it, are a woman in ministry or a supporter of one, join me at the Women in Ministry International Conference this coming October. Find out more info here.  First year it was held in Fl, last year in CA, this year back to FL (thank God). I’ve always had a great time and I give a workshop every year as well. It’s just nice to connect with like-minded sisters and be refreshed. Amen?

Something that happens quite frequently in the world of women in leadership is the "fitting in" state of expectation from others. I promised a while back I would mention why I am currently unemployed. Here is the article that was just released in PRISM’s current issue that shares a little on that particular pit stop on the road of Liz’s life.

In Like Manner…the Women By Elizabeth D. Rios

When You Don’t Fit In

Geek or cheerleader, princess or tomboy, teacher’s pet or goth clubber. The labels, the vain attempts to fit in…I thought I’d left it all behind me the day I graduated from high school. But apparently I was wrong.

I recently found myself experiencing a flashback to a reality I had assumed was firmly in my past. My superior at work—in a Christian place of higher education—announced that I was being let go from my position as director of communications. Why? “You don’t fit in,” he explained, adding that, among other things, I was too much of a women’s advocate in a school that hired taut conservatives with Baptist roots. To be honest, I was very hurt, (it happened two days before Thanksgiving!) especially since I had never made my stance on women in ministry a secret. After all, I do write a column on women in leadership for a national magazine!

In retrospect, my former supervisor’s comment and my subsequent job loss have turned out to be a kindness. Better to deal with unalloyed discrimination than to endure years of subtle pressure to conform. That type of thing happens to many women around the world. In order to be allowed to minister, they are urged to “tone down” their emotions, “restate” how far they believe a woman should be allowed to go in ministry, and even, for some, be limited to lay ministry because pulpit ministry is outright denied women no matter how qualified they are.

In The Lost Apostle: Searching for the Truth about Junia, a new book from Jossey Bass, author Rena Pederson writes: Junia is the only woman mentioned in scripture as an apostle…in Romans 16:7. As Paul commends early leaders of the church in Rome and sends them greetings, he singles out Junia and Andronicus (presumably her husband) as being Christians before him, in prison with him and “outstanding among the apostles.” The scholarly consensus in the early church was that Paul was referring to a woman, but her name was lost for centuries, because her name was changed to a man’s name (“Junias”) in the 13th century by church leaders who did not think a woman could have been an apostle. Thanks to more accurate scholarship, most Bible translations today are going back to the woman’s name, although most believers don’t know about that change yet.

I recently had the opportunity to ask Pederson a few questions, and I share them here with all of you who may be feeling as if you, like Junia, like me, just don’t fit in.

E. Rios: What is your reaction to women in ministry being told they don’t fit in?

R. Pederson: It is a travesty of faith and justice that women still are treated as second-class citizens in many denominations. We need to ask the church fearlessly, “What does that say about God if you insist that women are not ‘holy enough’ to fit in? Would a loving God say half of the human race made in the image of God is less worthy? Doesn’t such treatment contradict Jesus’ own efforts to reach out to women?”

ER: What intrigued you about Junia?

RP: I found it shocking that her story had been hidden for so long. As a matter of justice as well as faith, I felt women today should know about Junia and the part she played in establishing the early church. Perhaps that interest was sharpened by the fact that I had often been in the position of being the “first” woman in roles reserved for men–first editorial page editor, first woman board member, first woman president of the civic group, that sort of thing. I had seen how hard it was for women to obtain positions of influence and had seen how often women’s contributions were obscured in the corporate world, even today. But my main motivation was to see Junia’s name restored, to see her included among the many women of faith who helped start the early church and sacrificed their lives to spread the good news.

ER: What aspects of Junia’s story are still struggles for women today?

RP: The New York Times recently did a front-page story about the “stained glass ceiling,” presenting a multiplicity of examples of how women who have become ministers are often shunted off to assistant pastor positions or to smaller churches where they subsist on poverty wages that male ministers won’t accept. Mary Lambert, a woman who had taught Sunday School in upstate New York for 50 years, was fired last summer because she was a woman. Although there are more women in seminaries and in pulpits today than ever before, they still struggle to be respected and to be truly heard.

As women in positions of leadership, we share a sisterhood of courage in the midst of rejection. Junia’s story humbles us to remember that even when our gifts are suppressed or belittled by those in power around us, we can still make an impact today and for centuries to come. When you do what God calls you to do, even if your story is lost, it will ultimately be found. If you have touched souls, your legacy will continue. I thank God for Junia and I thank God for you. Walk on, sisters! And remember–in heaven we will all fit in!

