SOAR

SOAR 

HELPING WOMEN’S DREAMS TAKE FLIGHT 

Issue 4/Spring 2015 Edition 

GAME 

CHANGING 

FEMALES 

Women Who Left and Are Leaving 

Their Mark on This World 

POWER OF 

GOD’S 

GRACE AT 

WORK 

HEALTHY 

WOMAN 

Are you Changing Your Game? 

SOAR 

TESTIMONY 

by Neredia Rosario 

Game 

Changer 

SOARING 

IN THE 

KITCHEN

A Look At Some Books 

SOAR will be recommending books in every issue from well known 

and new authors you may not have heard of. Here are this issue’s recommendations. 

All these books will help you become the woman God created you to be. 

And don’t forget that you can order our Publisher’s Ebook for $3 on Amazon

FIND INSIDE 

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

08 09 12 16 19 31 34 

05 

LISTING OF OFFICERS, 

MISSION STATEMENT 

16 

SOAR TESTIMONY 

NEREDIA ROSARIO 

35 

SOARING IN THE KITCHEN 

06 

08 

PUBLISHER’S NOTES 

WELCOME TO SOAR! 

VOICE IT! 

LET’S FACE IT 

19 

23 

GAME CHANGING FEMALES 

WOMEN WHO LEFT THEIR 

MARK ON NYC 

TEN GAME CHANGING 

WOMEN AROUND WORLD 

37 

39 

A GAME CHANGING 

WOMAN IS... 

CALENDAR OF EVENTS 

09 

OUR FOUNDER HONORED 

MORE AT WEDOEVENTS.NET 

25 

ORGANIZING GAME CHANGER 

THE NIGHT ROUTINE 

10 

TODAY’S GAME CHANGERS, 

HEALTH AND WELLNESS 

29 

GAME CHANGERS 

DR. TONI G. ALVARADO 

12 

14 

ARE YOU CHANGING 

YOUR HEALTH GAME? 

TRANSFORMATION 

CHALLENGE 

31 

33 

SO YOU WANT TO BE 

A GAME CHANGER? 

GAME CHANGING MAKE UP 

TIPS TO COLOR YOUR WORLD 

A publication of the Center for 

Emerging Female Leadership. Visit 

us at www.cefl.org or on Facebook 

Soar is a member of 

HELPING WOMEN’S DREAMS 

TAKE FLIGHT 

ISSUE 4 / SPRING 

2015 EDITION | PAGE 4

LISTING OF OFFICERS 

SOAR EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD 

Rev. Enid Rios Rivera 

Executive Pastor, Primitive 

Christian Church, CEFL Advisory 

Board Member 

www.primitivechurch.org 

Rev. Dr. Toni G. Alvarado 

Grace Church International, Co- 

Pastor, My Sister’s Keeper Foundation 

for Women, CEO, Targeted Living 

Coaching & Consulting, President 

www.drtonialvarado.com 

Shae Brynes 

Passionate Storyteller, Teacher, 

Activator, and Co-Founder of 

Kingdom Driven Entrepreneur. 

Dr. Sheila Cornea 

Dean, International Institute of 

Mentoring and Founder, Gusty 

Grace Resources 

SOAR TEAM 

Rev. Dr. Elizabeth D. 

Rios, SOAR Publisher, 

CEFL Founder 

Sandra Almonte 

Contributing Writer 

Rosalind Humphreys 

Perez, 


Candace Sheppard 


Maria Gonzalez 


Nereida Rosario 

Guest Contributor 

MISSION 

Jennifer Gottesfeld 

Guest Contributor 

Soar Magazine is a digital publication of the Center for Emerging Female Leadership, Inc (CEFL). The mission of CEFL is to help develop leaders 

of excellence and integrity through education, scholarship, service and networking for personal and professional growth. It seeks to partner with 

organizations to help identify and develop leadership worth following and help individuals become leaders others want to follow. Soar Magazine 

targets women influencing others in society be in home, church, government or marketplace who want to lead from a Christian world-view. 

Soar equips women to recognize, utilize and maximize their unique calling for such a time as this. Soar Magazine is published four times 

a year and our vision is to help women’s dreams take flight. 


TAKE FLIGHT 



PUBLISHER’S NOTE 

UNLEASH THE GAME CHANGER IN YOU 

In this issue, we want to empower 

you to move forward despite the 

battles you face in your workplace, 

home, and even in your health. 

SOAR Magazine is about and 

for women, just like you, who 

believe that God has more for 

them. If an article touched your 

heart or ministered to you (or 

didn’t), if there is something 

you’d like for SOAR to cover in 

the future, please let me know 

at drlizrios@gmail.com 

Hey there, my beautiful sister! I am so excited to once again begin 

the publication of SOAR Magazine. This theme was something I 

was working on with the SOAR team way back in 2012 before we 

stopped publication. What had triggered this theme in me was an 

important study by Christian Silva and Herminia Ibarra published 

in the Harvard Business Review, that noted that women get few 

“game changing roles” handed to them usually because they 

get stuck in a role and in a development phrase until someone 

(usually a male) thinks it is time for them to lead. Now, that was in 

the marketplace. In ministry depending on what denomination 

you are a part of or if non-denominational, the theology of your 

pastor, you may never get an opportunity to lead in the role you 

were wired for if it happens to have any authority or teaching 

over men. Now that is a predicament! SOAR is doing this issue 

on Game Changing Women because we believe wholeheartedly 

that what you have deposited within you is important. Important 

enough for you to perhaps break some rules create your own 

rules and change the game if you have to, to fulfill it. 

Many women don’t go forward in fulfilling their purpose because 

as mentioned in the study, they didn’t get acknowledged as ready 

or the permission to do so. Others don’t have the resources or 

the encouragement from others. Sometimes as women we limit 

ourselves because we believe that game changing has to be on a 

grand scale. No! You can change the game of your life, your family, 

your community right where you are with what you have! So my 

hope with this issue is that you will be encouraged to believe 

that something God deposited in you needs to be felt, heard or 

touched by the outside world. Every woman has her own definition 

of what it means to change the game and to achieve your Godgiven 

purpose. But there are certain traits that most women share 

that helps then attain what they were wired to do. So I am also 

hoping that you will change your mindset. 

Whether in the marketplace, education or ministry, here are 6 

things I’ve learned that game changing women do differently: 

1. They are deeply passionate about what they do. 

Without passion, all the skill in the world won’t lift you above 

craft. If you don’t love what you do, you’re probably not going 


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to be motivated to go above and beyond, to 

innovate and to stand out in the workplace. But if 

you’re passionate about your vocation (ministry or 

marketplace), it will make putting time and effort 

into it pleasurable, not a chore. 

2. They don’t expect perfection - ‐- ‐ of themselves 

or those around them. 

Research has shown that wasting time and energy 

trying to be “perfect” only leads to unhappiness. 

Game changing women know that that they can’t 

do everything well all the time. Beating yourself 

up for your perceived flaws will only dampen your 

abilities at work, not to mention your mental health. 

“We each, if we’re lucky, will have our chance to leave 

a mark on the world, but we are trying too hard to be 

perfect,” wrote Barnard president Debora Spar in an 

op- ‐ed for Glamour magazine. 

3. Often, they become the boss. 

Many game changing women have figured out 

that if you’re the boss, you can set your own rules. 

As editor-in-chief of Cosmopolitan Joanna Coles 

said: “The higher you go in a corporation, the easier 

it is ... The truth is you get more control.” And when 

you’re in control, you have the ability to create a 

more sane, happy and balanced environment for 

yourself and those who work with you or for you. We 

are seeing more women start businesses, churches, 

and even lead denominations! Sometimes in order 

to change the rules, you have to run the game and 

no matter where a woman finds herself, courage is 

needed to charter new territory in a world that is 

still very much …a man’s world. 

4. They’re not afraid to take risks. 

Sheryl Sandberg says that all women should ask 

themselves the question: “What would you do if 

you weren’t afraid?” Affecting change -- in whatever 

you find yourself doing -- requires the ability to stop 

playing it safe every once in awhile. Game changing 

women don’t make reckless decisions, but they do 

know how to take a calculated risk soaked in prayer. 

Sandberg herself took her own advice, and wrote 

the bestseller, Lean In. Game changers realize 

not guts no glory. They also realized that nothing 

changes, if nothing changes. 

5. They know that failure is part of the game 

changing process. 

Game changing women know that you can’t excel 

all the time, and that an inevitable part of taking 

leaps in your life is falling down sometimes. For 

example, 12 publishers rejected J.K. Rowling’s first 

Harry Potter book. But that didn’t stop her from 

continuing to send it out. Lucille Ball who if you didn’t 

know was the first woman to run a major television 

studio made a few film flops before she achieved 

success as the star of “I Love Lucy” and go on to 

change the game for women in the entertainment 

industry. Oprah experienced demotions in earlier 

jobs, suffered through set back after setback when 

launching the Oprah Winfrey Network but she kept 

going forward until it became wildly successful. 

Aimee Semple McPherson, founder of the Four 

Square movement and Kathryn Kuhlman all known 

as powerful generals in God’s kingdom but all 

experienced failure. 

6. They never forget who helped along the way 

and express gratitude to them. 

