Eric Bryant
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VideoBioEric Bryant serves as an elder, speaker, and navigator overseeing the leadership team at Mosaic in Los Angeles. Starting as a volunteer in the parking lot at Mosaic, Eric later worked with students and then helped catalyze new venues across Los Angeles. He also teaches at the Southern California campus of Golden Gate Seminary and is working on his Doctorate of Ministry with Bethel Seminary. A sought-after speaker, Eric is one of the co-authors of The Uprising Experience, a workbook developed for Promise Keepers based on Erwin McManus' book Uprising: A Revolution of the Soul, and has written several articles for Group and Relevant Leader magazines. His book, Peppermint-Filled Piñatas: Breaking Through Tolerance and Embracing Love, was published with Zondervan in June 2007. Eric lives with his wife, Debbie, and two children, Caleb and Trevi in the middle of Los Angeles. TestimonyI have discovered faith, love, and hope through my relationship with God through Christ. I was blessed to have been raised in a Christian home; therefore, going to church multiple times a week was a normal part of my life. In that context I chose to follow Christ at the age of 10 years old. I was asking deep questions about life and death as a result of my grandfather’s death. At the age of 17, I sensed God calling me to actually follow Him rather than simply just believe in Him. I really believe that it was then that I began to understand that Christ died to offer me life – not just life after death. After graduating from Baylor University, my wife Debbie and I moved to Seattle to help start a church in 1994. Serving in ministry in Seattle for 4 years and now in Los Angeles for the past 10 years at Mosaic has created opportunities for me to interact with people from a plurality of religious backgrounds and spiritual persuasions. I am in awe of the transforming power of Jesus in the lives of such a diversity of people. I believe that God is actively pursuing people, and each of us can find a genuine relationship with God through Christ by asking for forgiveness and committing to follow Him as our Leader. Those of us who choose to follow Him find our desires begin to change to match His desires for our lives. We begin to love others. We look for opportunities to share our faith. We begin serving in a church using our gifts and talents. We grow as disciples as we make other disciples. We seek to grow closer to the Lord through the Scriptures, prayer, worship, service, and relationships with others. We find our lives by losing our lives in serving Christ by serving others. I completed a Masters of Divinity degree at Golden Gate Seminary at the Northwest campus in 1997. Currently I am pursuing a Doctor of Ministry with Bethel Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. What Others Are Saying...“Peppermint-Filled Piñatas is Saving Private Ryan meets Nacho Libre! Eric calls us to a heroic mission and at the same time exposes our flawed humanity. He tackles one of the most critical and complex issues of our time and brings it down to earth and keeps us grounded in reality. It's quite a gift to force us to face such uncomfortable and serious issues and at the same time keep us laughing. Somebody needed to write this book; I am grateful Eric did. We will all be better for it. Thank you, Eric, for awakening in us a love that knows no boundaries." "As a new follower of Jesus this book inspired me to live the kind of life Jesus calls us to live. Jesus is the original diversity practitioner, loving and welcoming all to Him, and Peppermint-Filled Piñatas inspires us to follow His lead. Thank you, Eric, for reminding us to live this powerful and essential message." "Eric Bryant did a fantastic job presenting important concepts and raising difficult questions at our city-wide event, Peppermint Phoenix. His blend of humor, anecdotes, and Kingdom perspective were refreshing and powerful. Being a great author does not always translate into being a great speaker. Eric navigates the transition with ease. We are looking forward to working with Eric in the future." "Eric's visit to Detroit was the highlight of our summer. His gentle candor, spirited humor and piercing insights called us to rethink what it means to salt and light in a bland world. Skeptics, seekers and lifelong Jesus followers all connected with the message at the core of Peppermint-Filled Pinatas. We eagerly anticipate the time when he can come again!" |
