Meet the Moment: Leadership Development Statewide Convening   

In September, over 200 church leaders and pastors from across Florida gathered under the theme “Meet the Moment.” Over 40 new congregations joined our movement and will be participating in our upcoming Leadership Development for Community Transformation program.

It was a moving and hope-filled moment to witness God’s people standing together to confront the root causes of community problems and lead change in cities and counties across the state.

Honoring Rev. Dr. Wilfredo Estrada: Remembering the March for Peace in Puerto Rico 

On February 21, 2000, more than 150,000 people gathered in San Juan, Puerto Rico, for the historic March for Peace. Among the faith leaders present were Rev. Dr. Wilfredo Estrada Adorno and his wife, Carmen Carrasquillo, who led a coalition of faith organizations that played a central role in advancing the movement for peace. His testimony as a Christian and Pentecostal minister left a lasting legacy, a blueprint of faith and courage for future generations to follow.

At our convening, we honored his family. While Rev. Estrada Adorno marched, his wife Carmen, as a mother and partner in the faith, sustained the cause with fervent prayer. She stood in the gap, interceding while he took faith to the streets. Together, they established prayer as a foundational pillar by building a prayer chapel in Vieques, Puerto Rico—a place where leaders gathered to seek God’s guidance. That chapel was symbolically replicated at Mission Talk’s Meet the Moment Statewide Convening, reminding us of the enduring power of prayer grounded in profound spirituality, which leaves a legacy of social holiness for change.

Stories of Immigrant Families' Separation: A Sacred Space Created During Mission Talk’s Convening

One of the most moving experiences of the participants was stepping into a powerful, museum-style gallery that lifted the voices of immigrant families currently facing separation.

Displayed on storyboards were the real-life accounts of families like the Oswaldo’s, whose detention left a pregnant wife and young son without support, and José’s, whose arrest over a minor infraction has left his wife struggling to care for three children in his absence. These were not merely statistics; they were real stories of suffering and survival.

This exhibit made one thing clear: deportations do more than enforce immigration law; they break apart families, destabilize communities, and inflict spiritual, emotional, and economic wounds.

Our gallery created a sacred space where we were invited to pause, reflect, pray, and connect with God's heart for the immigrant.

Arts as an Expression of Worship & Justice 

‘Remember’ Painting

Inspired by Hebrews 13, this powerful piece embodies the Church’s sacred call to stand with those who are displaced, disregarded, and detained. At its center, two hands reach outward, joined by a paintbrush—a symbol of the tools through which the Church serves and stands with the most vulnerable.

“Remember” is more than a painting; it is a prophetic call to action, a reminder that the church is here to meet the moment and that the arts play a crucial role in moving this generation of God’s people toward love, justice, and mercy.

For God so Loved the Immigrant: Justice Worship Song

During our statewide convening, worship leaders from congregations across Florida came together in a powerful moment of collective creativity to write justice-centered worship songs. Out of this sacred gathering emerged the campaign’s theme song, “For God So Loved the Immigrant.”

What began as lyrics and melodies around a table became an anthem of faith and solidarity. As hundreds of pastors, leaders, and community members marched to the Federal Immigration Court in downtown Orlando, their voices rose in a bilingual chorus—English and Spanish blending together as a prophetic declaration of love, justice, and hope.

This moment was more than a march; it was a powerful worship experience —a living expression of the Church standing with immigrant families, proclaiming that God’s love knows no borders.

Mission Talk Commissioned the First Latino Pentecostal Churches in the Nation to Lead Organized Justice and Community Transformation Ministries 

The convening marked a historic moment for our community: churches that have been in training officially launched their Justice and Transformation Ministries. More than 50 leaders have been commissioned and now have entered the second phase of the Leadership Development for Community Transformation Program, where, together with Mission Talk coaches will collaborate to lead sustainable change and take action toward justice. 

The commissioning ceremony was led by Dr. Elizabeth Conde-Frazier and Dr. Nino González, Vice President of FRACEEV (Florida Hispanic Fellowship of Bishops and Evangelical Institutions).

Hundreds of Latino Pentacostals Marched and Prayed at the Federal Immigration Court in Orlando

On the final day of the convening, hundreds of leaders filled the streets of Downtown Orlando in a powerful display of prayer, worship, and intercession for families torn apart by separation. This prayer walk became the largest public demonstration of Latino Pentecostals in Florida to date.

Faith leaders gathered to embody prophetic action in the public square—lifting their voices and prayers in a unified cry to God on behalf of families impacted by deportation across the state and the nation.

What You Can Do

Pray: God of mercy, help us to see justice as Your heart, to confront the walls of injustice with courage, and to embody redemption in a world built on retribution. Amen.

Reflect: Read The Remnant here and consider this question: How is God inviting you to serve your neighbors who are suffering, living in poverty, feeling alone, are foreigners, or are sick?

Act: Upcoming public actions

• Join us in prayer for Samuel Smithers, who, despite brain damage and dementia, is scheduled to be executed in Florida on October 14th. Pray also for the families of the victims, including the father of Christie Cowan, who opposes this execution and fears it will bring “the worst and most brutal kind of closure.”

• Join us in prayer on November 30th for “Cities for Life,” a global day of witness affirming the sacredness of every life and calling for an end to the death penalty. Around the world, communities light monuments as a sign of hope for a future without executions. Consider illuminating your church or holding a candlelight vigil as a prayerful expression of light overcoming darkness.

• Join the Pastors and leaders' prayer rally in front of the Alcatraz Detention Center. More details coming soon.

Final Word

“What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” — Micah 6:8