Rich Perez - Mi Casa Uptown: Learning to Love Again

What do you get when you combine a native New Yorker, church planter, husband, father, and practitioner in renowned Uptown, New York City? The answer is in your hand! In Mi Casa Uptown: Learning to Love Again , youll discover firsthand learnings on what it means to be a true disciple in an ever-changing urban context. In this book, Rich gives away the recipe on how to foster authentic Christ-centered community: plant roots, make homes, build families, love neighbors, trust Jesus, and die well. This book should be required reading in every church-planting movement. I am grateful for Rich and the entire Christ Crucified Fellowship (CCF) family as they faithfully make much of Jesusin the heights and beyond!

Ralph Castillo, teaching pastor of Christ Tabernacle

You cant truly love a city unless you love the people. Many people have expressed their love for New York, yet forsake the very people whove called it home their entire life! In Mi Casa Uptown , Pastor Rich Prez brings balance to the conversation by expressing love for his God, city, and the people whove intersected their life with his. Hear his heart and emulate it in your city for Gods glory.

D. A. Horton, pastor of Reach Church and author of Bound to Be Free

In this heartfelt incarnational memoir, Prez unpacks a fresh and needed gospel voice for city and urban ministry. He communicates about the Empire State in the neighborhood of Washington Heights in a way that makes it approachable. Read this work and be inspired to fill where God has sent you with new redemptive stories.

Eric M. Mason, lead pastor of Epiphany Fellowship and author of Unleashed: Being Conformed to the Image of Christ

Regardless of your faith, this book will stimulate and challenge your thinking. Rich takes you on an intimate tour of self that at times puts you in the position of the protagonist. He effortlessly weaves correlations between love, Jesus, and community, and cocoons you in a quilt of reflection. From my favorite childhood memory to my present life experiences, this book forces you to rethink your perspective about all things life.

Belissa Savery, director of Client Partnerships for Cine Latino

Mi Casa Uptown is a refreshing reexamination of the callous assumptions we attach to the city, and how life and beauty can still be found there despite those assumptions.

B. J. Thompson, executive director and founder of Build a Better Us

America is returning to cities to live, and many never left. For those who love the city and who love Jesus, this will be an incredibly challenging and deeply moving read. For those not sure about Jesus, this will be a surprising encounternot with religion, but with love. And love can change everything!

John Avant, senior pastor of First Baptist Concord, Knoxville, Tennessee

I love the way that Rich makes the ordinary seem so exciting and fulfilling. He reminds me that my ordinary life is filled with so many opportunities for greatness that were oblivious to. Throughout this book, Rich, almost like a magician, pulls so much meaning and wonder out of what seems to be so mundane. As long as Ive known Rich, Ive known of his love for his city, his family, his neighborhood, and most important, his Godand its contagious. Im so grateful that he actually took the time to unpack all of his loves in one place so anyone who picks this up can catch some of what he has. Your family, your faith, and your neighborhood will be better off if any of this sticks.

John Onwuchekwa, lead pastor of Cornerstone Church, Atlanta, Georgia

After living and pastoring in New York City for nine years, one of my biggest regrets is not spending more time with Rich Prez. He loves his city, not in a romantic way, but in a real and sacrificial way. His words are refreshing and challenging, inspiring us to plant ourselves and live invested in the places we inhabit, for the glory of God and good of neighbor.

JR Vassar, pastor and author of Glory Hunger: God, the Gospel and Our Quest for Something More

This is a wonderful expression of love for family, community, and Christ. Its nostalgic for some, enlightening for others, and challenging for all.

David Ham, pastor of evangelism at Times Square Church, New York City

Rich is still that same hospitable man who would offer his apartment in a split second to anyone in need. No matter how similar or different your life experiences may be, my hope is that as you read Mi Casa Uptown , you would be challenged and inspired by Richs journey.

Andy Mineo, recording artist and friend

Prez delivers an unbelievably rich and compelling narrative about life in New York City that is hidden from the world because the storytellers are from the dominant culture. The redemptive story of the gospel is woven into this story in rich layers that will inspire readers to love God and love their neighbors in their own communities. In Mi Casa Uptown , New York City and the gospel come to life in ways that encourage us all to seek first the kingdom.

Anthony B. Bradley, PhD., associate professor of Religious Studies at The Kings College, New York, New York

Copyright 2017 by Rich Prez

All rights reserved

Printed in the United States of America

978-1-4627-4371-1

Published by B&H Publishing Group

Nashville, Tennessee

Dewey Decimal Classification: 152.4

Subject Heading: LOVE \ EMOTIONS \ PREJUDICES

Designer: Adalis Martinez

Photo: Ray Neutron

Illustrator: RJ Vergara

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Christian Standard Bible, Copyright 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible and CSB are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.

Scripture quotations marked esv are taken from the English Standard Version. Copyright 2000; 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked niv are taken from the New International Version. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

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Dedication

T

I remember it as if it happened yesterday. T, sung by Juan Luis Guerra, was one of my moms favorite songs to dance to. The DJ at my wedding called us up for the last dance, and despite the fact that she was physically struggling, she wasnt going to pass up the momenta moment that only later wed realize we wouldnt get back. My moms commitment to work, serve, teach, lead, and inspire anyone in her path was infectious. And that night was no different.

Mi Casa Uptown is dedicated not only to my moms legacy, but to every immigrant who moves their family to an unfamiliar land with a dream all too familiar. Thank you. Your commitments, efforts, sacrifices, long hours, overnights, broken English, odd jobs, native tongue, foodeverythinghas been nothing but inspiring to your children, their children, and the work and purpose with which they now live. You are the real heroes, even if few honor you. Gracias, Papi y Mami .

Mi Casa Uptown is dedicated to my wife, Anna. Youve been nothing but incredible, not only through the writing process, but since we first met in the fitting room at the Gap over fourteen years ago. I commit to never leave you nor stop pursuing you. For where you go I will go, and where you stand I will stand. Your family shall be my family, and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.

Finally, Mi Casa Uptown is dedicated to my son, Josiah. My little superhero, Jo Whadoyaknow. In our world, people find it hard to be themselves. God has used you to inspire me to be me. The forgiven, made-new, and Spirit-empowered me. Youre an incredible little dude, brighter than you sometimes know. You are the single greatest reason in this life I labored writing this book, building our home, investing in this community, leaving this legacy. No matter what life throws your way (because it will, and it throws hard!), Jesus made sure that theres always a place to take those things. Just before you think the light is swallowed up by darkness; just before you think evil wins; just before you think the fire is put out by the coldthats when the light explodes everywhere. Thats when good stands tall with evil under foot. Thats when the fire spreads, creating passion and strength to believe again. I hope that the life of this book is something you experience with me before anyone else. I hope that the life of this book inspires you to find Jesus in the smallest things as much as in the biggest; in the familiar as much as in the unfamiliar; in all the places you travel, but even more, in your home, tu casa . Love you, buddy.