Eduardo Rivera, a leader within Mosaic Church in Winter Garden, Florida, joins Erin and Doug to talk about what it really means to lead in a multicultural church environment. With deep roots in Puerto Rico and over two decades in Central Florida, Eduardo shares his first-hand experience of how the region has shifted dramatically in Hispanic population and diversity.
Eduardo explains how his calling transitioned from planting a new church to leading existing multicultural ministries, emphasizing the importance of creating spaces where both first-generation immigrants and their second-generation children can thrive spiritually. He describes the need for the Anglo church to embrace Hispanic culture—not as a project of assimilation, but as a movement of true integration grounded in shared values, mission, and trust.
This episode highlights the difference between proximity and unity, the cultural nuances of relational evangelism, and the church's responsibility to engage in local mission right in their own neighborhoods. Listeners will gain a deeper understanding of how cultural intelligence, leadership collaboration, and genuine curiosity can shape a church culture that honors and celebrates diversity.
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CHAPTERS:
00:00 Meet Pastor Eduardo
04:15 Eduardo’s journey from Puerto Rico to Florida
08:10 Demographic shifts in Central Florida
11:50 Understanding the realities of Hispanic ministry
15:30 From church planting to leading within Mosaic
18:30 Defining integration vs assimilation
24:10 What the Anglo Church can learn from Hispanic cultures
29:00 Shifting from global to local missions
34:30 Relational evangelism in multicultural settings
38:45 The role of leadership and trust in integration
42:00 Final encouragement to church leaders
Join the conversation and let us know how you are leading your church toward the Great Commission!
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