Passion2Plant has created a space for me to listen, to heal, and to be challenged in community as familia. It has quickly become one of the most powerful experiences of my ministry life, and I know the lessons learned and conversations had will be guiding me for the rest of my time on this earth. I am humbled and grateful to be able to call the men and women in this cohort my brothers and sisters, and I am so inspired and convicted by the gracious and tenacious leadership of Dr. Liz Rios. We need more laborers like Dr. Liz, and we need more spaces like P2P!

I did a Google search for resources that bore fruit when I came across Passion2Plant and Dr. Liz Rios, and what I read on the website spoke to me. It stirred up excitement within me to know that there are resources out there like Passion2Plant. As a bi-vocational pastor and attorney, the idea of planting a justice-oriented church speaks deeply to me. Signing up for this cohort is one of the best decisions I've ever made. This isn't only an investment in me as a Pastor, but also an investment in the Kingdom of God that will bless the church and community. The training sessions have been phenomenal. Each presenter has imparted so much knowledge and perspective into us. The cohort has also fostered a great camaraderie between the participants, a community of kingdom builders seeking to do ministry with the heart of Jesus. This has been a tremendously wonderful experience, one that has breathed new life into me. Thank you, Dr. Liz Rios, for birthing Passion2Plant!

Passion2Plant was one of the most encouraging and hopeful experiences of my faith journey so far. Meeting every week with energetic, thoughtful leaders of color who love Jesus and strive to live out His compassion in the world— what could be better? I found a community of people who have shown me what the future of the church can look like, and I am so grateful to be a part of it.

assion2Plant is such a great training for anyone who is interested in starting a church or being part of building a culture within their church that has God's justice and love in mind. All of the speakers are great, and their knowledge and experience are vast! I wholeheartedly recommend this training!

This space created for black and brown planters became a second family and a sacred time in my life. I am so glad and honored that I got to be a part of it.

I'm so thankful that the Lord brought about Passion2Plant (P2P), and that Dr. Liz was the willing vessel cooperating with His heart! I was searching for "my tribe” as a ministry leader seeking to discern the Lord's will in church planting. When I came across P2P online, I knew I had stumbled upon the answer to my search. I have been encouraged, challenged, and equipped by the amazing ministry leaders who spoke to us each week as well as inspired by all that was shared by the others in the cohort— the highs and lows of walking through a faith journey centered around serving the Lord and His people. Dr. Liz's wisdom in claiming a space for Black and Brown church planters who desire to plant justice-oriented churches has truly been a rare but desperately needed source of respite and refreshment. I believe that attending to God's heart for justice and the need to amplify prophetic, ethnically diverse, male and female voices in the American body of Christ is part of a modern-day, Spirit-led reformation. I am grateful to be a part of this wave of transformation through P2P!

This was a very eye-opening experience!  As a Latina lay leader, I would recommend that whether you are a pastor, lay leader, or a church member, and especially to “mi gente Latina/e/x” would all benefit from this series of workshops on “Being a Trauma-Informed Church Leader.”  These workshops create a safe space for participants to share their own stories, share resources, but also biblical references that you can use as examples. I am grateful to Dr. Danielle Buhuro and Pasion2Plant for offering this opportunity to grow, learn, and be transformed in the process.  Trauma is a silent and often stigmatized subject matter, but one that should be talked about more within and without the church setting.  Thank you Passion2Plant and Dr. Bahuro!

My one takeaway from the Trauma Informed 2024 Cohort for Ministry Leaders is that we must all remain committed to seeing, treating and caring for ourselves as we do others.  We can't take ourselves, neither the opportunities to give and to receive care too lightly.  The information we received may be used to create a template, and may be used and to discern best practices and approaches in individual settings. I truly enjoyed the cohort. And, I would like to include, Dr. Danielle was amazing!

 It was a great experience with perfect timing.

Just Church Cohort through Passion2Plant has been such a rewarding experience. When I began the program I assumed it would be similar to the many cohorts I have joined before and expected a similar formula. And much like its program Director, Dr. Elizabeth Rios, from the beginning it was real, authentic, and impactful. I have learned so much from my brothers and sisters within the program and From Dr. Liz herself. This cohort has changed me in ways I didn't expect but am grateful to have embraced. Throughout my experience in ministry many of the voices in leadership have been the same. In JCC we were richly blessed with wisdom and teaching from our guest lecturers with the unique lived experience and credentials of those who are doing justice work on the margins. I would have loved just one more closing session to debrief perhaps what we've learned or are processing. This cohort is a must for anyone considering church planting, leading, or generally interested in truly doing as Jesus did. 