Women can’t change the game alone. No woman’s 

success happens in a vacuum. Women who are 

trying or have been successful in changing the 

game value and appreciate those who help them do 

what they do--- both in their home lives and in their 

vocation. And that graciousness not only makes 

them better people, but fosters loyalty from their 

tribe. I remember reading how Oprah understood 

the value of appreciating her employees. A few 

years ago, she took her entire staff and their families 

on a Mediterranean cruise. Now, all game changers 

can’t do that but they can certainly do something. 

So beautiful, with this in mind, I call out the game 

changer in you. Unleash her today! 

Cheering You On, 

Aside from Soar Publisher/CEFL Founder Dr. Liz co-pastors Passion 

Christian Church in Hollywood, FL and serves as Academic Dean 

at a Colombian-based University in Sunrise, FL. Learn more about 

her at www.lizrios.com. 


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VOICE IT! 

Let’s face it, today’s Christian women are not only turning to their 

Bibles, but they are also watching Oprah, learning how to find the 

perfect pair of jeans; reading Suze Orman for financial advice, and 

listening to the oldies. As Christian women, we are called to be 

a light while being just as knowledgeable and discerning about 

the world we live in. This is why, from time to time, you may see 

some secular material in our publication that falls in line with our 

theme. We believe that this decision will help meet the needs of 

our ever growing readership who are confronted on a daily basis 

with the struggle of living in a secular world while maintaining a 

holy lifestyle. 

Let us know what you think, let us 

know what you want to read about 

and tell us your stories when we 

post our themes. We want you to 

use your voice. 

YOU CAN FIND SOAR IN 

THE FOLLOWING PLACES: 

Facebook Soar Magazine 

CEFL.ORG 


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OUR FOUNDER HONORED 

In 2014, we were honored to have our Founder recognized as 1 of 12 Hispanic Women of Distinction 

in South Florida at an event sponsored by Latina Style and Bank of America. Our Board members were 

there to celebrate with Dr. Rios. Money raised from this event goes to support Light of the World Clinic, a 

nonprofit that provides medical care for the needy. This year’s event will take place Friday, August 14, 2015 

at the Signature Grand. Find out more at WeDoEvents.net 


TAKE FLIGHT 



Today’s Game Changers 

I came across a health and wellness 

video and was captivated by the 

woman who shared her story; so 

much so, I contacted her. Susan 

Goudeau is your typical gal whose 

life consisted of caring for family, 

aging parents, meeting work deadlines 

while trying to keep a marriage 

as a priority. In this mix was the care 

of her daughter who was terminally 

ill. As the years progressed, she did 

what most women do. She put her 

health last. A few years after her 

daughter’s death, she emerged from 

what she called a time of darkness 

into light and began to make a 

conscientious effort to prioritize 

her health in her daily routine. What 

caught my attention was that she 

would set small goals each day. 

Susan would begin her day by telling 

herself, “today I’m going to run one 

mile, today I’m going to bike for 20 

minutes”, etc. These small goals built 

up to large ones and lead her to the 

accomplishment of a triathlon. Today 

she continues to challenge herself 

and supports various organizations 

like Race for Cure, Cystic Fibrosis and 

Wheels to Succeed. 


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“These causes”, she says, “keep you 

committed to yourself and to a 

cause, and always benefit someone 

out there who needs it”. Susan has 

learned that for her, exercising is real 

living. Even in the pain, whether it’s 

muscular, joints, or a heart break, 

reminds her that she’s still living 

and that’s what life is about living. 

She reminded us in the video that 

laughter is also good medicine and 

tells us it’s a requirement in her 

home. Susan is a game changer 

through her reminder to prioritize 

our commitment to our health, 

ourselves and to others. A few years 

back she was given the privilege of 

having her story highlighted by 

her corporation as an example of 

health and wellness. 

Jade Trini Goring is one of those rare 

gems that are uncovered when you 

listen. Her voice is distinct and the 

woman can ‘sinnngg’. Jade began to 

perform at the age of 5 and pursued 

a career in the Performing Arts. She 

landed roles in musicals like “Dream 

Girls” and “The Wiz” where she toured 

but in 1997 her life turned around by 

by Rosalind Humphreys 



an important decision she made. 

She opted to let Jesus be the center 

of her life instead of her career. This 

choice took her out of the pursuit of 

the performance lime light and gave 

her the thrust to invest her talent 

and self into others. Over the years 

she has provided settings within her 

community that has highlighted 

young performers and given them 

to opportunity to explore their 

gifting. Her ventures include The 

Bridge Christian Creative Art Center, 

which is a state of the art facility that 

“bridges” individuals to their creative 

destiny. It houses a full dance studio, 

martial arts, fitness, and recording 

studio in New Milford, CT. She also 

is a partner of Couffe Music with the 

motto of “What we record today will 

change tomorrow.” Jade constantly 

looks for  opportunities  to partner 

with other organizations with the 

goal to enrich others through their 

gifting. I once I had the pleasure of 

listening to her share part of her 

life story at a women’s gathering. 

She explained that when she first 

discovered her gift, she could not 

understand why she made people 

cry when she sang. Over the years 

she understood the power behind 

music and how it reaches the core 


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of every being. Music can reach 

places where nothing else can and, 

words to music, furthers the impact. 

Jade is a game changer through her 

talent and gifting. She took it a step 

further by honing it, sharing it and 

teaching others to do the same. 

When I began to think of the 

different women I knew that had 

made a difference in my life, I also 

thought of Liz Rios. She didn’t ask 

me to include her but in looking 

back years ago (I won’t say how 

many), I wouldn’t have thought she 

would have become the woman she 

is today. I do not say this as an insult 

but with deep admiration. Liz Rios 

is one of those gals who have been 

faced with daunting challenges 

in her life and has overcome 

and, continues to do so. She has 

defied the odds in a lot of areas 

where society’s statistics would 

have dictated otherwise. We both 

grew up in the Lower East Side of 

Manhattan and were faced with the 

opportunity to choose better and 

to take advantage of any positive 

thrust that came our way. We went 

our separate ways as we grew older 

and I watched and heard how Liz 

began to bloom in many areas. 

She had never made it a secret that 

she has an opinion (although it may 

not be agreeable at times – I say 

that with a smile) but she’s always 

positions herself to help others. Her 

vision and love of education helped 

her found The Center for Emerging 

Female Leadership where she 

provided a forum for every woman 

who joined to find her destiny 

or call in life. The organization 

provides women from all walks 

of life an opportunity to discover, 

develop, gives voice and visibility to 

any woman in leadership or those 

being groomed for leadership. This 

is one of Liz’ many passions and 

inclusive to the mosh posh of what 

we all called married and family 

life and her responsibilities within 

her church, she wrote a book that 

encourages and gives practical 

tips to women to get back up after 

life has knocked them down. She 

continues to wear many hats and 

you can read more about Liz at your 

leisure. I couldn’t possibly justify all 

her accomplishments in this small 

article and her life is worth reading 

up about. Liz is a game changer 

through encouragement and never 

ceases to see the potential in any 

woman she encounters. 



Healthy Woman 

ARE YOU CHANGING 

YOUR HEALTH GAME? 

by Sandra Almonte 

Maria always took proactive steps to stay fit and healthy. 

She made time for exercise, was mindful of what she 

ate, and regularly took “me” time. Something happened 

along the way. Maria found herself feeling tired all the 

time. She couldn’t even gather enough energy to do the 

activities she loved. She caught herself eating whatever 

was in front of her “just because”. And the clothes in her 

closet made it impossible to ignore the weight gain. This 


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rude awakening was the turning point for Maria. She 

decided to take charge of her health and fitness for good. 

She decided to change her game. 

Have you found yourself wondering how you could 

either take back your health or start on a healthy and fit 

lifestyle? There are three simple steps you can take to get 

you on your way. 



The first step is to ask “Am I ready and willing to improve 

my lifestyle? This is a critical step because game changers 

are not quitters and they don’t make excuses. They’re 

not perfect but when the going gets tough they stick 

to what they set out to do. If they fall, they get up, dust 

themselves off, and keep moving forward. Are you ready? 

The second step is to identify what your motivators, 

strengths, and challenges are. In Maria’s case, her 

motivators were to prevent heart disease and diabetes 

which ran in the family. One of her strengths was that 

she always did what she said she was going to do. And 

her challenges were easy access to unhealthy foods and 

frequent demand of her time by others. Once Maria 

identified her challenges, she made plans to overcome 

them ahead of time. One example is she kept fruits and 

vegetables on hand for those “gotta have a snack” times. 

She also invested in professional help to get her started. 

What are your motivators, strengths, and challenges? 

The third step is to tell people who can support you in 

your goals. Maria had a friend she could talk to when she 

felt like she was slipping. Her husband was also a good 

encourager. And although she no longer had a need to 

meet regularly with a fitness trainer, she kept in touch 

for occasional sessions to revamp her routines. Who can 

be a support to you? 

Today, Maria is more confident in herself and has lots 

of energy. Her doctor exams show that her efforts are 

successful. Her closet is no longer a source of stress and 

anxiety. Even her family has adopted some of her healthy 

habits. What’s great about being a game changer is that 

anyone can do it. If you’ve answered “yes” to the first step, 

you can start by investing in a certified fitness trainer for 

exercise routine tailored to you; a nutritionist or di- etitian 

if you need a laid out eating plan; or a wellness coach if 

you know what exercises to do and what to eat but need 

help getting started. 

Are you 

Changing 

Your Game? 

