Rev. Dr. Liz Rios founded Passion2Plant out of a deep conviction that the traditional church planting models she encountered, while helpful in areas like budgeting, fundraising, and team recruitment, did not prepare her for the real challenges she faced as a BIPOC woman planting a church in a community marked by poverty, systemic neglect, and food insecurity. After receiving training from three well-known networks, she realized that the voices and experiences of planters on the margins, especially women of color leading in under-resourced areas, were largely absent. The only women present were often planters’ wives, not the lead visionaries themselves.
Dr. Rios also noticed a glaring gap in how justice and community transformation were treated, not as core theological commitments, but as optional or even political distractions. While pursuing her Doctor of Ministry, she focused her scholarship on reimagining church planting as a justice-rooted, Spirit-led calling. With the support of key male allies and a profound sense of urgency sparked by race relations in the country and then the pandemic, she launched Passion2Plant. Today, it remains the only church planting leadership development network in the U.S. founded and led by a BIPOC woman, committed to training global majority leaders to plant churches that embody wholeness, justice, and liberation.
Who We Are
Passion2Plant is a fully egalitarian network that equips global majority leaders to plant holistically minded, justice-oriented churches from the start. We believe in the power of the Spirit of God to guide and sustain faith communities that center on Jesus, justice, and holistic well-being.
Our mission is to train and support leaders who are called to disrupt oppressive systems and cultivate faith spaces of transformation. Our goal is simple but revolutionary: to reimagine what the church can be when it reflects the Kin*dom of God—a place where equity, healing, and transformation take center stage.
Who It’s For
Passion2Plant serves leaders of the global majority who are called to plant churches.
We also welcome allies and collaborators who share our vision of equity, inclusion, and Spirit-led transformation within the church.
Who It’s Not For
Passion2Plant is not for individuals or organizations resistant to justice, equity, inclusion, or egalitarian leadership principles.
Our Mission in Scripture
Micah 6:8 – “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
Isaiah 61:3 – “They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.”
Galatians 3:28 – “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
Core Values
Spirit-Led Transformation – We believe in the active movement of the Spirit of God, who empowers us to plant churches that reflect God’s heart for justice, mercy, and renewal.
Historical Awareness – We value the lessons of the past, knowing that understanding history is key to building a just and faithful future for the church.
Justice & Inclusion – We are committed to dismantling oppression and creating church spaces that embrace the full diversity of God’s kin*dom.
Growth & Health – We emphasize holistic well-being for leaders and their ministries—spiritually, emotionally, physically, and communally.
Egalitarian Leadership – We affirm the full participation of women and historically excluded voices at all levels of leadership, without limitation.
Authenticity & Collaboration – We cultivate genuine relationships and honor the wisdom of diverse voices working together to create lasting impact.
The Problem
Passion2Plant exists to address the deep need for decolonized, justice-oriented church planting and discipleship spaces that affirm the voices, leadership, and experiences of BIPOC communities. Many traditional church planting models are rooted in Eurocentric, patriarchal, and prosperity-driven frameworks that fail to reflect the lived realities of marginalized communities. These models often neglect the intersection of faith, justice, and community healing, leaving leaders—especially women, Afro-Latinx, and other historically excluded voices—without the resources or support to plant thriving, sustainable, and culturally responsive faith communities.
Additionally, many church planters from marginalized backgrounds struggle with limited financial resources, theological formation that integrates liberation and justice, and networks that affirm their calling and identity. Without access to these, they are left to navigate their journeys in isolation or conform to models that don't serve their communities well.
Our Legacy and Inspiration
Passion2Plant is deeply inspired by the life and legacy of Leoncia Rosado Rousseau, otherwise known in the NYC community as Mama Leo, widely recognized as the first Latina pastor in New York City. But she was more than a pioneer; she was a denomination starter, a church planter, and a prophetic voice who created spiritual refuge for the outcast and overlooked. Her ministry modeled what it means to lead with fire, faith, and fearless resistance to injustice. Following in her footsteps, Passion2Plant seeks to carry that same spirit of holy disruption, rooted in community, healing, and the power of the Holy Spirit, to the next generation of church planters.
Our Approach
Passion2Plant’s Approach to Finding a Solution
Decolonized Church Planting & Discipleship Training
We equip faith leaders with contextual, justice-centered training that dismantles colonized frameworks and empowers them to build holistic, community-rooted churches.Mentorship & Community Support
Recognizing the isolation many church planters experience, we cultivate a supportive network of like-minded leaders.Theological Reimagination & Healing Practices
Our work is deeply rooted in ancestral wisdom, theologies of liberation, and trauma-informed leadership. We help leaders reclaim their faith traditions in ways that honor their cultural and spiritual heritage while challenging oppressive structures.
In 2025 We Announce Our New Logo
Our new logo centers the Sankofa bird, a powerful symbol from the Akan people of Ghana, embodying the concept of "going back to fetch what was lost.
This reflects Passion2Plant's deep commitment to honoring history—acknowledging both triumphs and mistakes—to shape a healthier, stronger, and more equitable future for the church.
The green tones represent growth, renewal, and health, foundational to our mission of nurturing leaders and planting ministries that thrive spiritually and communally. The leaves symbolize flourishing, connection, and the natural cycle of transformation that comes from deeply rooted faith.