The future of the church in America is increasingly multicultural—compelling leaders to be intentional about fostering environments where diverse cultures can thrive together. Juan Carlos Heredia, Spanish Ministry Pastor at Houston’s Sugar Creek Baptist Church, joins Doug for this eye-opening episode of The Intentional Churches podcast to discuss the evolution of Hispanic ministry, the importance of personal ownership in evangelism, and how churches can strategically integrate different cultural groups without forcing assimilation.

During their conversation Juan Carlos shares his personal story of growing up between Ecuador, Mexico, and the U.S., how his calling led him into ministry, and the challenges of leading a Spanish-speaking congregation. He also gets into why Houston is a strategic hub for global missions and how its diversity presents both opportunities and challenges for churches.

This timely episode offers practical advice for churches looking to engage Hispanic communities, emphasizing the need for leadership that understands both cultures and the importance of contextualizing ministry without losing the gospel’s core message.

The Intentional Churches Community is free-to-join online community platform designed to foster individual growth while nurturing collective wisdom and best practices from church leaders like yourself from across the country. Get started with your free account at intentionalchurches.com/community

Don’t forget to reserve your spot for the Intentional Churches Conference in April here: https://www.intentionalchurchesconference.com

New to Intentional Churches? Start here:
https://intentionalchurches.com/radical-alignment

Website: https://intentionalchurches.com
The Book: https://a.co/d/hFlz17C
The Blog: https://intentionalchurches.com/blog/
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CHAPTERS:
00:00 - The Importance of Tools in Evangelism
00:17 - Welcome & Introduction to Juan Carlos Heredia
01:42 - Juan Carlos’ Background and Calling to Ministry
04:59 - The Diversity of Houston as a Mission Field
07:14 - Integration vs. Segregation in Houston’s Cultural Landscape
09:09 - Challenges of Hispanic Ministry in America
12:35 - Creating a Culture of Invitation and Evangelism
15:19 - How Sugar Creek Integrates Spanish Ministry
19:10 - The Future of Multicultural Church Partnerships
24:54 - Practical Steps for Assimilation Without Assimilation
30:44 - Personal Ownership of the Great Commission
33:35 - Using Events as Evangelistic Tools
37:22 - The Challenge of Retaining Young Generations in Faith
40:08 - Final Thoughts & Leadership Challenge

The Intentional Churches Conference is not your typical church leadership event—it's a movement. In this week’s special bonus episode, Erin sits down to interview Doug all about how The Intentional Churches Conference is evolving and what attendees can expect this year.

Doug explains that IC is about more than just content—it's a collaborative network where church leaders learn from one another in real-time. Last year’s conference highlights included a hands-on coffee-making experiment, a panel of non-Christians sharing their perspectives, and interactive networking designed to spark innovation.
This year, IC is introducing new tools, including a conference-exclusive book—Radical Alignment to Personal Ownership of the Great Commission—and a role-based track system to help church leaders implement practical strategies in their ministries.

If you're looking for an event that prioritizes collaboration over consumption, don’t miss this year’s Intentional Churches Conference!

Join us April 29-30! Register now at intentionalchurchesconference.com.

New to Intentional Churches? Start here:
https://intentionalchurches.com/radical-alignment

Website: https://intentionalchurches.com
The Book: https://a.co/d/hFlz17C
The Blog: https://intentionalchurches.com/blog/
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@IntentionalChurches
Facebook: https://facebook.com/intentionalchurches
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/intentional-churches/mycompany/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/IntentionalChurches
X/Twitter: https://x.com/intentchurches

Chapters:
00:00 The Unconference: A New Kind of Church Leadership Gathering
01:35 What is IC Becoming? A Collaborative Movement
04:00 Highlights from Last Year’s Conference
06:24 What Makes This Conference Different?
08:51 Practical Ways This Year’s Conference Will Help Church Leaders
11:31 Final Invitation: Join Us in April!

What does it mean to cultivate a “missional mindset?” In this week’s episode of the Intentional Churches Podcast, Momentum Christian Church’s Sheryl Riggins sits down with Erin and Doug to share her personal journey of moving from a traditional church background to a mission-driven approach to faith.

During their conversation, Sheryl opens up about her early years as a preacher’s kid, her career at Coca-Cola, and her unexpected path to leadership at Momentum. She also dives into how Momentum is making shifts to prioritize relational evangelism, from practical preaching series to encouraging personal connections in everyday life.

This episode is full of insights for church leaders looking to mobilize their people, as well as for anyone hoping to make their faith more outward-focused. Listen in to hear Sheryl’s inspiring story and learn how you, too, can be more intentional in reaching the ones close to you but far from God.

Don’t forget to reserve your spot for the Intentional Churches Conference in April here: https://www.intentionalchurchesconference.com

New to Intentional Churches? Start here:
https://intentionalchurches.com/radical-alignment

Website: https://intentionalchurches.com
The Book: https://a.co/d/hFlz17C
The Blog: https://intentionalchurches.com/blog/
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@IntentionalChurches
Facebook: https://facebook.com/intentionalchurches
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/intentional-churches/mycompany/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/IntentionalChurches
X/Twitter: https://x.com/intentchurches

CHAPTERS:
00:00 Welcome and Introduction
01:29 Sheryl’s Background and Journey to Momentum
04:46 Sheryl’s Musical Career and Time in Divine
08:31 Career at Coca-Cola and Ministry Priorities
15:26 Activator Training and a Shift in Mindset
21:46 The Role of Scripture in Mobilizing Believers
32:47 Living with Intentionality for the Ones
37:20 How Momentum is Raising Awareness for the Great Commission
41:30 Final Thoughts and Closing