Some website to visit: 

Finding A Personal Fitness Trainer: 

women.webmd.com 

Dietician Vs. Nutritionist: ehow.com 

Wellness Coaching: The Latest Trend in 

Fitness: webmd.com 


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TRANSFORMATION CHALLENGE 

Here is Dr. Liz’s friend Alexandra McWilliams who went from 190 to 115 and still going! 

Dr. Liz has gone from 187 to 172 and still going! 

HEALTH IS YOUR FIRST WEALTH. YOU CAN’T BE A GAME CHANGER IF 

YOU AREN’T HEALTHY! JOIN THE GAME CHANGERS CHALLENGE! 


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Soar 

Testimony 

By Nereida Rosario 

“IN EVERYTHING WE WOULD GIVE 

GOD ALL THE GLORY.” 

The first Wednesday of the year in 2011, I was standing 

with my brothers and sisters in church and our worship 

minister was leading us into our next song... 

“Love Came Down and Rescued Me, Love Came Down 

and Set me Free, Now, I am Yours, I’m Forever Yours, 

Mountains high or valley low, I sing out, remind my soul, 

that I am Yours, I am forever Yours.” Before long, I was 

weeping. It’s been four years since crisis came knocking 

at my family’s door. It came so unexpected, so sudden, it 

literally weakened me at the knees, losing my bearings 

upon hearing the prognosis. The weeping in church was 

not a sudden, single occurrence but something that has 

happened quite frequently in the last few years as things 

started to fall into what I call “a new normal” and as I 

processed all that has happened. With the event behind 

us but with emotions so raw and so close to the surface, 

it doesn’t take much these days to go into a “weep fest.” 

It comes suddenly, flooding my soul like a tsunami 

wave, overcome with songs of thanksgiving, praises and 

prayers before my God. 

On Thursday, September 30, 2011, while I was in choir 

rehearsal; I got a call from my husband, Edwin. He was 

with our girls and he didn’t sound well. He told me that 

he was feeling very dizzy and his vision was flashing. I got 

home and we drove him to an urgent care facility and they 

informed us that we needed to take him to an emergency 

room. While in the ER he started to feel a strong headache 

and a CT scan was performed. Close to midnight the ER 

doctor came to our room. Grabbing Edwin by one hand 

and grabbing my hand with his other we formed a circle 

in that tiny ER room. He informed us that Edwin would be 

staying at the hospital for a few days. He told us that the 


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scan revealed a tumor on the rear lower right side of his 

brain. The worst-case scenario, we were informed, could 

be cancer. It felt like a sucker punch to my abdomen and I 

started gasping for quick gulps of air. I grabbed and held 

on to the bed Edwin laid on, because I could not stand on 

my own. I told the doctor that he must be mistaken and 

that this could not be. 

In my mind I was thinking, it was September 30, and in 

one week on October 9, Edwin and I would be celebrating 

our 11th wedding anniversary. It was on my mind that 

in 1998, after battling with a diagnosis and long illness, 

my first husband died one week after our 11th wedding 

anniversary. This could not be happening, this could not 

be so! I began to weep and to ponder: Are you kidding 

me? Oh the many questions! 

Immediately the calls, emails and texts for prayers were 

sent out. People all around the US, even as far as Australia, 

joined the Rosario Family as we lifted Edwin to our God 

in prayer and fasting. The next morning as I explained to 

our two girls that their daddy was in the hospital, I told 

them that we had some trouble and we would be tested 

like a bible story we had just done on the 3 Jewish boys 

in the Bible: Shadrach, Mischak and Abdengo. Maya who 

was 7 at the time immediately quoted me Psalms 91...”He 

who dwells in the shelter of the most high God will rest 

in the shadow of the Almighty, I will say of the Lord He is 

my refuge my fortress my God in Him will I trust.” Sofia, 


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then four year old reminded me that even though the 3 

Jewish boys were in the fire, they were not alone because 

God was in the fire with them and He saved them and not 

even their hairs were burned. 

The prayers, the calls, the love from our extended family, 

our friends and our church family, continued without 

ceasing. Edwin and I were both in agreement that if we 

were going to go through this moment, we would make 

sure that “In everything we would give God all the glory.” 

As I prepared to visit Edwin at the hospital on Saturday 

morning, October 2 and I prayed looking out my kitchen 

window, I was suddenly aware that I was hearing, with 

my spiritual ears, what sounded like fervent prayers and 

intercessions. I could hear the cries and the clamor so 

intense that I put the coffee mug I was holding down on 

the counter in humble, weeping submission before God, 

realizing that I was listening to the prayers of the mighty 

army of God on behalf of Edwin and his family. His peace 

filled me. His promises surrounded me. 

During this whole time, God used places, people and 

moments to demonstrate His presence in our midst. A 

brother from my church came to me with a prophetic 

word that God had a different outcome this time around 

and that I should not be afraid....I would trust Him! The 

company Edwin worked for, as a computer programmer 

did not provide short term disability; only long term 

should he require it after 90 days of absence. 



This meant that for the two months that he would need 

before and after surgery, we would not have income 

coming into our home. I was and still am a stay at home 

mom and the reality of this situation was overwhelming. 

But God’s promises and provision prevailed for love 

came down and rescued us. Love came in the form of 

family members who stepped in and provided every 

single thing we needed to make ends meet in our home. 

Love came down when my sister-in-law showed up and 

took over as “mommy” while we worked through all the 

tests and paperwork that needed attention. Love came 

down, like Jesus with skin on, as family members and 

friends showed up and did not leave our side. Food 

provisions were an almost daily occurrence during these 

two months as friends and my choir family made sure 

we had everything we needed. On October 18, 2011 he 

underwent brain surgery with the understanding that 

they were going to go in and remove it if they could 

or if necessary, they would leave it to be treated with 

radiation and chemo. 

Everyone prayed in agreement that this tumor be 

removed completely. Four and half hours later, his brain 

surgeon, informed us that he had successfully removed 

99% of the tumor. If I were to include every single 

instance where we encountered and are still seeing 

God at work, this would be a much longer read. Yes, 

there were moments we felt afraid, and we felt unsure. 

Yes, there were moments we felt uncertain about the 

outcome and our future. But there was one thing we 

know for sure! WE WERE NEVER ALONE. God was in the 

midst of every single turn in this journey, we clearly 

see evidence of how He and His people are present. 

Still in recovery, Edwin returned to work the Monday 

before Thanksgiving of that year. Still unable to drive 

himself, our next door neighbor unexpectedly offers to 

drive him to and from work. Edwin expected to take an 

anti-seizure medication for 90 days after surgery was 

removed from the medication one month earlier than 

expected. His left peripheral vision which has been 

compromised because of the tumor in the rear lower 

right side is being restored day by day. Our Christmas 

celebrations were a bit deliberate and vocal that year 

and every year since as we recognized the gifts we had 

been given. We didn’t anticipate the many presents 

but again our beautiful family and friends made our 

children’s Christmas a beautiful one to remember. Most 

importantly for me, God kept His word and the outcome 

was definitely a different one. As I ponder on all of this, I 

reflect and still proclaim the lyrics of this song: 

“I wanna make my 

life All about 

Your glory 

I wanna spend my 

days Tellin’ 

the world Your 

story 

In everything I 

do In everything 

I say Following 

after You 

Giving You thanks 

and praise” 


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Game 

Changer 

Game Changing females 

DR. ELIZABETH D. RIOS 

WOMEN WHO LEFT THEIR MARK ON NYC 

This is an excerpt from the chapter The Ladies Are Warriors: Latina 

Pentecostalism and Faith-Based Activism in New York City in the book Latinos in 

Civic Activism in the United States edited by Gaston Espinosa, Virgillo Elizondo 

and Jesse Miranda. Book available on Amazon. 


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Today, while still not nearly enough, 

there are Latina preachers, pastors, 

seminarians, college professors, 

theologians, chaplains, faith-based 

nonprofit CEOs, and powerfully 

creative lay leaders in the church. 

The Latinas who have remained 

active in ministry in New York City 

all attribute their longevity to faith, 

prayer, patience, and, more than 

anything else, their undying belief 

that as Pentecostals their work is 

a mandate of God. These women 

warriors have shown the world 

how God manifests His power 

through earthly vessels regardless 

of gender. These Latina women 

were “warriors” yes, game changers 

in a world dominated by males and 

they stood up simply because God 

gave them their directives, and 

they did not let anything stand in 

their way of fulfilling their divine 

mandates. They used the tools of 

faith, prayer, and patience even 

while not receiving the full support 

of others in the community of 

faith. As Progressive Pentecostals, 

these Latinas have demonstrated 

that the church’s mission includes 

engaging in power encounters 

with the sinful structures of 

society. They have sought as their 

life’s work to respond to both the 

vertical and horizontal elements of 

life, which then becomes holistic in 

nature and thus breaks the “chains 

of injustice” and introduces a “chain 

of change” to transform their urban 

communities. They are defined as 

warriors because, as far as they are 

concerned, they are doing what 

many others are still discussing. 