Passion2Plant is paving the way for the future of the Christian church in western spaces. The ability to form a leadership style that is effective and inclusive, collaborative and contextual, and well-informed has not been the formal education I’ve received, and yet Passion2Plant has the resources and ability to take theory and make it practical. I’ve been able to rest in the tension between a diversity of thoughts and opinions while trying to navigate a middle ground that is founded in truth. If you are a church leader or future church planter, joining a cohort under P2P is a must for a healthy church that embodies the whole gospel.

Passion2Plant became a space where I got to truly experience being in a place where we were each celebrated (not just tolerated). It was a place we could show up as our full selves, letting light shine through all the cracks, and be embraced. It has been a healing balm. Dr. Liz curated an amazing panel of facilitators. Each week presented an invaluable opportunity to learn from and interact with authors, professors, and pastors who are innovating and leading the conversations around practicing a justice-centered Gospel. "Never forget that justice is what love looks like in public.

The opportunity to participate in the Passion2Plant Cohort has proven to be a valuable experience as a minister of an inner-city church. At a time in which the church finds itself bombarded with division, syncretism, and half-truths, Dr. Liz Rios provides a space in which church leaders can really take in and absorb the message and mission of the ecclesia and its purposeful application for today through insightful conversations as well as resources provided by leaders of various social locations. In this space, I gained a deeper understanding of the necessity of incarnational faith and uncompromised kingdom principles.

I'm a sixth-generation minister and a mother. I'm a child of God, the Brown Church, and the Chicano movement. I connected with Dr. Liz Rios during the beginning of the pandemic. When she started the Passion2Plant network, I was excited to hear that such a group of people who were pursuing Jesus and Justice was going to become a church planting cohort and network. As a member of Cohort 2, I can say that P2P has been a Godsend. I'm thankful to have found familia en Cristo who are doing justice and loving mercy en conjunto.

It was through the insight of our Executive Pastor that my wife and I were introduced to Professor Liz Rios and the P2P network. We have spent many years in ministry, and we're looking into the process of planting and then shepherding a community in the context of today's world. This class was way more than we expected! Every last session was impactful, informative, and engaging. The range in diversity within their choice of speakers provided insight into different perspectives, past experiences, and approaches to effectively communicate the role of the church. It opened our eyes to the anemic parts of our past experiences in ministry. The importance of the church being a shining beacon for truth, justice, and love was made evident every week. Thank you, Dr. Liz and P2P. The cohort has forever changed our perspective and passion for ministry for the better. We would happily jump back into the cohort's next session to stay relevant and transformative in our local community.

Passion2Plant was one of the most transformative experiences of my ministry journey so far. It taught me aspects of our Black and Brown church history I was unaware of, while challenging me to wrestle with the disconnect between what I was taught and the reality my sisters and brothers of color face in our American culture.   I'm grateful for the opportunity I had to learn from an amazing group of speakers while processing the various teachings alongside those in my cohort.   Thanks to Dr. Liz's leadership, my justice lens has broadened, my passion for making change has deepened, and my desire to learn what it means to be unified without being uniform has settled in my heart for our church community.

Being in different justice-oriented as well as generic church planting spaces before, I was wary about being disappointed again. Hermanas, it is not too good to be true. The Passion2Plant cohort is a genuine Jesus-loving, table-turning, Black, Brown and woman-affirming church planter’s feast! When I saw the all star line-up of teachers, I could not believe it. And many of the weeks had me fan-girling because of the wisdom of these well-known and influential lovers of shalom. Though our church plant has a vision for being a fellowship that loves our city, working juntos for justice, I was lacking community that could guide me intellectually, spiritually, emotionally as a church planting pastor. The Passion2Plant cohort was exactly that, a place to flourish as myself, to lament and let down the burdens, and an oasis for this desert-dwelling Latina Anglican. Our church knows I’m healthier with P2P in my life and the “mixing” of peoples from different backgrounds, ages, ethnicities, and denominations spices up my ministry as only real church familia can. I’m looking forward to being in another cohort soon!

I have been in many different church planting spaces. Most of them have been predominantly white and/or male and/or mainline and high church denominations. What a breath of fresh air the P2P cohort has been. I've deeply appreciated just being at the digital table with my fellow BIPOC planters and ally planters. It's a space where I don't have to over explain myself, where people get it and get me. It's also a blessing to be in a space where people are decolonizing the approaches to church planting that have been handed to us by mega churches and white evangelism. It's been a beautiful opportunity to fan into flame the gift and the "outside-the-box" ideas that the Spirit has stirred in me since I began the adventure of church planting. 10/10 would recommend to women BIPOC church planters like me.

