We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Miguel Viera a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Miguel, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about serving the underserved.
Image a large number like 100,000,000. It would be one thing to dismiss a number that large when comparing it to grains of sands but how different when each one is associated with a real child in our world that is an orphan. To go beyond that number, the “UNICEF estimates this number grows daily, with about 5,700 children becoming orphans every 24 hours due to war, natural disasters, poverty, disease, and medical needs.” It is one thing to hear about a statistic like this and think, “Well that really stinks for them,” but what if you could be put in a position to physically do something about it and make a generational difference.
In early March Family Ministries of America and its volunteers will be traveling to South Florida to visit the largest children’s home in Florida. We will be having two separate Community Fun Days for both the international refugee children as well as the domestic children. We will feed them, play a variety of sports, give them the opportunity to participate in crafts and most importantly, have a devotion with these children. We’ll be sharing how there is a God so interested in them personally, He sent His one and only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to earth to live the perfect life and die on a cross so they can have the opportunity to be reconciled to God and be adopted into His family. Just imagine, adopted into the family of God. A heir to royalty and a Father who is the King of Kings. How can God not be smiling when you are helping with that journey to freedom and family through a new found faith in Christ?
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
Family Ministries of America’s aim is to assist churches, businesses and volunteers to identify pockets of lostness (defined as people that do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ) and show them ways to interact and engage with those that are close to them but far from Christ. The message of the gospel stays the same but the on ramps to life changing conversations might look different depending on the audience. We can be viewed as a fractional evangelism catalyst they can utilize to reach an area that they can take the initiative to continue ongoing evangelism and discipleship efforts so we can move to the next pocket of lostness.
The two declining continents in the world for Christianity are North America and Europe with an estimated 281 million that do not know Jesus. We got some serious work to do because we are now the mission field. “The sad fact is that of the over 40 million children between the age of 4 and 14 living in the United States of America, 80 percent do not attend church regularly.” These children are living in multi-housing communities in your communities looking for direction, encouragement and godly advice. Will you be the one to watch it happen, make it happen or wonder what happened?
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
The mission driving this creative journey is quite simple. What was done for us was not simple but how can one not be all in when understanding the crazy amount of love it took to die for sinners like us? 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 says, “Either way, Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life. He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them.” Christ’s love propels us forward. I will stop when one of two things happen. When the whole world knows or when I take my last breath on earth which will be followed by my first breath in heaven.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
There is immense joy in being creative to help others on their path to salvation. It leads to a deeper relationship with God and ultimately brings Him glory.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.familyministriesofamerica.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/miguelrviera/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/miguel.viera.54379236/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/miguelviera/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/mviera40
- Youtube: http://youtube.com/@fma-videos/videos
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/miguel-viera-220209603
- Other: Download the New FMA Disciple-Making App Today! Search “Family Ministries of America” on the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Email [email protected] for more info regarding specific ministry opportunities in your area.
Image Credits
Image credits due to Pamela Viera, my mother.