Damascus Christian Churches: 

Rev. Leoncia Rosado Rousseau, 

Angel to the Outcasts 


TAKE FLIGHT 

Born on April 11, 1912, Rev. Leoncia 

Rosado Rousseau or “Mama Leo,” as 

she is affectionately called by many, 

came to New York City by boat on 

September 22, 1935. Although 

when I met her, she was ninety 

years old and suffering from the 

beginning stages of a progressive, 

neurodegenerative disease, Mama 

Leo could still recall her dramatic 

beginnings in ministry. From the 

seedy corridors of some of New York 

City’s worst barrios, her ministry to 

“the outcasts” of society— the drug 

addicts, gang members, prostitutes, 

and alcoholics— has birthed some 

of today’s greatest preachers, 

pastors, and evangelists like Nicky 

Cruz, who went on to establish a 

worldwide evangelistic ministry; 

Jim Jimenez, who pastors the Rock 

Church in Virginia Beach, Virginia; 

and Bishop Jerry Kaufman, now 

deceased, who was a Jewish drug 

addict and went on to become a 

well-known figure in New York City 

after leaving John 3:16 to establish 

Love Gospel Assembly in the Bronx, 

to name just a few. “It was in the 

mountains,” she says “of Toa Alta, 

Puerto Rico, when God spoke to 

me and told me I had to go to New 

York City.”21 After having a huge 

argument with her mother about 

this “voice,” she arrived in New 

York, where she met Rev. Francisco 

Olaza´bal, who she credits for 

opening many doors of ministry 

for her. “I would go to services with 

him where he would be the invited 

speaker and out of nowhere he 

would say, ‘I feel from the Lord to 

have Leoncia speak,’ ” she recalls. 

“You could see the disapproval of 

all the male ministers on the pulpit” 

but “I walked through every door 

God opened,” she said. 

A great opportunity for city 

government sponsorship of her 

program came when Nelson A. 

Rockefeller was governor. “She 

actually said no to $12 million 

dollars!” said Sonia Gamboa, 

Mama Leo’s personal assistant 

for the last eleven years and a 

frequent participant of the Center 

for Emerging Female Leadership. 

“The New York Times actually 

wrote about her for this situation. 

Rockefeller offered her $12 million 

in state assistance to help fund 

the program she developed for 

drug addicts and prostitutes of 

the street but there was a catch, 

she had to take out the name of 

Christ in her programming.” Sonia 

believes that the exact statement 

Mama Leo told them was “you can 

keep your $12 million, I will keep 

my Christ.” 

When asked about the 

discouragements and struggles 

she faced as a Latina in ministry, 

she said, “I was rejected by many.” 

Sonia, her assistant, explained: 

“Cops didn’t like [Mama Leo] 

because she was working with 

these really bad people who 

already had records in the police 

department. Ministers didn’t like 

her because she was a women 

“doing a man’s work.” It would 

have been easier to deal with” 

said Sonia, “if Mama Leo had other 

Latina sisters to talk to, but at 

that time not many of them were 

doing what she was doing. She 

was isolated.” 

Another struggle she faced was 

money for operating costs. It was 

difficult to meet some basic needs 

for her program participants, 



although she says, “God always 

provided.” Today, while the drug 

and alcohol rehabilitation program 

no longer exists, she says it does 

live on through the legacies of 

the people she touched. However, 

Damascus Christian Church still 

operates successfully and has 

a Latina woman heading its 

operations as bishop. Mama Leo 

still attends the church she started 

in the 1970s, “Iglesia Cristiana de 

Jamaica,” which currently has a 

membership roster of about 150 

people. Mama Leo went to the 

toughest neighborhoods, talked 

and ministered to some of our 

society’s less desirables, because 

she knew without a shadow of 

a doubt that God had called her. 

Perhaps that is what is missing 

in some of our emerging Latinas, 

a sense of divine purpose. Leo 

summed up her life with the quip, 

“if my life inspires other Latinas 

to get to know God then that is a 

good thing.” 

Way Out Ministries: 

Rev. Ana Villafañe, 

Friend of the Addicted 

Born on April 6, 1934, in Brooklyn 

Heights, New York, and growing 

up in the early to mid-1960s, 

a Puerto Rican young woman 

named Ana Villafañe was about 

to embark on a life-changing 

journey in her life. It was during 

the 1960s while in her thirties that 

she first got involved in dealing 

with the heroin epidemic that 

devastated the New York City 

Puerto Rican community. As a 

graduate of Mama Leo’s alcoholic 

rehab program, she felt an earnest 

desire to make a difference in 


TAKE FLIGHT 

people’s lives. However, before 

the establishment of Way Out 

Ministries, she was involved 

with the Community Progress 

Corporation (CPC), which was a 

program funded by the City of 

New York. CPC ran a rehabilitation 

station for many in the city, in 

addition to other programs that 

they operated for housing and 

medical treatment. This was a 

time when “the Bronx looked like 

an atomic bomb had hit it”22 

and “there were no programs 

really dealing with drug addicts 

that were faith-based other than 

Teen Chal- lenge and Mama Leo’s 

Christian Youth Crusade, which 

was part of the Damascus Christian 

Church. Although new secular 

programs like Day Top, Phoenix 

House, and Inwood House were 

being established,” CPC had 

locations in the Stuyvesant area of 

Brooklyn, in Queens, and in Hunts 

Point of the Bronx. After about 

ten years and a series of events at 

CPC, she left to become a senior 

counselor with the Methadone 

Maintenance Treatment Program. 

It was at this time that she and her 

husband, Eddie Villafañe, began 

Way Out Ministries. Members of 

the Catholic, Lutheran, Baptist, 

and Reformed Churches were 

most helpful to Rev. Villafañe 

at the beginning of Way Out; 

for three years, she received 

monetary support from these 

churches. The City of New York 

became aware of her program 

and gave her $1 million for three 

years from tax levy monies. Today, 

however, Way Out exists entirely 

on private individual donations. 

For the last twentyseven years the 

organization has been operating 

purely on the faith of its founder. 

“Very few churches, you won’t 

believe it, support us,” says Rev. 

Ana Villafañe. Although this 

program mostly services a Latino 

population, little support actually 

comes from Latino Pentecostal 

churches. “I do have a few 

Pentecostal churches, but not as 

much as I know I can be supported 

by. The Hispanic Pentecostal 

Concilios should be doing more 

to help, but they are not.” 

The operating costs and funding 

issues that she has encountered 

have been very discouraging, 

but she still maintains a positive 

attitude.She said, “you have no 

idea what I have gone through, 

but I am here because God 

has me here and because I am 

unrelenting.” She went on to say, 

“I know what God has started 

he will finish.” Interestingly, the 

majority of her employees are 

women, and only two of them 

(her part-time bookkeeper and 

her secretary) actually receive 

a stipend for their work. All 

others are volunteers who she 

personally had to educate in the 

area of volunteerism. However, 

while Rev. Villafañe holds on 

to her unrelenting faith, the 

future of Way Out is literally in 

the hands of its community, 

and she is hoping they come 

through for her. Currently, she 

is undertaking a $2 million 

fundraising campaign to build a 

new residence in the East 148th 

Street area where her program 

now resides. This is the first 

time in their history that she has 

embarked on such a challenge 

to raise support. “It not because 



of pride, but because I was 

happy with the way things were.” 

Unfor- tunately, she has had a 

tough time, as people have not 

fulfilled their pledges of support 

from her radiocampaigns and 

fundraising dinners. 

Way Out has as its goal to minister 

to substance and alcohol abusers, 

individuals with AIDS, the 

homeless, the needy and afflicted 

individuals in order to help them 

break out of their destructive lifestyles 

and prepare them to accept 

responsibilities. Throughout the 

past thirty-three years, many 

people have been drug free and 

law- abiding citizens. Some have 

even chosen to help others by 

becoming directors of residences, 

shelters, soup kitchens, and 

pantry programs. 

Crossroad Tabernacle: 

Aimee Garcıa Cortese 

Aimee Garcıá Cortese, now 

in her late seventies, is pastor 

emeritus and founder of the 

Crossroads Tabernacle in the 

Bronx, New York. Her thirtyfouryear- 

old son, Pastor Joseph 

Henry Cortese, took over at 

Crossroads in January 2002 from 

his mother, who founded the 

church in 1983. Pastor Garcıá 

Cortese has been written about 

in Pentecostal literature and 

has even appeared in various 

articles on women in ministry.23 

While the church is still part 

of the Assemblies of God (AG) 

denomination, its mission and 

ministry are unique and quite 

unlike any other AG church in 

New York City. When asked how 


TAKE FLIGHT 

she feels she is affecting her 

community through her church, 

she stated, “Our impact is the 

obedience to proclaim the 

gospel to all people.”24 The 

doctrine of Crossroads is based 

on “Bible truth as found in the 

scriptures and I make no apology 

for its truth because in it I find 

the mind of God.” 

The legacy of Pastor Garcıá 

Cortese and the church she 

founded continues as the 

Reverend Joseph Henry Cortese, 

or “Pastor Joe,” as he is called, has 

transitioned into the role of senior 

pastor. Pastor Joe is known in the 

city as the “Hip-Hop Evangelist” 

because of his use of drama and 

music to reach the teen culture. 

He was born in the East Bronx 

in 1967 and is the youngest 

of four children. Currently, he 

is supervising the church’s $3 

million renovation, slated for 

completion in 2002. The project 

is transforming a 1939 movie 

house into one of the largest and 

most sophisticated theaters and 

recording studios in the Bronx 

borough. 

The building, at 1320 Castle Hill 

Avenue, has been transformed 

into the Boden Center for the 

Performing Arts, which features 

concerts and plays, as well as 

teach dance, music, and drama to 

neighborhood kids. The church 

has already completed the Studio 

on the Hill, a state-of-the-art 

audio and video recording studio. 