Entering each time to P2P was a beautiful hogar, a home, for me to be with Dr. Liz Rios and other church familia. Checking in good or tostada, burnt-out, times, yet each minute was worth it. Dr. Liz gave us mighty "manna" each night bringing amazing speakers to pour into us who altogether were craving to receive as we all mutually poured out to our ministries. If you sign up, you're in for a banqueta, a banquet, of knowledge by prominent atrevido, courageous, BIPOC leaders around our nation. As a Latina Dreamer and pastor, I'm excited to recommend P2P to all who are hungering and thirsting for justice-oriented churches led by an amazing Afro-Latina hermana pastora with an immense heart for you to thrive celebrating our ethnic richness!

P2P has exposed me to key black and brown leaders throughout the US who are working towards justice. It's inspired me as I see a coalition of Kingdom leaders working in their context for the same cause. As we launched Aviva Church, I've been able to continuously reflect on how our church can better embody justice-oriented ministry. Dr. Rios is responsive and approachable and has lived experiences that allow her to be a voice for Latino/a pastors launching churches for the next generation. I look forward to building life-long friendships and partnerships with the pastors and leaders in our cohort and collaborating on this work together.

An Afro-Latina pastor launched a Church-planting network during a global pandemic, and I was led to it through nothing more than a series of masterful “But God” moves.  Dr. Liz Rios is a giant in a normal-people costume. LOL!! The immensity of her heart and her wisdom is unmatched and spending time with her has been an absolute joy. But to magnify that with some of the greatest theological minds of our generation is an honor that I will be talking about for the rest of my life! Passion2Plant is absolutely mandatory for any leader seeking to live out and lead with the heart of God. Resisting the tension within the topics presents only shows a lack of desire to actually BE like Christ because Jesus sat in the tension and made sure that those around Him elevated to meet Him there. That is our role as leaders and pastors. LEAD them toward Christ’s character.   As a Black woman, new in the pastor/church planting world, I felt seen, valued, respected, and emboldened to step into the spot that God has been nudging me into.   Please. Go enroll in the next cohort. No matter who you are and how long you’ve been in ministry, this movement needs ALL OF US!

My time in the cohort helped me to realize that I am not crazy to pursue a vision of a church that can faithfully speak to issues of injustice going on in the world without compromising faith and convictions. The trainings taught by world-class instructors affirmed the importance for a vital church to have a clear and robust theology of justice that leads to relevant communication and action in its community. Most of all, this cohort emboldened me at a critical time in my life to take steps of faith towards what I knew God was leading: to position myself geographically where He wants me, to continue doing the work of learning the issues and needs of those around me, to pursue action as a pastor, and to connect with other like-minded pastors doing the work in this area.

Rev. Dr. Liz Ríos and the Just Church Cohort are truly game changers. Learning how to create a justice-centered church is essential for all sacred spaces. As a participant, I found the sessions deeply impactful. They taught me to consider both the macro and micro levels of the people in the congregation and the communities they serve, while also recognizing the intersections of our diverse identities. The cohort also emphasizes the importance of holding ourselves accountable when we miss the mark or make mistakes.

One session that particularly resonated with me focused on the intersection of Church and Policy. In these challenging times, with the US seeming to regress in many areas, it is crucial for us to remain engaged in the political sphere. We must mobilize, demand, and embody justice for all people. As my fellow United Church of Christ members often say, “A Just World for All.”

The Just Church Cohort is equipping leaders to build churches where justice is not just preached, but lived—a world where all can experience true justice.

Not to be afraid, you will be challenged and empowered to do great things for the kingdom!

I find myself in a season of coming out and really embracing my platform and I believe that I found a safe space where I can truly be myself and voice my concerns and find encouragement and that has been life-giving and has definitely fanned the flame of the calling that is upon my life. For that I will be forever grateful

What I would like to say is that the challenge is very real, but not impossible. The challenge opens a new horizon for you to speak Jesus. The challenge opens is understanding your position in Christ. The challenge is accepting and loving yourself as Christ does. The challenge is working because it is about love, justice and obedience. The challenge is knowing that God has called you for a specific purpose and time, you cannot wait. It is taking the leap of faith that moves you into walking in the Holy fire that compels you to speak about Jesus.

