Pastor Rivera’s story is a powerful testimony of how God uses simple acts of faith to change lives. His family was first reached when his mother received a gospel tract from a coworker, one small piece of paper that God used to bring hope, salvation, and a new future to their home. That single tract forever changed the direction of their family.
Pastor Rivera was later reached through the bus ministry at Iglesia Bautista Libertad in Houston, Texas. At just five years old, after hearing Pastor Roy Carrizales preach during Vacation Bible School, he accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior.
Raised in a single-parent home by a faithful mother, Pastor Rivera saw firsthand how God’s grace can transform a family. Those early years gave him a deep love for the church and a heart for reaching people who may feel overlooked or forgotten.
On October 11, 2001, Pastor Rivera surrendered his life to serve God. He later attended Bible college, where he met his wife, Rebecca. Together, they prepared for ministry and began a lifelong partnership in serving the Lord.
Pastor and Mrs. Rivera served for seven years as Assistant Pastor and wife at Lighthouse Baptist Church in Huntington, West Virginia. In late 2013, God began stirring Pastor Rivera’s heart toward pastoring. Though he wrestled with the calling for a time, God made it clear that there was no greater place than being in His will.
In November 2014, with the help of 12 founding members, including Pastor Rivera, his wife, and their four children, Victory Baptist Church of Whitehouse, Texas, was founded. Today, Pastor Rivera continues to serve faithfully alongside his wife, Rebecca, his best friend and ministry partner, and their six children, committed to sharing the gospel and seeing lives changed by Jesus Christ.