In thinking about the philosophy 

of ministry found at Crossroads, 

Rev. Garcıá says, “Jesus’ ministry 

met all human needs. First and 

foremost, knowing. He knew who 

he was, and where he came from.” 

From Pastor Aimee’s perspective, a 

community needs to understand 

its identity. “He cared about 

hunger in his community,” she 

goes on to say; “therefore it 

is fitting for churches to feed 

the hungry—spiritually and 

physically.” 27 Coming from what 

she calls a legalistic “raja-tabla” 

Pentecostal background, 28 Pastor 

Aimee has gone through many 

metamorphic stages due to her 

treatment within the Pentecostal 

community. She mentions how 

she was asked to leave “Spanish 

Assemblies of God” many times, 

only to return. Reflecting on her 

struggles, she says that she came 

to the following conclusion: “I 

know who I am—actually God 

knows who I am.” In her times of 

ministerial meˆleés, she says, 

“I cried out to God—I’m yours, 

Lord. Do what you please with 

me; place me at your service, and 

I will follow and not turn back.” 

Although her church is meeting 

the needs of their community as 

Jesus modeled in His day, Pastor 

Aimee would not necessarily 

use the term “wholistic” because 

as she says, she is “still dealing 

or, better yet, struggling, with 

the concept.” Yet, with over fifty 

years in ministry, Pastor Aimee 

Garcıá states, “if being wholistic 

and impacting our community 

means reaching out, meeting 

needs, touching the sick, helping 

them receive medical assistance, 

seeking betterment for our 

children by advocating for better 

schools and health plans, then we 

are very much wholistic!” 



TEN GAME CHANGING 

WOMEN FROM AROUND 

THE WORLD 

Portions of this article originally appeared 

in Jennifer Gottesfeld’s blog 

and used here with permission. 

This has long been a topic that 

excites me, especially women 

taking charge in their communities 

and doing incredible things. I 

believe that a significant part of the 

real change made in communities 

around the world is organic and 

comes from within, not without, 

something I struggle with constantly 

as someone working in aid abroad. 

A few years ago I put together a TV 

series, which I pitched to the Oprah 

Network, called “Game Changing 

Women.” The premise of the show 

was to highlight the incredible 

women around the world taking 

things into their own hands. While 

the show was not picked up (thanks 

Oprah!), I’d love to use this space 

to celebrate just a few of these 

incredible women and share their 

stories. Each of these women is a 

local champion and they are game 

changers in their world. 

1. Amanda Espinoza realized that 

in Nicaragua, in order for women to 

compete in a man’s world, women 

needed to know how to do a man’s job. 

She started Mujeres Constructoras 

to teach poor Nicaraguan women 

construction skills. The women 

are taught carpentry, welding, 

plumbing and electrical work and 

can make everything from furniture 

to buildings. The program has taught 

hundreds of women who are now 

hired for well paying jobs and able to 

develop financial independence. 

2. Shilpa Merchant worked to 

prevent the spread of HIV in the sex 

workers of Mumbai.India. She soon 

realized that nothing would change 

for the sex workers unless they had a 

monetary buffer, which would make 

them less vulnerable. Since traditional 

banks in India would not provide sex 

workers accounts because of their 

trade, Merchant started the Sangini 

Women’s Co-operative Bank. The 

bank provides savings accounts 

and loans and now has over 2,000 

accounts, empowering women to 

change their lives. 

3. Susan Burton is the founding 

Executive Director of A New Way of 

Life Re-Entry Project, which operates 

homes and programs in South Los 

Angeles, for women recently released 

from prison to enable them to stay 

sober, get jobs and obtain life skills. 

Burton herself overcame a personal 

history of decades of incarceration 

and struggled with re-entry. After 

her release, she earned enough 

money working as a home health 

aide to purchase a modest home in 

1997, which she shared with her first 

clients. Today ANWOL operates three 

residences and has helped hundreds 

of women start new lives. 


TAKE FLIGHT 



4. Selenge Tserendash was tired 

of the high unemployment and 

alcohol abuse in her country of 

Mongolia. Her solution to this 

problem was to start New Way 

Life Mongolian Center to help 

women economically and socially 

by teaching them quilting. Quilting 

was a new activity in Mongolia so 

Tser¬endash recruited quilting 

teachers from the U.S. to come to 

Mongolia and teach the women. 

Quilting changed these women’s 

lives and gives them a steady 

income where they can work 

together to make quilts that are 

sold in their store and online. 

5. When Betty Makoni was a 

secondary school teacher in 

Zimbabwe, she discovered that 

many of her students were victims 

of sexual abuse. In 1999, Makoni 

started the Girl Child Network 

to confront sexual abuse in the 

rural areas of Zimbabwe. The 

organization works closely with 

abused girls and offers them the 

support needed to keep the girls in 

school and safe. 

6. When Naima Zitan learned 

that 60% of Moroccan women 

are illiterate, she decided to write 

plays in order to teach them about 

women’s issues and their rights. 

Zitan started Théâtre Aquarium an 

organization that performs these 

informative plays in rural areas, 

souks, markets, mosques, prisons, 

hospitals, factories, orphanages 

and theatres. She found this 

medium of communica¬tion to be 

effective in teaching women about 

the laws of their country and how 

to use them to protect themselves. 

7. The violence in the Democratic 

Republic of Congo has made it 

unsafe for women to commute 

even short distances. Adeline 

Nsimire recognized that these 

dangers prevent women from 

getting access to critical information 

and education. She started Radio 

Bubusa, a community radio station 

run by rural women in DRC, to ensure 

that rural women are empowered 

by access to information, training, 

and communication in a country 

that has seen a great deal of 

violence in the last years. By having 

a local radio station run by women, 

women are empowered by hearing 

important information that they can 

use to improve their lives. 

8. During the bloody Liberian civil 

war, Leymah Gibowee, a trauma 

counselor, realized that if any 

changes were to be made in her 

society, they would have to be made 

by mothers. In 2002, she organized 

the Women of Liberia Mass Action 

for Peace, which grew to be a political 

force against the government and 

violence in the country. Gibowee 

led women in demonstrations and 

strikes, including a sex strike against 

husbands. The actions of the women 

finally led to the end of the civil war 

and led to the election of the first 

fe¬male president of Liberia. 

9. Lucky, Dickey and Nickey 

Chherti, three Nepalese sisters, 

taught themselves to be trekking 

guides in the Himalayas. Trekking 

is typically a man’s profession, but 

the sisters saw that empowering 

women to move into this field 

would improve their lives. They 

started Empowering Women of 

Nepal, which trains women to be 

trekking guides in the Himalayas. 

10. After becoming a victim of 

sexual violence, Sunitha Krishnam 

decided to devote her life to 

working with the exploited women 

in India. She started Prajwala to 

fight the sex trade in India and 

assist trafficked women and girls. 

She is responsible for recuing more 

than 3,000 girls from sex traffickers. 

Prajwala has more than 17 centers 

and provides sex trafficking victims 

shelter and employment programs 

in carpentry, welding, printing, 

masonry and housekeeping so that 

they can start new lives. 

*Jennifer Gottesfeld is a Global Health Corps fellow with Baylor International Pediatric AIDS 

Initiative in Malawi, where she works as a health promotion officer. She was chosen to be a 

Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar and will receive a Master’s degree in gender-aware economics 

at Makerere University in Uganda in 2012-2013. In the past, Jennifer created a health center 

in Kala Refugee Camp in Zambia as project facilitator for the NGO FORGE under the UNHRC, 

participated in a year of service with AmeriCorps, worked in resource development at International 

Medical Corps and had a brief stint as an accountant and producer in the movie industry 


TAKE FLIGHT 



ORGANIZING GAME CHANGER 

THE NIGHT ROUTINE 

By Maria Gonzalez 

The word “routine” already sounds a 

little daunting. I mean, do you really 

need to commit to another to-do 

list, another task? I have worked 

inside and outside the home and 

I know that creating a routine is 

challenging and getting the family 

onboard is even more so. However, if 

I commit to completing simple tasks 

in the morning and in the evening, 

my day goes by so much smoother 

and I accomplish more. Of course, 

there are checklists that point out 

to clean doorknobs and behind the 

stove (and I am all about that too) 

but that isn’t feasible to do all the 

time. However, I can commit to a 

basic housekeeping night routine 

to make my days at home smooth, 

or at the very least, manageable. 

Do I do this routine daily? Um… 

no. I certainly try to, but there are 

days that I have to leave the house 

and the beds are not made, the sink 

isn’t clear, it’s life. I just notice that 

on the days that I have or make the 

time to complete these tasks, I am 

so grateful that I did. 


TAKE FLIGHT 



ARRANGE THE COUCH PILLOWS. 

This is a pet peeve of mine. These 

couches are 10 years old and let me 

tell ya, they have not been babied! In 

the weekends, we may take naps on 

these couches, we lie down to watch 

tv, my boys jump on these couches, 

they are USED. Basically, the pillows 

are usually a mess or they fall on the 

floor. I am always picking them up and 

threatening that I am going to get rid of 

them FOREVER. I quickly learned that 

this threat doesn’t evoke any reactions 

when you live with men. They are like 

“cool, more room to play”. 

LOAD THE DISHWASHER. 

Throughout the day, I load the dishwasher without running it until I get in 

all the dinner dishes. I set it to run at night and I unload it in the morning 

and start again. You are more likely to load the dishes at night if there is 

space for them in the dishwasher. If you are already exhausted (and we 

usually are at night) and you have to unload the dishwasher before reloading 

it, you may just skip it all together and leave it for the morning. 

