Erwin McManus

As the lead pastor and cultural architect of Mosaic, Erwin McManus is leading a uniquely innovative and diverse congregation based in Los Angeles. The main focus of Mosaic is to serve the post-modern, post-Western, and post-Christian world.

Erwin is also the catalyst behind Awaken. Emerging from the passion and purpose that drives Mosaic, Awaken is a collaboration of entrepreneurs committed to creating environments that expand the imagination and unleash creativity. Awaken recognizes that the world is changed by dreamers and visionaries and remains committed to maximizing the creative potential in every individual and organization.

Erwin is a thought-provoking communicator and has traveled to over 30 countries engaging relevant issues such as globalization, leadership, cultural transformation, post-modernism, and church growth. His work is featured in numerous films, articles, and magazines across the US and worldwide. Erwin also partners with Bethel Theological Seminary as a distinguished lecturer and futurist.

Erwin has authored several books including, An Unstoppable Force, Chasing Daylight, and Soul Cravings, soon to be released in 2006.

Originally from of El Salvador, Erwin is a graduate of the University of North Carolina and Southwestern Theological Seminary. He and his wife Kim, have two children, Aaron and Mariah, and a foster daughter Paty.

Erwin McManus “Unplugged”

Our team recently spent some time in Los Angeles, CA working together with Erwin on an upcoming ministry project. We sat down and asked him a few questions about giving advice and to elaborate on some of his personal experiences. You can hear more of Erwin’s thoughts by watching one of the video resources to the right.

You’ve been on several overseas mission trips, how have they impacted you?

Erwin McManus: I took my 11-year old daughter on multiple global journeys; we went to Korea, Indonesia, and France. I see it changing us because when you’re back home, you have a pattern of life. You think you’re living a life of faith, a life of adventure, a life of uncertainty, but you’re going to the same Starbucks, the same restaurants, the same places, the same office…when you get into another country, you don’t know anything, there is no map, you just have a compass…you have to depend on God in a new and entirely different way. God can take a fresh and greater opportunity to speak into your life and to move in new and unusual ways.

What advice would you give people who are asking, ‘what is God’s will for my life?’

Erwin McManus: Isn’t that such a great question? It’s as if the whole cosmos, the whole universe revolves around me! We need to stop asking, ‘what is God’s will for my life?’ and we need to start asking, ‘God, what is your will for human history and how do I get my life aligned with your will?’ If we would just stop and open the scriptures and open up our hearts, we would find enough of God’s will to fill our entire day.

What advice would you give to people who are trying to choose between two callings on their life?

Erwin McManus: Sometimes I tell people, ‘look, if you’re paralyzed, just do something.’ Don’t complicate it—there’s so much good to do, just pick one and let God move you forward.

How do you respond to the popular idea that God wants us to be secure, comfortable and wealthy?

Erwin McManus: Certainly for those of us who live here in the Western World—and any place that has been affected by affluence, security, safety and comfort—there’s a sense where we begin to buy into a subtle theological lie that God promises us safety and security and comfort and wealth…the truth of the matter is that God has never promised us that we would always be secure or comfortable or become wealthy.