How it all started...
In October 2016, we attended a conference called ONE Church which was hosted by our dear friends and spiritual mentors Pastors Bob and Jenny Donnelly from The Collective Church in Portland.
We remember attending this conference with the notion of growing deeper in our walk with the Lord. There was no intention of coming back home and starting a new church or a new ministry.
In fact, we even joked with our good friend Matt Pannell, who turned to us at the conference and asked us, “So, when are you all going to open up a Collective?” — We chuckled and immediately said “No way! We are not starting a church!”
WELL, LITTLE DID WE KNOW THAT WHEN WE WOULD GET BACK TO TEXAS, THE LORD WOULD MAKE IT CLEAR TO US THAT WE WERE TO START A HOME CHURCH.
We remember attending this conference with the notion of growing deeper in our walk with the Lord. There was no intention of coming back home and starting a new church or a new ministry.
In fact, we even joked with our good friend Matt Pannell, who turned to us at the conference and asked us, “So, when are you all going to open up a Collective?” — We chuckled and immediately said “No way! We are not starting a church!”
WELL, LITTLE DID WE KNOW THAT WHEN WE WOULD GET BACK TO TEXAS, THE LORD WOULD MAKE IT CLEAR TO US THAT WE WERE TO START A HOME CHURCH.
WE HELD OUR FIRST GATHERING IN DECEMBER OF 2016.
We had some of our close friends, family members, and their families gather in our home living room for worship and a word by Pastor Manny Espinoza. All we wanted was to please the Father and gather and worship Him and be in His presence.
We had some of our close friends, family members, and their families gather in our home living room for worship and a word by Pastor Manny Espinoza. All we wanted was to please the Father and gather and worship Him and be in His presence.
Never did we think we would be having gatherings in our home, pastoring a church, or leading people in this way.
WE ARE BOTH PHYSICIANS, PARENTS, AND BUSINESS PROFESSIONALS, AND THE THOUGHT OF ADDING ANOTHER ACTIVITY TO OUR BUSY LIVES SEEMED IMPOSSIBLE.
But when the Lord radically transformed our lives, saved our broken marriage, and restored, renewed, and transformed us, we knew He had called us for more than what we could see with our natural eyes.
As we continued to gather, people began to feel the love of the Father and we began to see deep healings and deliverances take place.
WE ARE BOTH PHYSICIANS, PARENTS, AND BUSINESS PROFESSIONALS, AND THE THOUGHT OF ADDING ANOTHER ACTIVITY TO OUR BUSY LIVES SEEMED IMPOSSIBLE.
But when the Lord radically transformed our lives, saved our broken marriage, and restored, renewed, and transformed us, we knew He had called us for more than what we could see with our natural eyes.
As we continued to gather, people began to feel the love of the Father and we began to see deep healings and deliverances take place.
The Lord began to unfold the ministry step-by-step,
AND THROUGH OBEDIENCE WE WOULD JOIN THIS NEW AUTHENTIC MOVE OF THE SPIRIT OF GOD AND ESTABLISH THE COLLECTIVE CHURCH IN THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY IN TEXAS IN FEBRUARY OF 2017.
Nine months later, the Lord would provide a brand new building in which the landlord would do the build-out at no additional cost.
OUR FIRST OFFICIAL CHURCH SERVICE IN THE BUILDING WAS ON NOVEMBER 1, 2017, AND SINCE THEN WE HAVE CONTINUED TO GATHER AS A COMMUNITY OF BELIEVERS HUNGRY AND DESPERATE FOR GOD’S PRESENCE AND WILL TO BE DONE HERE IN THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY.
AND THROUGH OBEDIENCE WE WOULD JOIN THIS NEW AUTHENTIC MOVE OF THE SPIRIT OF GOD AND ESTABLISH THE COLLECTIVE CHURCH IN THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY IN TEXAS IN FEBRUARY OF 2017.
Nine months later, the Lord would provide a brand new building in which the landlord would do the build-out at no additional cost.
OUR FIRST OFFICIAL CHURCH SERVICE IN THE BUILDING WAS ON NOVEMBER 1, 2017, AND SINCE THEN WE HAVE CONTINUED TO GATHER AS A COMMUNITY OF BELIEVERS HUNGRY AND DESPERATE FOR GOD’S PRESENCE AND WILL TO BE DONE HERE IN THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY.
OUR DNA...
From the beginning, the Lord shared some specific qualities about The Collective that make up our unique DNA.
First, the word COLLECTIVE is who we are.
COLLECTIVE MEANS "A COOPERATIVE ENTERPRISE" AND "DONE BY PEOPLE ACTING AS A GROUP."
Rather than placing the entire church on the back of one pastor or personality, the "Framily" (Friends + Family) would act as a cooperative enterprise, bringing all kinds of unique gifts and talents to the group.
THE LORD GAVE US THIS PHRASE EARLY IN OUR JOURNEY:
WE ARE BETTER TOGETHER. TOGETHER IS THE ONLY WAY THIS CHURCH WILL BECOME ALL THAT GOD HAS INTENDED IT TO BECOME.
Rather than placing the entire church on the back of one pastor or personality, the "Framily" (Friends + Family) would act as a cooperative enterprise, bringing all kinds of unique gifts and talents to the group.
THE LORD GAVE US THIS PHRASE EARLY IN OUR JOURNEY:
WE ARE BETTER TOGETHER. TOGETHER IS THE ONLY WAY THIS CHURCH WILL BECOME ALL THAT GOD HAS INTENDED IT TO BECOME.
Second, He shared with us that this church would be built on the bedrock of healthy families.
We believe that every adult is a pastor of their own little church called, "the family." By taking care of your family (your first church), you are taking good care of the church. To neglect the family to build the "big church" is counterproductive.
Lastly, He shared a beautiful pathway to helping people live in genuine Kingdom Authority – the kind of authority that Jesus called us to live in.
HE SHARED WITH US THAT LEADING PEOPLE INTO INTIMACY WITH HIM WOULD REVEAL THEIR SOLID IDENTITY WHICH WOULD THEN EMPOWER THEM TO OPERATE IN TRUE KINGDOM AUTHORITY.
This "intimacy first" pathway became "Heart (intimacy). Cross (identity). Crown(kingdom authority.)" – (Our logo is a merger of a heart, a cross, and a crown.)
That's us, that's you. The building is not the church. The pastors are not the church. The logo and brand is not the church. We are the church, collectively, as a Framily.
WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN OUR FRAMILY… IT IS ONE WHERE YOU WILL GROW PERSONALLY, EMOTIONALLY, AND SPIRITUALLY AND WILL NEVER BE THE SAME.
The best is yet to come for us at Collective and for you and your family!
HEART. CROSS. CROWN.
– Pastors Manny & Erica Espinoza & the RGV Family
The best is yet to come for us at Collective and for you and your family!
HEART. CROSS. CROWN.
– Pastors Manny & Erica Espinoza & the RGV Family
