Rosalinda Rivera open the interview by sharing her family’s story and how she got into ministry. Her dad was a warlord of one of the largest gangs in NY. He was addicted to drugs and caught up in the gang life. David Wilkerson reached her dad on the street in NYC with the gospel message. As a result, a movie, Victor was made about her dad’s life story.
Rosalinda has been working along side her parents. As a result, she encourages us to respect our parents. She says you never know where it will lead.
Dare to Begin again is a collection of stories of people who have overcome something in their life. At the end of each chapter Rosalinda has a dare for the reader.
Rosalinda shares one of the chapters that is very personal to her. Specifically, a situation where she had to rely on God. She prayed for others and this was a situation where others where lifting her up in prayer.
You will want to listen to the audio to the end where Rosalinda prays over the listeners.
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Rosalinda Torres Rivera
Rosalinda Torres Rivera is the executive director of New Life For Youth, one of Virginia’s largest residential facilities helping to rehabilitate people from a life of addiction. She has been reaching out to families in crisis, poverty, and hopelessness for over twenty-five years. Using her business skills, Rosalinda developed a model of social enterprise to sustain the non-profit New Life For Youth. They created businesses that train thousands of young people in job skills and leadership.
She is also the president of New Life Enterprises, the founder of Mercy Moms Home, a place for single mothers to find hope and healing, and the founder of Bella Women’s Ministry in Richmond, Virginia, which hosts annual conferences for over 500 women.
Rosalinda is a featured presenter at various events nationwide. She has ministered throughout the world and has traveled to over twenty-two countries. From the White House to the local community, she’s recognized for her impact in bringing hope to the hopeless.
Rosalinda was appointed to the Board of Governors of the National Association of Nonprofit Organizations & Executives, headquartered in Washington, DC. Style Magazine selected her as a “Top 40 under 40” leader for her impact in Richmond, Virginia.
In 2018, the Valentine Museum in Richmond will feature the work of her family as one of the city’s first Hispanic families to impact Richmond in the non-profit sector.
Rosalinda is the daughter of Victor Torres, an ex-gang member from the streets of NYC, and his wife, Carmen.Her parents are the founders of New Life For Youth and pastors of New Life Outreach International Church. She served as an associate producer on Victor, a movie about her father’s journey from drugs and gangs to Jesus and redemption.
Rosalinda and her husband, Carlos, have three children: Alana, Gabriel, and Victor.
Dare to Begin Again
Is your life where you want it to be?
We all have struggles and challenges in life. Whether they are of our own making or not, things don’t always work out. Sometimes, we just give up on our dreams and goals.
But it doesn’t have to be that way! God is a God of new beginnings, and throughout the entire Bible, we read about people who were stuck, disappointed, and faced impossible situations—people God freed.
Rosalinda Torres Rivera challenges us to Dare to Begin Again. Using stories from her own life, other people, and biblical times, Rosalinda offers inspirational, down-to-earth advice on beginning again. Each chapter tackles a different issue where you may be “stuck”—such as an inability to forgive, trust, or hope—and examples of people who overcame similar challenges.
Practical tasks at the end of each chapter walk you through a DARE challenge (Decide, Allow, Rise, Enjoy) to help you move closer to a fresh start.
Rosalinda is the daughter of Victor Torres, an ex-gang member from Brooklyn, New York, and his wife, Carmen. They are the founders of the New Life For Youth ministry. She has seen more than twenty thousand people get out of tough situations and turn their lives around.
“They’re people whose tales of transformation prove God is still at work,” she says. “He’s written and re-written their life’s chapters—and He’s willing to do the same for you.”
It takes a commitment, but with the help of God, inspiring, true stories, and practical applications, you can Dare to Begin Again.