As a Latina woman deeply committed to biblical teachings, joining the Pulpito Fellows Cohort has been a transformative experience that I wholeheartedly recommend. In a world where injustice seems to pervade not only society but also the church, this program equips us to humbly apply God’s Word as a source of hope, correction, and truth. It has reaffirmed the importance of staying true to self, our actions and teachings in Scripture, even amidst the challenges of today’s culture. For me, it has been a platform to grow not only in knowledge but also in confidence, courage, and humility. Through thoughtful discussions, mentorship, and a great sisterhood of like minded believers in Jesus committed with justice and righteousness, I’ve gained tools to address disparities within the church and society, always with a spirit of love and restoration. If you are passionate about living out your faith authentically and impacting others for Christ, this fellowship is an invaluable opportunity. It’s a chance to sharpen your understanding of Scripture, refine your leadership, and boldly stand for truth in a world yearning for light. Join Pulpito Fellows and be part of a movement making a real, God-centered difference that this world needs

You cannot go wrong by connecting with Pulpito Felows. It was life changing. Connecting with other women in ministry was probably the best part of the program. It gave me a self confidence that I seemed to have lost.

I’m completely different. When I thought that my voice was off and that I would only stay doing the live broadcasts on the Facebook Live of the local church, which I do with a lot of love, it was then that I was accepted into the Pulpit Fellows Women’s Cohort 2024. God merged what would be my slight knowledge in handling digital platforms with my passion for those in need accompaniment in congregations, and placed in me the Aliento en el Camino program. I still remember the day they gave me the little souvenir microphone and there I understood that my voice was on fire, that it must be used and stand firm for those who thirst for justice in our congregations. The program has been like opening a door, which I did not know existed and when I passed through it. I was served a lot of opportunities for professional growth in knowledge, in the spiritual, in the emotional, in an exquisite and satisfying way. Today my voice is different because it has purpose, kingdom purpose, gospel purpose, justice purpose. With this experience and new direction in my life I am very grateful to Pulpito Fellows for this opportunity.

I would tell people that if you're looking for a community of like-minded Christian individuals who come together with one common will—the will of Christ—then this is the place for you. Whether you're looking to expand your knowledge on social media platforms or seeking a digital pulpit, don't miss out on this blessing. This cohort offers the best way to connect with others. My testimony from the Urban Strategies Púlpito Fellows cohort is that I have grown and blossomed into a person I never thought I could be. I once felt like I didn't fit in and lacked what I needed to harness the power the Lord had already placed inside me. This program has expanded my knowledge on how to share my insights across social media platforms. Together, we can transform social media from a negative influence to a positive Christian impact. The Púlpito Fellows cohort embodies this mission, and I am grateful to be a part of it."

I have been in ministry for more .than 20 years and it can be very lonely. I felt like one small voice trying to speak a message of hope. As a woman I felt unheard and not valued. However with Pulpitos Fellows, I have my voice back and it is much louder because I am valued. Listening to such powerful women speaking into my life has encouraged me to speak out the message God has given me. I have been reminded of my value and calling that God has over my life.

I joined the program hoping to gain new knowledge and meaningful experiences in ministry. Through this journey, I learned valuable technology skills and experienced personal growth, especially through the stories and shared wisdom of other women in ministry. One of my biggest “aha” moments came when we received our microphones. In that moment, I realized that new platforms were opening for me to share the gospel in ways I had never considered before.

At my age, I had begun to think it might be too late for me to learn new things or step into new opportunities. But this program affirmed that my presence, voice, and gifts still matter. It reminded me that God is not finished with me and that there are still new ways I can serve and share the gospel.

This experience has inspired me to begin a podcast so that I can continue sharing the message of faith with a broader audience. More than anything, connecting with other women in ministry was the most meaningful part of the program. Those relationships helped restore a confidence in myself that I felt I had lost.

Being part of Púlpito Fellows has been life-changing. It has shown me that my voice—your voice—can be used by God to proclaim Las Buenas Nuevas (The Good News)! In a world where credibility is often measured by gender, degrees, experience, and connections, Púlpito Fellows recognizes something greater—the calling. Yes, education and experience are valued, but so is the undeniable anointing to preach. Through the mentorship of humble scholars and theologians, this cohort is paving the way for those who may not have formal credentials but have a God-given message. It’s about stepping up, speaking out, and embracing the responsibility of encouraging growth, inspiring change, while upholding biblical accountability. If you’ve ever doubted your voice, let this be your reminder: God calls, equips, and uses those willing to say, “Here I am, send me!”

Pulpito Follows has supported my journey tremendously with great information and resources that I am able to have and study. It has opened my eyes to understand the importance of using my voice, to make other aware of injustice and to preach the gospel with confidence and dignity.

