At Home With Pastor Pepe Cervantes

Ministry Spotlight

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Lifeline Heart of Worship
Pastor Pepe Cervantes

Harlingen Municipal Auditorium
Harlingen, TX
956.536.9084
Worship: 1:00 pm Sundays

www.lifelinehow.com

How long have you all been around?
3 years at this location

How did you become Pastor of Lifeline?
My father is a Pastor with a doctorate in Theology and we have been involved in his ministry for years! I’ve done it all from Sunday School, Usher, Janitor, you name it and I’ve done it!

His church umbrella’d out to Rio Grande City and we were doing what is called Home Church Groups. Slowly and little by little the groups grew until we a full blown church. My dad was like you need to lead it. Let me tell you…I’m not ready for this. To be honest with you I never wanted to be in ministry. I’ve seen it all my life and I’ve seen the behind the scenes of what my father sometimes had to go through. I didn’t want anything to do with it and so that’s why I became a nurse.

You see I had terminal cancer when I was 9 years old.

I was given 60 days to live.

I went to M.D. Anderson and they were like there is nothing we could do…you might as well start planning for your funeral.

You’re going to die.

The nurses that treated me there were angels. That’s why I wanted to do this when I grow up. I’m a pediatric nurse for 15 years now.

I felt God calling me to be a Pastor and I didn’t want to. Eventually I was obedient and I took over the church.

Tell us about your first service?
It was a 1:00 service. Who wants to go to a 1:00 service?! Really are you serious Lord? You trying to do this the hard way?! It was on March 1, 2009 when we opened up. Not knowing who is going to show up. That day 35 people showed up. I thought…Wow not bad.

3 years later we now meet at the Harlingen Municipal Auditorium and we are about 600 every Sunday. It’s a movement from God. We still meet in Rio Grande City on Thursdays for the groups. So now I’m just obedient to God and say yes Sir!

Since we rent the Harlingen Auditorium, we have to set up and tear down every Sunday. We still meet at 1:00 pm. After a survey within our congregation, nobody wanted to go to 9, 10, 11am or 12:00 service! We have a generation that wants this time! Whether it’s they work late because they’re some type of medical professional, like to sleep in, hangout with they families late at night. It’s ok…we’ll meet at 1:00!

Where did the name Lifeline come from?
Since I’m a nurse and so I wanted to bring the medical aspect into it. Our vision is very simple. Healing for the body, mind and soul. According to Matthew 22:37 which says “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind and soul.” We believe that what’s the point of being physically fit if you are spiritually dead. What’s the point if you are spiritually fit but physically ailing? God wants to make you whole. Not just one area but complete. It’s more than just spiritually but knowing that it can be many factors. We bring this in when we are counseling, preaching, teaching…so that they can become whole and person God wants them to be.

We emphasize eating right and exercising on the physical. On the mental…what are you feeding your mind…what are you watching, listening to, reading. We don’t focus on religion, we focus on relationship. We tell people all the time, it doesn’t matter where you are. Who or where you’ve been hurt. Where you’ve come from. Come on in we are going to love you and let God change you.
Church Perception…
People think that we are very laid back. We have not changed any principles! We are very bold with our preaching…maybe even bolder than most. I am very transparent when I preach. I don’t stand up there and be holier than thou. I share that I’ve lost a house, lost a car, almost lost my relationship with my wife, we’ve lost a baby, we’ve gone bankrupt. We’ve gone through a lot in our life and God has still kept us together. People can relate to these life experiences. Being transparent from the pulpit is our goal. This is one way people connect with us. People appreciate that.

Expand a little bit on being diagnosed with Cancer as a kid.
It was very difficult for our family. When I was diagnosed, all the treatment had to be done in Houston at MD Anderson. I didn’t go to school here for about a year. All the testing and chemotherapy…you never forget…it’s terrible. I would never wish cancer on anybody, but believe it or not, that is the ministry that God has given us today. A healing ministry. We pray for people with cancer and other illnesses. We’ve seen healing through our prayers to Him.

God could have healed me instantly. He is able. But He didn’t it. He let me go through the process so i can appreciate what it is for someone to have a kid with cancer or what it for someone to be suffering. It is a lesson I would not give back. It is a lesson I appreciate everyday. It gives me a new perspective on life. As a nurse and dealing with patients in hospice…I understand and shows me what’s important. Buildings. Things. They don’t mean anything. It’s your family and the time you spend with them.

How has that effected your focus as a church? As a man…
We focus on balance. I’ve seen so many ministers today preach the Word of God but their families are lost. You have to ask yourself why? They’re intentions are great….but.

It used to be all about church first. church first. church first. That may sound right but it can be a bit on the religious side. Very systematic. You almost feel guilty if you are not at the Sunday Night, Tuesday Night, church every night and every moment the doors are open. That’s how we grew up.