I feel like when the pillows are a mess, 

the whole room looks messy. So at 

night I like to prop them up again and I 

wake up to a neat couch and pretend I 

live in a world where people care about 

couch pillows. 


TAKE FLIGHT 



WIPE DOWN THE SINK AND 

STAINLESS STEEL FRIDGE. 

I LOVE waking up to a welcoming 

kitchen! After putting away the dishes 

in the the dishwasher, clean and wipe 

down the sink. Also, stainless steel 

refrigerators are great but they are also 

a magnet for little hands. Go ahead and 

wipe it down with your kitchen towel 

before your throw it in the hamper. A 

little bit of extra work but you will be 

thankful you did this in the morning. 

SET OUT A NEW KITCHEN TOWEL. 

We rarely use paper towels, so our kitchen 

towels get dirty fast. Every night, I place the 

used one in the hamper. 


TAKE FLIGHT 



WIPE DOWN COUNTERS AND 

KITCHEN TABLE. 

Sitting down in a clean, cleared-out table 

is more enjoyable for the whole family. 

My husband makes our coffee every 

morning, but you may also want to grind 

the coffee ahead of time, or set some time 

aside to go over your agenda for the next 

day. You can certainly add items to this list, 

but the point is to make your home a place 

that welcomes you, in a manageable way 

that isn’t overwhelming. If I add too many 

tasks to my daily routine, I fall behind and 

get overwhelmed. 

Adding a simple organizing routine to 

your evening is an absolute game changer 

that will bring more order and peace to 

your life! 

Night Night, 

Maria Gonzalez is a blogger and 

organization consultant. Find out more at 

gracefulorder.com 


TAKE FLIGHT 



GAME CHANGERS 

By Dr. Toni G. Alvarado 

EXCERPTS FROM “THE EMPOWERMENT TRADITION OF 

AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN PREACHERS” 

~ DR. ANTOINETTE G. ALVARADO 


TAKE FLIGHT 

Traditionally the Month of March is 

National Women’s History Month. The 

2015 National Theme, Weaving The 

Stories of Women’s Lives presents a 

unique opportunity to discuss how 

the African American female preacher 

has impacted her community. A survey 

conducted by Delores C. Carpenter in 

her book, A Time for Honor, reveals the 

essence of ministry that is practiced 

among African American clergywomen. 

While preaching is a primary function of 

the work, the diversity of our roles is key 

and essential to the development and 

health of our congregants and churches. 

The list of ministerial tasks listed in the 

survey ranged from preaching, teaching, 

visitation, administration, social services, 

and fellowship, counseling and prayer. 

Although there appears to be pride of 

place given to the preaching ministry, 

in many cases preaching and teaching 

are viewed as synonymous. There is also 

an element of leadership development 

found in the words of many black 

sermons. Preaching ranks among the 

most enjoyed ministry practice because 

of the elements of coaching, counseling 

and teaching that are often hidden 

in the preaching style of many black 

clergywomen. 

One key ingredient to the empowerment 

nature of African American women’s 

preaching tradition can be found in 

the texts and themes from which they 

preach. Many preach stories of women 

in the Bible from both the Old and New 

Testament. It is in the lifting of these 

stories that black women preachers 

connect with the women in their 

congregation. This is largely due to 

the fact that African American women 

have endured stereotypes, institutional 

injustices, racism and social stigmas 

related to the color of their skin, texture 

of their hair and sometimes the size and 

shape of their bodies. 

They often find in the biblical text and 

preach from a gamut of themes ranging 

from special occasions to current 

world events. The black clergywomen 

surveyed by Teresa Fry Brown reported 

such preaching passions and themes 



as love, forgiveness, faith, overcoming 

obstacles, hope, praise and worship, 

sin, women’s issues, social issues, 

marriage, singleness, family dynamics, 

restoration, financial stewardship, 

tithing, healing, favor, deliverance, 

death as a process of life, emotional, 

psychological and spiritual liberation. 

The narrative form of the texts 

preached by African American 

clergywomen complements both their 

creative preaching styles and content. 

So often the texts chosen allow them 

to tell their stories in a manner that 

give them poetic license as they place 

themselves and their listeners’ into the 

biblical drama. The main characters 

of the texts chosen are often women 

or leaders who are being delivered or 

being used to deliver their people from 

oppressive systems and situations. 

Their gender has a significant purpose 

to the empowering affect of the African 

American women’s preaching tradition. 

Teresa Fry Brown notes, “Women 

understand women’s issues best 

because of their social location”. In other 

words, African American women express 

a need to have someone who can relate 

to them and black clergywomen tend to 

be more open and expressive in relating 

their stories. The transparency of black 

clergywomen is also another point of 

relation to the African American female. 

Their openness and willingness to share 

their successes and failures, victories 

and defeats engenders this type of 

connection. 

These women are not preaching from 

a vacuum. Whether it’s Sojourner Truth 

declaring Ain’t I a Woman, Jarena 

Lee defending her Call to Preach the 

Gospel, Susie Owens’ dramatic and 

energetic presentation of the Word 

pushing us to Go Further Than This, to 

Vashti McKenzie’s admonishing us to 

Participate in Our Own Rescue, these 

preaching women and sermons teach 

us lessons and wisdom that if applied 

will empower our lives. 

It is not that men, especially black male 

preachers, cannot speak to our issues, 

it is that the black clergywoman’s 

story is every black woman’s story. The 

African American women’s preaching 

tradition is an empowerment tradition 

that is confirmed by her proclamation 

of triumph and victory and modeled 

through the social activism and 

leadership that she provides to her 

church and community. 

The empowerment motif that is so 

evident in the lives, sermons and 

service of many African-American 

female preachers whose stories are not 

often told and celebrated. We celebrate 

these women who from antiquity to 

our contemporary society have made 

great strides amid personal struggles 

and obstacles that were placed in their 

path. To overcome such obstacles these 

women exhibited character, courage 

and an undying commitment to blaze 

a trail that we are afforded to walk 

through today. Many of these women 

are our unsung heroes yet their history 

is our history and our remembering of 

them makes their stories come alive 

today. They have been game changers 

for their generation and for generations 

to come. 

DR. TONI G. ALVARADO 

Dr. Toni G. Alvarado wears many hats as many of us do. She is Co-Pastor at Grace Church 

International, CEO of My Sister’s Keeper Foundation for Women and President of Targeted 

Living Coaching & Consulting. Find out more about her at www.drtonialvarado.com 


TAKE FLIGHT 



So You Want to be a 

Game Changer? 

By Dr. Sheila Cornea 


TAKE FLIGHT 

So, you want to be a game changer? 

Hopefully, a hearty, “Yes!” arose in you in 

answer to this question. But even if your 

answer was more of an unsure, “Yes?” be 

assured that you, yes you, have what it 

takes to be a game changer. Being a game 

changer simply means that you are living 

out God’s creative plan for you with every 

bit of boldness you can muster. Even if 

you aren’t quite sure if you yet qualify 

as a game changer, you can strengthen 

your game by honing your skills in these 

attributes of a game changer: 

INFLUENCE. 

Realize you have the power to affect your 

world. Even if you aren’t the final decisionmaker 

in your family, ministry, or work, you 

have the power to encourage others, build 

bridges, and create change. As the wise 

mom taught her daughter in the movie 

My Big Fat Greek Wedding, “The man may 

be the head of the household. But the 

woman is the neck, and she can turn the 

head whichever way she pleases.” Whether 

you use a subtle suggestion or an overt 

opinion, you can use your voice of influence 



to bring a positive effect in your circles at home, 

community, and career. 

INTUITION. 

When you tune in to your surroundings, you 

have the uncanny ability to read the nuances 

in situations that are often intangible and ‘felt’ 

rather than seen. You’ve probably experienced 

these feelings before when something with your 

child just doesn’t seem right, or when another 

woman seems to have an unwelcome interest 

in your husband that just doesn’t set right with 

you, those times when something feels off but 

you just can’t put your finger on it. Yes, that’s 

your intuition at work. You can tap into that 

same intuitive gift to discern opportunities, 

identify positive people in a room, and connect 

with those with whom you just ‘click’. Embrace 

your intuition and let it work for you in every 

area of your life. 

INTENTION. 

If you want to be a game changer, then you have 

to be intentional and purposeful in the daily 

decisions of your life. In other words, you live 

your life; your life doesn’t live you. You cannot live 

haphazardly and expect to be a game changer. 

You must take control of your choices and your 

actions every single day. You make a plan for 

success and work your plan with purpose, action, 

tenacity, and determination. Set your face like flint 

to accomplish your dreams and calling no matter 

what obstacles or opportunities cross your path. 

Begin each day by asking God for His guidance on 

what you should accomplish in the day. 

INITIATIVE. 

A true game changer is the first out of the gate 

as an influencer. Whether it’s extending your 

hand and introducing yourself in a meeting, 

or it’s taking a risk to be the first to change the 

template of how something is done, taking the 

initiative places you to be a leader in the game of 

life. When you take on a proactive mindset and 

realize your value in the world, it becomes easy 

to take initiative. Know that you have something 

valuable to offer others…your skill, sensibility, 

and sensitivity will be a blessing to others when 

you initiate with them. 

INNOVATION. 

