Dallas Metro Podcast (Episode #87) Featuring Special Guest Erika Flores

Erika joins Pastor Clay as a special guest for the Dallas Metro Podcast. Erika, a dedicated volunteer and longtime participant in the Dallas Metro ministry, recently celebrated her 40th birthday. Born in El Salvador, she immigrated to the United States in 1986 with her mother and two older sisters, Anna and Jessica, later joined by younger sisters Maria and Cindy. Growing up in the diverse Apple Creek neighborhood in Dallas, Erika navigated a challenging environment marked by cultural barriers and community struggles, but found protection and guidance through her mother's vigilance and the ministry's outreach. Today, she is a loving mother to her 11-year-old son, RJ, who shares her passion for football and cheers for the Cowboys, while Erika continues to give back to the community that shaped her faith and resilience.

In this heartfelt conversation with Pastor Clay, Erika reflects on her early encounters with the Dallas Metro truck that brought games, Bible teachings, and a sense of belonging to her neighborhood after school. She shares fond memories of summer camps at the Jacksonville campground, where primitive conditions did little to dampen the powerful spiritual experiences, and how her relationship with God deepened through consistent involvement. Erika also discusses overcoming initial hesitations from her protective mother, the pivotal role of volunteers like Barbara in building trust across language barriers, and her transition from participant to interpreter and youth volunteer, driven by a desire to pass on the support she received.

The discussion highlights the transformative impact of faith in facing fear, drawing from Isaiah 41:10 as a guiding nugget, and emphasizes the need for extravagant generosity to fund a new ministry center debt-free. Erika urges viewers to consider sacrificial giving to propel Dallas Metro's mission forward, ensuring future generations benefit as she and her sisters did. Visit dallasmetro.org to learn more and contribute to this ongoing dream.