If you like lists put together by people who tell you who they think are the "most" this or the "best" that, then here is one put together by the Church Report which lists the 50 most influential Christians in America, first on the list none other than Pastor Joel Osteen of Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas.

I used to be the Editor of the Latino Pastoral Action Center’s magazine called ‘The Catalyst". It was high quality thanks to Frankie Gonzalez graphic designer extraordinare. It was fun putting that magazine together but everything costs money and we ran out of it to continue the magazine. However, this article by Rev. Dr. Raymond Rivera on "the Political and Social Ramifications of Indegenous Pentecostalism" was a favorite. Download rev.Rays article on pentecostalism.pdf

LPAC had a moment in history and it was the most talked about place in NYC faith-based circles. It’s sad to me it never fully realized its full potential. 

Today I preached on “There’s Always Gonna Be Drama” using Mary J. Blidge “No More Drama”. This Mariah oldie good one too.

Not more than three short years ago
I was abandoned and alone
Without a penny to my name
So very young and so afraid
No proper shoes upon my feet
Sometimes I couldn’t even eat
I often cried myself to sleep
But still I had to keep on going
Never knowing if I could take it
If I would make it through the night
I held on to my faith
I struggled and I prayed
And now I’ve found my way

Chorus:
If you believe in yourself enough
And know what you want
You’re gonna make it happen
Make it happen
And if you get down on your
knees at night
And pray to the Lord
He’s gonna make it happen
Make it happen

I know life can be so tough
And you feel like giving up
But you must be strong
Baby just hold on
You’ll never find the answers
if you throw your life away
I used to feel the way you do
Still I have to keep on going
Never knowing if I could take it
If I would make it through the night
I held on to my faith
I struggled and I prayed
And now I’ve finally found my way

Chorus

I once was lost
But now I’m found
I got my feet on solid ground
Thank you Lord
If you believe within your soul
Just hold on tight
And don’t let go
You can make it
Make it happen

Find out more about this Holiness campaign here.

I am happy that Jeremy Del Rio blogs because the dude has such a thought process radiating in the blogosphere. He’s little boy helps dad out at times but I can see from his blogging that the kid is a chip off the old block as they say. I appreciate what he’s been writing about.  I just read his post on Bono and all I can say is wow, what a speech the man made. Thanks for posting it and reminding us about the poor and sharing a very good definition of ‘justice.’ Abrazos amigo

What does one do when unemployed? I read (in addition, to packing, cleaning, washing, ironing, lol). I was telling a fellow church planter the other day that I’ve been reading many church planting books and that sometimes I feel more depressed after reading them. I told her that could hardly be the outcome the authors wanted but what they wrote was their reality and I guess the mis-match of their reality and ours is what makes me say…there needs to be a book on what happens when you are not at 1,000, 500, or even 300 people by year 2.

This quote came from "Church Planting from the Ground Up" (p. 200):

The reason the vast majority of churches never reach their full redemptive potential is because at every stage of growth, the point person, the person charged with rallying the troops, figures out that the price is too high. Every leader, at some point, clearly sees the price that must be paid to achieve his or her vision. At that point a decision must be made: "Am I willing to pay the price?"

This journey gets harder and harder every Sunday. I really thank God for those who have stepped up to the plate to walk with us on this journey as our team. Edna has stood with us even when she has disagreed with us at times and that says alot about a person and about true loyalty to the vision and to our relationship. I pray God blesses her richly. We are the most unlikely people to be pastoring, to be planting and to be in Florida. We were doing great in NYC and God pursued us and we said ‘yes’ Lord after much back and forth with God. Every day I ask myself "Am I willing to pay the price?"

Am I willing to pay the price when people walk out on you when they said they would be there through thick and thin;

Am I willing to pay the price when my people hurt me with their words or actions;

Am I willing to pay the price when my own personal life is going to pot and I still have to lead the people God’s entrusted to me in theirs;

Am I willing to pay the price when the going is alot tougher then any book ever said it would be, any planter shared it was for them;

Am I willing to pay the price when all I have is God’s word in my heart that this is what we are supposed to be doing.

I’ve had a lot of hurt and tears in the past and I know that there is more hurt and tears in the future even in the midst of victories and joy but am I willing, really willing to pay the price, but for the grace of God go I, but I say yes, I am.