You are made in the image of the Creator, and you 

are like Him. You have it in you to be creative… 

to make something from nothing and to breathe 

new life into old things. Being an innovator 

means that you bring something new into the 

atmosphere. You have the ability to bring a new 

perspective, a new attitude, a new creativity, a 

new anointing into your atmosphere. Game 

changers are master innovators, because the 

change the landscape in their arena. 

INSPIRATION. 

True inspiration is more than bringing hope and 

encouragement to others, although those are 

substantive traits of a game changer. Merriam- 

Webster defines inspiration as “a divine influence 

or action on a person believed to qualify him 

or her to receive and communicate sacred 

revelation.” You must rely on the inspiration from 

the One who has created you “for good works, 

which God prepared beforehand that we should 

walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10) As a game changer, 

you must trust God to give you the inspiration 

you need to accomplish your dreams and plans. 

When you continually ask Him to guide you, He 

will direct your steps. (Proverbs 16:9) 

Upping your game in all of these areas will 

definitely leverage you as a game changer, 

especially when you realize the key to being a 

game changer is understanding your identity 

in Christ. Everything you need to be a game 

changer is found in Him, because He is the 

ultimate game changer that created you to be a 

world influencer. 

DR. SHEILA CORNEA 

Dr. Sheila Cornea is a coach for ladies who lead. As an author and speaker, her mission is to empower ladies to thrive 

in leadership with ease and enjoyment. Sheila offers practical wisdom for life and leadership through her Gutsy Grace 

Resources blog at www.gutsygrace.com 


TAKE FLIGHT 



GAME CHANGING MAKE 

UP TIPS TO COLOR 

YOUR WORLD 

If you want to change the game, 

start by switching up the rules... 

There are a lot of hard and fast 

rules about beauty and style 

especially as a new season 

approaches. Every year the same 

routine... Give up your favorite deep 

shades for pink, coral and peach. 

Boring. Why not work at setting 

yourself apart? Both Inside & Out. 

Make the most of who you are and 

what Christ has made you to stand 

for. Yourself. 

Now the fun part... once spring 

approaches instead of opting out 

of wearing your beautiful burgundy 

colors and rich reds switch it up 

and change the way you use them. 

Use a finger to swatch one of your 

beautiful dark lipsticks and blend on 

your lips to customize a jewel tone 

lip stain. Still too much? Mix them 

with your gloss for a statement 

making power pout. 

If bold is the name of the game for 

you, a plethora of beautiful red 

shades are springing up everywhere. 

See what I did there? SPRINGing up. 

But I digress. Without a doubt, there 

is a perfect red out there waiting for 

you. Not sure how to choose? Start 

with a color that compliments your 

skin tone. Too bold? Opt for a red 

based brown shade. Tried everything 

and you are still unsure? Look for a 


TAKE FLIGHT 

blue based red. MAC’s Ruby Woo is 

the most flattering red on everyone. 

Anyone, I mean anyone can wear it, 

no matter how fair or how dark your 

complexion. Should you feel the 

need to dial the color down, use a 

darker liner to adjust the color. FYI, 

lip liner is not dated, just using it like 

a 90s super model is. 

If you are not a lipstick girl, I have 

something up my sleeve for you my 

pretty. Around this time is when our 

skin is looking lackluster and winter 

worn. Many are not quite ready 

for bold shimmer and bronzers. 

However, you can still benefit from 

a little bit of glow. This tip is a gem 

cause you give your skin added 

moisture and a lit from within 

radiance. Take one of your powder 

bronzers from last season and grind 

a portion of it down. Mix it in with 

your favorite moisturizer and a pea 

sized amount of concealer for light 

coverage. Apply the mixture and 

voila... you have a subtle glow that 

peeks through and says you are 

here for Spring while getting ready 

for Summer. 

Last but not least, a little tip for 

those tangled in the whirlwinds of 

highlighting and contouring. It is 

easy to get lost. Always start with 

yourself. You have all you need 

in your beautiful skin to help you 

choose the contour shade that is 

best. Skip the dark bronzers that 

leave you looking like an oompa 

loopa in the chocolate factory. Just 

shoot straight for your favorite 

foundation. Foundations are color 

calibrated with less warm tones 

so you will find it is much easier to 

choose a shade, close to your own, 

that will be foolproof to use. 

Use your base as a guide to help 

you find an additional foundation, 

2 shades darker, that you can use 

as a contour color. The easiest 

texture to contour with is powder, 

hands down. Or up should I say. 

We are contouring our face. Start 

with a fluffy small angled brush to 

buff your product in using circular 

motions and you will be amazed. 

Just remember to build slowly, you 

can always add but you can not 

take away. 

Football season is over but your 

season is now. Make the game your 

own. 

Kisses, 

Candace S. 

Candace Sheppard 

Makeup Artist|LifeStylist 

786. 281. 0464 

www.modelmisfit.com 

modelmisfits@gmail.com 



Soaring 

in the kitchen 

GINGER ALE WITH FROZEN 

GRAPES 

SERVES 4: Ginger is one of your best friends during chemo, 

both for its flavor, which can spark even the most 

jaded taste buds, and for its tummy-soothing properties. 

A lot of people think store-bought ginger ale will do the 

trick, but the actual ginger content in most commerical 

varieties is minimal. Plus, you often get a whole host of 

other garbage (can you say high fructose corn syrup?) 

that you’d be better off without. Enter this recipe, which 

uses straight-up ginger syrup so you can control the 

amount of zing in your tonic. The frozen grapes serve the 

same purpose as your basic ice cubes, but also sneak a 

• 4 cups water 

• 2 cups sliced unpeeled fresh ginger 

• 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice 2 

tablespoons honey 

• Frozen seedless grapes Sparkling water 

• Mint sprigs, for garnish 


TAKE FLIGHT 

bunch of healthy minerals and phytochemicals into the 

brew. Makes about 2 cups syrup Rebecca’s Notes You can 

also use this ginger syrup to make a hot beverage. Just stir 

3 tablespoons of the syrup into 1 cup of hot water, then 

add more honey or lemon if you like. 

Bring the water and ginger to a boil in a saucepan, then 

lower the heat, cover, and simmer for 1 hour. Uncover and 

continue to simmer for 30 minutes. 

Strain the infusion through cheesecloth and discard 

the ginger. Stir in the lemon juice and honey and let 

cool to room temperature. For each serving, add 1/4 

cup of the ginger syrup to a glass with frozen grapes, 

then fill the glass with sparkling water and garnish with 

a sprig of mint. 

Storage: Store the ginger syrup in an airtight container in 

the refrigerator for 7 days. Store the grapes in a resealable 

plastic bag in the freezer for 3 months. 

Per Serving: Calories: 50; Total Fat: 0.2 g (0.1 g saturated, 

0 g monounsaturated); Carbohydrates: 12 g; Protein: 0 g; 

Fiber: 1 g; Sodium: 5 mg. 



LEMON MUSTARD 

SALMON SALAD 

SERVES 2: All salmon are not created equal. This recipe 

features wild Alaskan sockeye. It’s the “wild” part that’s 

really important. Wild salmon are far higher in omega-3s 

than their farm-raised brethren, and omega-3s have 

been linked to a whole host of cancer-fighting benefits. 

The nice thing is, you don’t have to go fishing or even 

handle a salmon fillet to make this dish; there are great 

brands of wild sockeye that come in cans. That said, of 

course you can also make this with an equal amount 

of leftover home-cooked salmon. Either way, this salad 

is easy to prepare: All it takes is a quick stir with a few 

choice ingredients, and there you go—a nice, filling dish 

that’s rich in protein, yummy, and versatile. Serve it in a 

pita, wrap it in a tortilla, or mound it atop salad greens. 

• 71/2-ounce can boneless, skinless, sockeye 

salmon, drained 3 teaspoons Dijon mustard 

• teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice 2 

teaspoons extra-virgin 

• olive oil 

• Pinch of cayenne Pinch of sea salt 

• tablespoons finely chopped celery 

• 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh flat-leaf 

parsley 


TAKE FLIGHT 

Put the salmon in a bowl and break it into small pieces 

with a fork. Stir in the mustard, lemon juice, olive oil, cayenne, 

salt, celery, and parsley, then do a FASS check. If 

needed, adjust the flavors with lemon juice and a pinch 

of salt. 

Variations: Add capers or chopped radishes to this dish— 

they will not disappoint! 

Or combine just the salmon and celery with 2 tablespoons 

of the Basil Lemon Drizzle or 1 tablespoon of the 

Moroccan Pesto; both are great dressings to try with this 

salmon recipe. 

Prep Time: 5 minutes • Cook Time: Not applicable 

Storage: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator 

for 2 days. 

Per Serving: Calories: 180; Total Fat: 8.5 g (0.7 g saturated, 

3.4 g monounsaturated); Carbohydrates: 1 g; Protein: 27 

g; Fiber: 0 g; Sodium: 670 mg 



ORANGE GINGER ROASTED 

CHICKEN 

SERVES 6: Roasted chicken is such a staple for many 

people that I wanted to provide a zippy recipe that 

would avoid the all-too-frequent pitfall of bland, dry results. 

Here, I’ve replaced the common rosemary-thyme 

rub with ginger, orange zest, and cinnamon, which are 

also appetite stimulants. Rubbing the spices under the 

skin, filling the cavity with more aromatics and orange 

juice, and then roasting the whole shebang makes for 

one moist, tasty bird! 

