Today we’d like to introduce you to Ariel Sanabria.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I was actually hired to serve as a New York Sate Police officer in 2002. It was my dream. However, God had better plans. I declined the offer as a New York Sate Police officer to serve as a Yotuh Pastor in a town called Poinciana, FL. I served there for several years working with youth from all backgrounds. Many came from broken homes searching for hope. My wife and I statrted with about 20 teens and within a couple of years we were working with over 200 teens who would pack a room to hear a message of hope and find community. Fast forward several years and my wife and I founded Soul City Church in 2021, located in Saint Cloud, FL. It’s a thriving church, averaging 300 attendees every Sunday. A very multicutural and multigenerational church that’s very invested in their community.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Anything worth doing always has it’s challenges. However, we have learned to enjoy the journey. The good, the bad and the ugly. There is always a lesson to be learned in every situation. So we’re always asking ourselves, what is the lesson in this?
One of our early challenges was not having a place to meet and gather. We met at parks, coffee shops, even at the Publix parking lot. LOL! We made the best of every situation. Not having a physical place to meet never detered or discouraged us. Our gatherings kept growing in numbers every time we met to either serve our community in some way or for a simple bible study at a park.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Well, I have the amazing privilege of serving as a Pastor of a local church called, Soul City Church FL. We’re only 3 years old, but we have already had an incredible impact in the community by identifying and serving the needs in our community from providing hot meals to families in need, to cleaning up our beautiful lake front park, to providing free backpacks with school supplies to families in need and so much more. Life as a pastor is both a calling and a journey filled with challenges, responsibilities, and deep spiritual fulfillment. Pastors are shepherds of their congregations, guiding people through their faith, offering counsel, and leading by example. A pastor’s primary role is to lead others in their faith. This involves preaching, teaching scripture in a way that is applicable to our context, and ensuring that the church remains a place of spiritual growth. The life of a pastor comes with struggles, emotional burdens, and sometimes feeling lonely in leadership. There are long hours, high expectations, and the weight of responsibility for others’ spiritual growth. However, despite the challenges, pastoring is incredibly rewarding. Seeing lives transformed, witnessing spiritual growth, being able to serve our community and knowing you’re fulfilling God’s calling brings deep joy and fulfillment.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
Absolutely! All of John Maxwell’s books have been instrumental in my personal and ministerial life. Craig Groeshel’s podcast is gold.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.soulcitychurchfl.com
- Instagram: @soulcitychurchfl
- Facebook: @soulcitychurchfl
- Youtube: @soulcitychurchfl