I had to literally learn to break away from that and understand that God wants time for everything. Time for work. Time for family. Time for yourself. Time for your spouse. So the thing we miss most that I see not only in Ministers but even members is balance. It’s either too much church and no family. Or too much work and not this or that and you have an unbalance.

I want my son to be right next to me. I want him serving the Lord. Not because I forced him to go but because I spent time with him. Taking time to play with him, to go to the park with him, place baseball with him, go and do things with him. So he WANTS to spend time with me. That’s building a relationship. That’s the same thing with Jesus. Jesus doesn’t care about the building. Jesus doesn’t care about perfect attendance at church. It’s what relationship do you have with Me Monday through Saturday with Me? Are you spending time with Me? It’s when you spend time with Me then we develop a relationship.

Pepe the husband?
oh! I have a lot of work to do! [laughs] My wife Rubina has taught me a lot of being a better husband and I thank the Lord for that. She’s the one who has caught me saying one things and living another. It’s a great lesson that I have to gut check myself. What can I do for my wife today? I fail a lot but I try! We try on a regular basis to have a Friday Night Date Night. No talking about work, church, finances, etc….just talk!

Pepe the Dad…
I love being a father. I enjoy every minute I can with my son. I am very active in his life. Jerrial is 13 and he is also a miracle. I was told that I was not going to have kids when I had cancer.

One thing I learned from dad is that you can’t say that you are a good dad. You have to ask someone else….so I won’t say I’m a good dad! I try and spend as much time as I can with him. There’s seasons when I’m busy with work…but he knows that I am aware too. We have a great relationship. To see him not be embarrassed to hug or kiss me, especially in front of his friends is a testament to our relationship. I love being a father…especially because we thought we were never going to have kids (per the doctors).

Pepe “not working”…
I love football season. I’m a major football fan. Yes I follow the Dallas Cowboys…there I said it!

I follow the Harlingen Cardinals everywhere they go. I am the chaplain for the team. I get the opportunity to talk with them before the games and at practices.

I play drums…to this day I play for the church. People freak out when I’m sitting behind the set and then walk around and start preaching!

Pepe the Harlingen Cardinal Chaplain…
The head coach and I started working out and he invited me to go work out with them. Just in conversation he asked me to talk to the team. Before that I would talk to the kids through FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes). It’s really incredible to bring a message to the kids that is not religious and not emphasizing our church. It’s this is where you are at and go with it. Answer questions and pray with them…a lot of these kids don’t have fathers. Coach is not only teaching them football but teaching them about being men. Life lessons.

Why should someone come to Lifeline?
What to expect…Hope you come to a welcoming church. Experience Love. You should be hugged by like 15 people! You should expect loud and fun music. Don’t expect a water downed message. Its very open..very blunt…very in your face.

Why? If you have been hurt or are seeking a true relationship with Jesus. This is why you should TRY lifeline. I’m not saying that you are going to find it here. If you come and say you want a better relationship but having a hard time finding here…we will help you find a place here in town.

What’s different about LIfeline…
One of the things that separates us is when we started Lifeline, I felt God telling us 2 things:
1-You don’t worry about the building and,
2-You don’t worry about the money.

Ok God but what do you mean. Don’t be trying to find property. Lease if you need to.
Money? Don’t take an offering. We don’t take time for the bucket. We simply pray and if people want to give they can in the lobby. I think that has really captivated people….’they’re not preaching about money, money, money.’ Unfortunately there is a stigma with Pastors and money. While I believe it’s a principle that you shouldn’t violate. God talks about tithing and giving and we should do it, but it’s not an agenda. It’s not that if you don’t give that you won’t be blessed. That’s not the God that I serve. The God that I serve sent his Son to save the world and not condemn it. We’ll teach tithing in our classes maybe once or twice a year.

One last thing….
I believe that when we do anything for the Lord…It should be done with excellence. While I don’t run a dictatorship, I try to challenge our people and leaders for excellence! The passion I have now to preach the word of God now is the most satisfying feeling! I thought nursing was going to do it…it did for a while but nothing like this. If there’s anything to learn…You pick your career but God picks your calling. You will be really satisfied when you start working your calling. Being satisfied and knowing what your purpose is is the best.

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A Little Q&A Fun with Pastor Pepe…

Ipod or Stream                            Ipod

Top Playlist Secret in Whisper, POD, Pillar [laughs..they’re all rock!] and probably some hip hop with TobyMac.

Apple or Android                       Both! I’m getting ready to switch to Android…I’m both!! [come one….pick!!]

Take Out or Eat in                      Eat at a restaurant

Inland or Coast                          Coast!

Morning or Night Fishing      Morning

55 or 5 over                                Oh 5 over!! [really laughs…I’m not going to lie to you]

Bland or Spicy                           Spicy!

Tucked in or Untucked          Untucked!

Offense or Defense                   Offense [I’m in trouble!]

Cardio or Weights                    Weights