Meet Peter Garcia of Dayspring Cypress Church

Today we’d like to introduce you to Peter Garcia.

Peter, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Over 5 years ago, Dayspring Cypress Church started as a home based bible study with just 6 people. My wife Michelle and I, our twins and my in-laws. Within one year, the living room wasn’t large enough to hold all the people coming every Tuesday night. The good Lord blessed us and we were able to partner with a local church which allowed us to use their facility to accommodate our growing fellowship. Then on the evening of Sunday, September 28, 2014 we had our first church service. It was an amazing event, full of family and friends. Pastor Oscar Junkar from Renovacion conducted the service, where he anointed me as the pastor of Dayspring Cypress Church. Oscar was the pastor that helped me get Dayspring started. We served under the Renovation ministry for 3 years, learning how to be pastors and how to run a church.

I began in ministry over 15 years ago, by volunteering with Mike Cortez at the Harris County jail system. There we would bring words of encouragement, pray for and help mentor the men that were serving a sentence. It was there that I fell in love with preaching and teaching God’s word. To see these tough men connecting with my sermons and some even being moved to tears was a blessing to my spirit. It truly humbled me and showed me what compassion, forgiveness and mercy look like.

When I started in ministry all I wanted to do was help others and mentor struggling men. I didn’t know that God had a bigger plan for me. At first, I was content with my management job and with serving a couple of times a month in the jail system and at church. But the more I served the more loved it, the closer I got to God and got to know Him, the more I fell in love with Him and his children. I began to feel God calling me to do more for His kingdom by reaching those that didn’t have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. So finally after removing all the excuses and telling God why I thought He made a mistake by choosing me (pretty arrogant of me to tell God who to choose), I surrendered and answered the call and my purpose, to become a pastor for God’s kingdom.

Next to being a husband, dad and grandfather, being a pastor is the best thing in my life. It is the hardest thing but the most rewarding at the same time. As a pastor, I believe that it is important for me to be accessible to the church members (family). So when one of our members is going through hard times I also go through it. This is the compassion that the Lord Jesus had and has given me, and I believe it is a spiritual gift. Although I share in the difficulties I also share in the rejoicing and celebrations and that is what makes this the most rewarding. When I see a person confused about life, ready to give up or end a marriage and then through the saving grace of God, that person turns their life around by following Christ, it humbles me to no end.

When I perform water baptisms, I see a person who is taking a courageous step of faith and saying, ‘enough of this world’ or ‘I’m ready to give my life to you Lord’ and it puts a smile on my face and tears in my eyes. I was there once, and a minister of the gospel showed me what salvation was, so when it is my turn to do the same for others, I am grateful.

Dayspring Cypress Church has been a loving church since the beginning and continues to be known this way. New members and visitors tell me that this church is so peaceful and welcoming. I reply with, ‘that is the presence and peace that only come from Jesus’. We tell people that the building isn’t the church, the people are and the people here are striving to know God and have a real relationship with Him.

As a member of broken home, I am passionate about helping create godly families in our community. I believe that many of the issues in our communities start at home. When the home is strong then the individuals are strong and then our communities, cities, states and our country is strong. God has called my wife and I help families become strong in the Lord, and to have a godly homes. I have completely committed my life to God, to preach the gospel and to show His love to others and will do that until my last breath, just like Jesus did.

When you visit Dayspring, you find diversity, families, singles, and multi-cultural people filled with love and open arms. During each service we do what is called a Dayspring welcome, where all new guests get a triple- H (hug, hand shake or a high 5). Also, during each service, no one sits alone or prays alone. We are family that goes on this life journey together, on the roadway to heaven. We end every service by saying, “tell someone, Jesus loves you and so do I.”

Has it been a smooth road?
The road to becoming a pastor was a tough one. I knew I loved to serve and teach God’s word, but I didn’t believe that I had what it takes to be a pastor. What got me through every hard time and every moment of doubt was God’s word and the comfort of the Holy Spirit.

At first, my wife wasn’t sure that this was my calling so that presented obstacles especially once the twins were born, ministry took more time from me. Once she recognized that God called her and our kids also, her purpose in life has become clear. I can’t imagine doing this without her and I don’t want to either.

Also, along the way some family members and friends doubted that the man God changed me into was permanent. They would ridicule us or stopped calling us. After a few years the ones that turned away the most, are now the ones that ask for prayer the most. That only happens by the awesome love of God, praise the Lord.

Our church building has flooded twice in the last 2 years. The first time was on the tax day flood and then again during hurricane Harvey. During the first food, we lost about 1/3 of the church members and it was a very hard time for all of us. This last time, we were already prepared spiritually. The faith of Dayspring is shining through us as we rebuild this time. We are getting things done in half the time and with twice as much help. We say, ‘if it floods again, we will just do more baptisms in the sanctuary”. We see these obstacles and true opportunities for the light of Christ to shine through us to others.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Dayspring Cypress Church – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
We are a young family church that loves people the way Christ loves us. We welcome all people, no matter what they’ve done or where they’ve been in life because we’ve all been there and we know what happens to a person when they feel God’s saving grace. At Dayspring, we are known for teaching God’s word, giving loving hugs, and being there for each other.

I’m most proud of what I see in the members that have been here for the past 3 years. The people that started with us are now leading and serving others that is special.

Dayspring is not like all other churches and we shouldn’t be. Our purpose is to be relevant and not ordinary. We don’t do things just because, we do them because God calls us to. If God calls us to do something then He will make a way for it to happen, He will provide all that we need to accomplish it.

When you walk in to Dayspring Cypress Church, you are greeted with open arms and a smile. When you leave you get a triple H (hug, handshake or a high 5) along with encouragement from God’s word. We hope that the first step outside the church is also your first step on your new journey with Christ and we would love to be a part of that journey.

Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I love Cypress because it is so diverse and there are so many wonderful people here. I’ve been part of this community for over 30 years of my life and I see the growth and changes in the landscape and the people. The diversity here is why I believe Dayspring is thriving, we represent the people here.

I least like the traffic, but don’t we all?

Contact Info:

• Address: 14017 Huffmeister Rd.
  Cypress, TX 77429
• Website: dayspringcypresschurch.com
• Phone: 281-740-5796
• Email: petergarcia70@yahoo.com
• Instagram: instagram\dayspringcypresschurch.com
• Facebook: facebook\dayspringcypresschurch.com
• Twitter: twitter@dayspring_ch

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