• 1 41/2- to 5-pound organic chicken 1 teaspoon 

paprika 

• 1/4 teaspoon ground coriander 1/4 teaspoon 

ground cinnamon 11/2 teaspoons sea salt 

• 1 orange, zested and juiced, rind reserved 

• 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger, plus 1 finger-length 

piece of unpeeled fresh ginger, 

halved lengthwise 

• 3 cloves garlic 

• 2 cinnamon sticks 

Pat the chicken dry with paper towels. Stir the paprika, 

coriander, and cinnamon together, then divide the 

mixture in half and stir 1 teaspoon of the salt into half. 

Rub the salted spice mixture all over the outside of the 

chicken. Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt inside 

the chicken. 

With your palm facing downward, use your first three fingers 

to gently lift the skin on both sides of the breast to 

loosen it from the meat. Rub the remaining spicemixture, 

the orange zest, and grated ginger under the skin of each 

breast, massaging them lightly into the meat. Place the 

garlic, cinnamon sticks, ginger pieces, and orange rind 

inside the cavity along with half of the orange juice. 

Place the chicken on a roasting rack in a glass or ceramic 

baking dish, breast side up. Roast until a meat thermometer 

reads 160°F when inserted in the thigh and the juice 

from the meat runs clear, about 1 hour. 

Let the chicken rest for at least 10 minutes before carving. 

Just before serving, pour the remaining orange juice 

over the chicken. 

Use disposable kitchen gloves to handle the bird more 

easily and keep things sanitary. Preheat the oven to 

400°F. 


TAKE FLIGHT 



A Game 

Changing 

Woman Is... 

SOAR asked the Facebook world a question 

and here are a few of the answers we received. 

Participate in our Facebook poll for every issue 

and your voice might be in the next issue. 

Stacey M. Garced-Serrano 

A woman who sees challenges as an opportunities. She 

see’s what other cannot. She does what others think is 

impossible. Her drive and determination cannot be 

broken. She is a warrior. 

Carmen Lydia Acosta 

A woman who is a game changer is optimistic, assertive, 

a dreamer and one who doesn’t compromise her values 

because her integrity matters. Fame is irrelevant to 

her because she doesn’t seek followers; instead she is 

accompanied by faithful supporters who capture her 

vision and enrich her process throughout her journey. 

Lezette C. Rivera 

A woman who understand the game. Can’t change the 

rules if you don’t know how to play and win! 

Carmen Lydia Acosta 

A woman who is a game changer is optimistic, assertive, 

a dreamer and one who doesn’t compromise her values 

because her integrity matters. Fame is irrelevant to 


TAKE FLIGHT 

her because she doesn’t seek followers; instead she is 

accompanied by faithful supporters who capture her 

vision and enrich her process throughout her journey. 

Gladys Lamboy-Rios 

A game changer is someone who can see what others 

can’t and can make decisions and changes without 

compromise and in a positive manner for the betterment 

of people, places and/or things. 

Carmen Cruz Quintero 

A game changing woman is not just about playing 

the game but about changing the game. She’s selfaware, 

self-sufficient but also holistically sensitive 

to others’ (as she acknowledges the importance of 

allies on her team). She reads, she listens, she applies 

good counsel, she dreams but is also realistic about 

the possibilities of having to revert to ‘plan B or plan 

C’ ... because such is the game. And ultimately she’s 

blessed because she understands that her gifting, 

which includes her raw intelligence to be that game 

changer, ONLY comes from God. 



We can’t re-introduce SOAR 

magazine without introducing 

another division of CEFL birthed in 

2014, Latinas of Legacy. In 2014, we 

were interviewed for a Spotlight 

on newlatina.net what follows is 

a portion of the interview to help 

our readers learn more about 

this new division. 

Find out more about Latinas of 

Legacy by visiting their website 

at www.latinasoflegacy.com and 

if you are local in South Florida, 

get involved with the Board 

or on the team ask us how at 

info@latinasoflegacy.com 


TAKE FLIGHT 

What inspired you to establish 

Latinas of Legacy? 

Having worked with many women we 

felt that there are many organizations 

that were non apologetic about their 

target audience which were either 

Black or White. The ones that were 

“catch all” usually didn’t have a Latina 

as a speaker and didn’t speak from a 

perspective that fit us. The ones that 

catered to Latinas where all Spanish 

and we felt that the Latina in America 

is bilingual bicultural. We wanted to 

focus on Legacy because we wanted 

Latinas to remember that everything 

they do in life will live on and we 

wanted them to be intentional about 

what “their life speaks”. 

What is Latinas of Legacy’s overall 

mission? 

Our Vision is to help Latinas mark 

their world and leave a positive, 

long-lasting legacy for their family 

and community. 

Our Mission is to be an illustrious 

sisterhood of Latina women who 

have united in purpose to make a 

difference in society by intentionally 

letting their life speak in the areas of 

faith, family and finances. 

Why is Latinas of Legacy important 

for the Latino/a community? 

Latinas of Legacy will help strengthen 

the family and will help women plan 

for the future of their families as we 

will also focus on helping women 

leave a legacy by leaving wills and 

financial stability. 

How has your identity as a Latina 

enhanced or impacted the work 

that you do? 

To be honest, I have always been very 

aware of my Latina-ness because 

many of my old bosses were Latino 

(Puerto Rican) and made sure I knew 

my history. Focusing on the issues 

impacting Latinas now helps us stay 

connected to the struggle of many 

Latinos who unlike Puerto Ricans have 

to work very hard to become citizens. 

My background (Liz) growing up with 

a PR single mom in the Lower East 

Side of the NY and my own journey 

of racism, labels, etc. helps me to 

remember that every day a Latina 

succeeds in graduating HS, College, 

reaching a high level in business, etc 

all victories to be celebrated. 

My background (Silvia) was growing 

up in Passaic New Jersey as an 

immigrant 6 year old with immigrant 

parents struggling to make their 

dreams come true in the USA. I 

struggled with the culture, the 

language and with the assimilation 

process. I have a heart for the new 

Latinas that step foot on the grounds 

of the US and the real-life struggles 

that are faced on a daily basis. I am 

also well aware “que si se puede” to 

live out your dreams here. 

In what ways do you hope to see 

Latinas of Legacy impact others? 

We want LoL to impact Latinas 

by helping young women start 

believing that they CAN make it to 

the highest heights of any field, We 

want to see Latinas plan for their 

families with wills and life insurance 

so that the next generation will have 

a better start than they did. 

What is your vision for U.S. 

Latinas? What do you hope to see 

them do or be recognized for? 

We would love to see U.S. Latinas be 

more supportive of each other and 

the ventures they undertake, we 

would love to see them involved in 

giving back to other Latinas in need 

of mentorship and marketplace 

sponsorship. We want to see Latinas 

do and be whatever they set their 

minds to do. We don’t want them 

to think of limits or boundaries. We 

want them to take over the world. 



CALENDAR OF EVENTS 

Monday, April 20, 2015 7 PM 

Game Changers Challenge, 

Healthy Happy Hour with Dr. Liz 

Email her at drlizrios@gmail.com to 

RSVP or more info. 

More info about event at www.willowcreak. 

com/summit 

CEFL Team Registration at www.cefl.org 

includes Tshirt to wear that day showcasing 

you as a Leading Lady! 

Saturday, May 30, 2015 10 am – 2 pm 

Location: TBD 

CEFL’s Leading Through Writing 

Seminar: Getting Your Book To 

the World from Concept to Creation 

Learning from people who have done it 

without a book agent!! 

Investment: $60 

Thursday, June 25, 2015 Latinas 

Learning Together Seminar 6:30 PM 

Topic: Can We Really Do It All? 

(A Work Life Balance discussion) 

Memorial Hospital Miramar 

Guest Speaker: Josi Gago 

To find out more visit our site 

at www.latinasoflegacy.com 

or follow us on Facebook 

August 6-7, 2015 CEFL Leading 

Ladies Group Outing to Global 

Leadership Summit at Christ 

Journey Church in Miami 

Group of 10+ $149, Individual $189 

Friday, August 14, 2015 Hispanic Women 

of Distinction Charity Awards Luncheon, 

11 am – 2 pm 

Get to know the women of Latinas of 

Legacy at a great charity event by buying 

a ticket to sit at our table. Location will 

be Davie’s Signature Grand. Tickets are 

$80 per person. Follow us on Facebook to 

learn more. 

Save the Date for these Fall Events! 

Friday & Saturday September 

11-12, 2015 

Join Us at the LEAD 2015! 

Special Guest Speaker Dr. Toni Alvarado. 

Theme: Shift Happens! Making and 

Managing Your Next Step! A retreat for 

your voice, soul, spirit and body! 

The Ritz Carlton, Naples FL 

More info to follow at www.cefl.org. 

Saturday, October 10, 2015 

Latinas of Legacy - Legacy Luncheon 

Location: TBD 

Next Soar Issue Theme: Friendships: Vital or Fatal – June 2015 

If you’d like to write for SOAR let us know 

Email drlizrios@gmail.com 


TAKE FLIGHT 



JOIN DR. LIZ IN A 

TRANSFORMATION 

CHALLENGE 

FOR 2015. 

As a gift toward your transformation, 

Dr. Liz is giving away 25 $50 coupons 

toward your first cleanse purchase. 

Visit www.mypurium.com/healthypassion 

and redeem our gift card with the code 

“healthy passion”

Visit Us At 

www.cefl.org

SOAR

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