Edwin Guzman is the senior pastor and one of the founders of SE Christian Church located in Rohnert Park, California. He has been serving in ministry for more than 20 years. Edwin’s favorite analogy for transformation in Christ is that of the caterpillar and the butterfly. Through Jesus Christ, the greatest miracle in the world occurs, just as the caterpillar, through the process of metamorphosis, transforms into a completely different being. He will be speaking on Wednesday evening at the ALIPE Service at Midwinter 2026.
Where do you call home these days—and what does community look like for you there?
Home, for me, is not just an address—it’s wherever God’s presence is welcomed and his people walk together in love. These days I call my local church and the streets of my community in Rohnert Park, California, home. It’s where laughter and prayer mingle, where burdens are shared and victories are celebrated. Community here looks like open doors, open hearts, and open tables. It’s young and old worshiping together, neighbors becoming family, and Jesus being lifted high in everyday conversations. It’s a living, breathing picture of God’s kingdom breaking into ordinary life.
What’s a moment when you’ve seen love between people change a situation, a team, or a relationship?
I’ve seen love melt walls that years of arguments could not. I remember a time when two leaders in our church—once divided by hurt and pride—chose forgiveness. They prayed together, tears fell, and what had been broken became a testimony. The team that had been fractured found new strength. The congregation felt the ripple. The atmosphere shifted from tension to tenderness. That’s the power of divine love—it changes not just situations, but the spiritual climate itself. When the love of Christ reigns, heaven touches earth.
What helps you stay open to loving others when life or ministry feels demanding?
When ministry feels heavy, I return to the cross. I stand before the One who loved me when I was unlovable, who gave everything when I had nothing to give. Remembering his mercy keeps my heart tender. Prayer refuels my compassion. Time in the Word reminds me that every soul I meet carries eternal value. And when I’m weary, I ask the Holy Spirit to renew my heart—to replace striving with surrender and exhaustion with grace. Love isn’t something we manufacture; it’s something we receive and then pour out.
When the church truly lives out “one another,” what kind of impact do you think becomes possible?
When the church truly lives out the “one another” of Scripture—love one another, serve one another, forgive one another—the world sees Jesus. The impossible becomes possible. The lonely find family. The broken find healing. The lost find hope. A united church is unstoppable—it becomes a radiant city on a hill, a refuge in the storm, a living sermon of grace and truth. When we walk in unity, the Holy Spirit moves freely, and revival isn’t just an event—it becomes a lifestyle. That’s the kind of impact I long to see: entire communities transformed because the church dared to love like Christ.
What do you like to bring to the potluck?
I bring my passion, love, vision, and heart for Christ. I come ready to serve, to connect, and to help build his kingdom alongside others. I bring a deep desire to see lives transformed, churches strengthened, and our communities united in the love of Jesus. I love to bring something hearty—something that fills and warms people. I want to bring joy. I bring stories that celebrate God’s goodness, laughter that breaks down barriers, and an ear ready to listen. I bring a hunger for fellowship—the kind that nourishes the soul as much as the body. Every potluck is a foretaste of the marriage supper of the Lamb—a little reminder that one day we’ll all sit at the same table in glory, united in love, rejoicing forever.