Being able to organize the creative process and edit my own podcast, without having to rely entirely on the help of others, has been one of the most valuable aspects of this experience. To fully enjoy and set free my abilities, enjoy the freedom and independence in the whole process is very amazing and also a humbling experience.

I found myself in a season of embracing my faith journey on a deeper level. I prayed for God to lead me to spaces that would challenge me to grow—and Púlpito Fellows was the answer to that prayer. Being a Fellow gave me the courage to level up my confidence in what I already believe and live by: God’s purpose for my life, rooted in faith, well-being, and justice. Now, I’m able to share that purpose through digital platforms. I’ll always be grateful for the Púlpito Fellows community and the incredible impact it’s had on my life.

Púlpito Fellows has expanded my imagination for what a Latina can do in the Kingdom of God. Through this experience, I’ve gained confidence in myself and greater clarity for the work the Lord has set before me. I’m deeply encouraged by seeing other Latinas engaged in incredible Kingdom work—it inspires me to remain steadfast in my calling. I’m learning that what once felt unreachable is now within my grasp, especially as I begin to see my culture and identity as a Latina not as a limitation, but as a powerful asset to the Kingdom.

The PF community has been so inspiring. Seeing people with great platforms empowering LatinX Ministers has fill my soul with love and gratitude. In Cohort 3, God has called Women from different path of live to spread His message, His truth; that it so needed in current times. I’m honor to be part of this movement.

I see myself sharing the Gospel through social media and even, using the skills I am learning to preach in person as well.

The Pulpit Fellows have expanded my personal growth in so many ways. First it has taken me out of my comfort zone, and challenged me to go beyond what I was used to doing. I had never done a video for facebook or any digital platforms, and did not know where to start. However, I had this new position as the Director of Outreach Ministry and knew that I had to learn social media to reach young people and the population that is in social media. I always talk about God and have no problem talking to anyone in the street, but did not know how to do it through social media. I need to find my voice and Pulpit Fellows has given a platform. Having the support of my cohort at Pulpit Fellows has made the difference, especially since there are 4 more women from my church participating in the program, and they all have helped me through this journey. I have gained insight on how to preach effectively and purposely for the digital pulpit. Also, learning how to use the different digital programs, like canva, capcut, and fillmora, has taught me how to edit, use templates, create flyers, designs, that I did not know how to do before. It opened a new world to me, the digital world! I will apply all that I have learned from the Pulpit Fellows in preaching the word of God with integrity to a digital audience, making it revalent to today's world, concise, and most importantly, allowing the holy spirit to take control in all that I do.

I believe the skills learned through the PF program will continue to be relevant in the near future. Therefore, I plan to apply such skills and strategies as I make my digital presence seen.in

The ability to truly by a social justice warrior and catalyst of change and using the scripture and my voice has been the ways in which this program has impacted me. My voice is my superpower

I’ve developed the confidence, clarity, and creativity to lead in innovative ways. Moving forward, I plan to launch a digital pulpit—a multimedia platform that integrates preaching, worship, and community storytelling to reach wider audiences with messages of faith, justice, and healing. A central component will be a podcast, offering sermons, interviews, and spiritual reflections. I also envision incorporating original worship music and songwriting—using music as a vehicle for connection, expression, and transformation. Worship has always been a core part of my calling, and through digital tools, I can offer songs and sacred space to people who may never step into a traditional church, but still seek divine encounter. With support from a tech grant, I plan to invest in the tools—recording equipment, production software, and platform hosting—that will allow this vision to take root and grow.

The skills that I gained with PF is with the new apps or methods to looks and creat context for my digital sermons. And how I can apply them for other ministries and or organizations

How has the community within PF supported your journey? The Pulpit Fellows program has helped me, through mentors and highly qualified faculty, give us a space to raise our voices and share the good news of our God with those in need. They have given us knowledge and tools to grow together as a community of faith. I feel very honored to have the opportunity to be part of this beautiful family!

I see myself applying what I’ve learned in the Púlpito Fellows program by building a strong digital platform where I can share theological, prophetic, and spiritual reflections that speak to today’s realities. My goal is to use these tools to reach wider audiences, equip my community, and help the church live out the values of God’s Kingdom both online and in daily life.

Passion2Plant provided me with a valuable space to navigate my role in the church planting landscape. As a Black woman from the South, I operate in a region that retains some traditional perspectives. Although women thrive in church leadership here, the journey can be challenging. Passion2Plant helped me recognize my unique contributions and encouraged me to pursue higher education in theology. I am now just a few credits away from earning my master's degree from North Park Theological Seminary, a journey enriched by exposure to Black and Brown excellence. Grateful to Rev. Dr. Liz Rios for her guidance and support.