Rev. Zaida Rivera

Rev. Zaida was born and raised in Puerto Rico. Zaida received the call to ministry at a very young age. She joyfully shared this with the local priest. Her joy was immediately shattered by something she had not experienced before; the limitations placed on someone's biological sex. There began a long time of wandering and rebellion against the church.

Time passed and Zaida joined the Army. All was well. Then, the Army decided that members of the Gay community were not welcome. She, as well as thousands of others, were discharged without any consideration of performance or skill.

In the trauma, she came across a newspaper article which spoke of an open and affirming church. Once she walked through those doors, there was no looking back. She was now free to answer the call.

Ordained in 1998, she has pastored both in the mainland and in Puerto Rico. Zaida has ministered as invited speaker and teacher at various conferences and churches throughout the US.

Zaida considers herself a "cheerleader" for God. Her ministry is about compassion, justice and liberation, in the spirit of Luke 4:18-19:

​

​"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."