Category Archive

Recuerdo claramente el título de esa serie de enseñanzas en nuestra iglesia. La razón de por qué la recuerdo con tanta claridad? Pues, además de las razones obvias, es porque definió exactamente lo que sentí la primera vez que puse mis pies en FC. Conservo esa tarde invernal en mi memoria como si fuera hoy mismo. No había colocado aún un pie dentro y exclamé: Impresionante! Lejos estaba de imaginar que esta iglesia se volvería en mi nueva familia, que el hombre sonriente que me estrechó la mano en la puerta se convertiría en mi pastor y alguien de quién aprendería mucho; y además, que me esperaba algo que realmente me excedía por mucho en todos los sentidos. Como muchos líderes he enfrentado, varias veces, el desafío de estar bajo el liderazgo de personas que probablemente tengan menos cualificaciones, menos actitudes para el liderato o, por qué no decirlo, personas que probablemente no están en la posición de ministerio correcta. Eso, si eres maduro y aprovechas cada lección para formar tu carácter, muchas veces va dándote un anhelo genuino y limpio por formar parte de algo que sea mayor. Y no hablo precisamente en términos numéricos, sino que la visión sea tan grande como para apostarle el resto de tu vida, y tan inclusiva como para admitir a alguien con una cultura y trasfondo totalmente diferente. Dios arregló todo para que en las próximas semanas tuviera la oportunidad de ser invitado a liderar la alabanza y ahí comenzó el proceso de cambio más grande que he sufrido en mi vida. Después de tener un ministerio reconocido a nivel nacional, varios estudios teológicos terminados y haber participado en la plantación de varias iglesias, uno puede llegar a pensar que ha recorrido una buena parte del camino, puedes pensar que tienes suficiente experiencia o que has llegado bastante lejos. Y de momento te vez en una de las 10 iglesias de más crecimiento en todos los Estados Unidos, rodeado de gente que te supera en títulos, conocimiento y experiencia. Sabes cómo se siente eso: INCREIBLEMENTE BIEN! Se siente como estar viviendo dentro de un sueño. Es impresionantemente bueno saber que Dios te ama lo suficiente como para seguir dándote oportunidades de crecimiento y cambio. Si tuviera que resumir mi experiencia como pastor en Family Church en una sola palabra sería: crecimiento. Ser retado por algo mucho más grande y más trascendente que tú. Mayor que tu visión personal y que lo que hubieras podido alcanzar por tus propios esfuerzos. Iglesia Familiar es un lugar de crecimiento y desarrollo. Lo veo cada semana en los servicios y la adoración, lo veo en nuestras clases de discipulado y primeras conexiones, lo veo cada lunes en nuestro programa de formación de pastores y líderes; y dentro de la cabina de grabación rodeado de muchos de los más talentosos y humildes músicos que he conocido, así como cada miércoles trabajando con los niños y niñas. No muchos tienen la oportunidad de compartir con tantas áreas de …

We’re proud to release our first Tell the Story music video. O Ven O Ven Emmanuel, featuring Niko Collazo.

From the beginning, one of our dreams for this album project was that the people of Family Church would catch the vision for using it to build bridges with friends and neighbors who are far from God. I’ll give you an example.  I have a neighbor who isn’t a church guy.  Over the course of a handful of conversations as we bumped into each other, I mentioned that we were working on the Christmas album, and even showed him our promo video on my cell phone. He has told his girlfriend about it, and I’m going to follow up with an invitation to one of our Christmas events. Discussion about the album has broken the ice somewhat, which proved advantageous.  I’ve been able to pray with him when his dad was in the hospital, and talk with him about his upcoming marriage. The point is that even talking about the album has helped me forge a connection and begin spiritual conversation. Here are reasons to consider giving the Christmas album as a gift to friends and neighbors who may be far from God. Everyone listens to Christmas music. When they hear how good the album is, they will be impressed. There are a variety of musical styles on the album—everyone is sure to like something on it. The album has tracks in both English and Spanish, so no matter what your neighbors’ background, they can enjoy it. It’s an inexpensive gift. It can begin a conversation about the gospel, about Family Church, and about our mission. You can talk about how your personal connection with the music: you know, see, and are led in worship by the people on this record every week. It can be a great warm-up to an invitation to Christmas Eve services. At familychurchworship.org, there are discounts for 5+ copies.  It’s the perfect gift for employees, coworkers, and neighbors. You might want to have one or two on hand for last-minute gifts.

In April of 2015, while Family Church Worship was knee-deep into the creative process for our first Christmas album, my wife and I received some bad news. I was told that I had thyroid cancer and that I would need surgery to remove my entire thyroid.  You see, when I was eight years old I was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and then relapsed when I was twelve. The large quantities of radiation and chemotherapy during those five years damaged my thyroid, resulting in a cancerous tumor almost fifteen years later. It was a difficult time for us.  Christine and I had only been married two years. Telling her that I had cancer—for the third time—was one of the most difficult things I have ever done in my life.  Yes, I had trusted God through cancer twice before, but I had never faced this crossroad with her. Christine has always admired me for my tenacity, yet I found myself trying to muster up the strength to encourage her in the midst of chaos. My faith was further tested when I went for my consultation with my surgeon.  He told me that this surgery, as safe as it is, would likely alter my vocal ability forever. I immediately realized the next challenge God had for me.  Could I accept that He was (and is) my strength, and that my gifts are not my own? Was I ready to hand over to Him the instrument I use to lead His people in worship?  It wasn’t that I doubted the surgeon or God’s hand over the surgery.  It was that I knew God was asking me to be willing to give up my voice if He chose to take it away from me.  I wrestled daily with the thought that I was potentially counting down the days until I sang my last note as a worship pastor. A few weeks later I went to Christian Ramos and told him everything I feared.  I didn’t think I would be able to sing on the album.  Even if my voice recovered, it might not happen fast enough for our recording timeline.  I suggested that he not depend on using my voice for the album. I remember so vividly the empathy on his face as I spoke with him.  He looked at me and told me with confidence that he believed God would be faithful to bring me through this as a testament to His mercy.  He said that the arrangement of The First Noel that Tyler Williams, Dave Cornett, and I had worked on was mine to sing and that I needed to have this surgery, take time away to rest, and come back strong in order to sing this song. Before I knew it, surgery day arrived.  After a few days in the hospital, my wife and I headed home, and the road to recovery began. The first week or so it felt like someone had a constant chokehold on my neck.  I desperately …

Enjoy these audio samples from the album! Like what you hear?  You can purchase it at a Family Church campus, or on iTunes, Amazon, and CDBaby.