Who am I?
My name is Joe. I am a pastor, writer, and social media content creator. But, beyond all that, I am a person who has wrestled with real questions, who has had to heal, start over, and remember that faith is not about perfection, but about walking with God step by step.
My Story
I was born in Puerto Rico and grew up with more questions than answers. From a young age, I felt a restlessness to understand the purpose behind life, pain, and faith. That journey led me down unexpected paths: theological studies, moments of silence, impromptu sermons, books written at midnight, and many conversations that changed me.
Today, I serve as a pastor, share messages on social media, write with an open heart, and record podcasts where people feel heard. I don't seek fame, I seek impact. And if anything I do can help you reconnect with your calling, it was all worth it.
My mission right now
🎙️ Podcast: Real conversations about faith, life, and purpose.
✍️ Writing: Books and blogs born from my own battles.
⛪ Ministry: I pastor, preach, and accompany those who walk with doubts, wounds, or dreams.
🎥 On social media, I share reflections that connect with everyday life.
Why do I do what I do?
Because I believe faith shouldn't be a facade.
Because I know what it's like to feel far from God and want to return.
Because I believe every story, yours and mine, can be used for something greater.
Who is Joe M. Mercado-Rivera
Joe M. Mercado-Rivera is a Puerto Rican pastor, writer, and storyteller whose work seeks to unite faith and imagination. As a pastor in the Methodist Church of Puerto Rico, he is committed to the vision of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. His ministry is grounded in compassion, integrity, and the conviction that faith is lived through authentic love and service.
Alongside his pastoral calling, he has embraced storytelling as another meaningful way to inspire, encourage, and connect with others. His nonfiction work focuses on helping people deepen their relationship with God, grow spiritually, and find clarity in their walk of faith. His fiction explores themes of love, loss, purpose, and hope, often with subtle Christian undertones. He does not write to preach; he writes to open space for reflection, allowing readers to encounter grace, redemption, and resilience in everyday life.
For him, writing is an extension of ministry. It becomes a bridge that reaches beyond the church walls into everyday spaces where people live, question, and grow. Whether through preaching, teaching, or crafting stories, his purpose remains the same: to help others encounter love, wrestle with purpose, and rediscover hope.