Co-Director

Rev. Jonathan was born in Perú and grew up in Chile and Panamá before moving to Chicago to attend Wheaton College (where he studied spiritual formation and then intercultural studies). His grandparents attended Wheaton at the same time as Jim and Elizabeth Elliot and were part of that same generation on global mission to Latin America. 

He spent 13 years pastoring and supporting Latino immigrant churches in Chicago and around the country before moving to Texas in 2021 and starting Diaspora Network in 2022. He is ordained and serves in Churches for the Sake of Others (C4SO). Jonathan speaks Spanish, Portuguese and some Arabic after having spent 4 summers in the Middle East. 

Jonathan and his wife Lini reside in the richly diverse Sharpstown neighborhood in Houston and are passionate about God’s beautiful global family. 

Co-Director

Rev. Cindy M. Wu is a native Texan, born to Taiwanese immigrant parents and raised in the beautiful diversity of Houston. In addition to serving as co-director of Diaspora Network, Cindy is Director of Diaspora Ministries of Mosaic Formation, a non-profit she co-founded with her husband, David. She has served in Mexico, East Asia, and Houston in various ministry contexts. As a “pastor to pastors,” her ministry focuses on serving the city and church at-large through community organizing, spiritual direction, leading workshops and retreats, and cross-cultural training.

Cindy is author or co-author of publications on global Christian identity, religious demography, and refugee welcome; she also dabbles in poetry (visit cindymwu.com). She is ordained in the Evangelical Covenant Church and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Ministry at Baylor University’s Truett Seminary. For fun, she enjoys cycling, reading, and exploring global cuisine.

Hispanic/Latino Catalyst

Pastor Liván was born and raised in Cuba, and surrendered his life to the Lord in 1992. He attended the Seminario Bautista Cuba Oriental, and earned a Masters in Theology from BH Carrol Texas. Afterwards, he served as a pastor in the Cuban cities of Guantanamo and Manzanillo.

In 2014, he and his family immigrated to Tennessee where he pastored Cristo Rey Baptist Church. In 2019, he responded to God’s calling and moved to Houston to lead the Spanish Ministry at Clear Lake Baptist Church. The ministry transitioned to an independent church plant in 2021 and Planting Hispanic Churches Vida en Cristo Baptist Church was established. The church now gathers at the Nassau Bay Baptist Church campus.

In addition, Pastor Livan serves as the Coordinator for the Union Baptist Association’s (UBA) Hispanic Planter Training Center, and as a consultant for SBTC for training and coaching for Hispanic church planters.

Pastor Liván is dedicated to teaching the Word of God and fulfilling the Great Commission with an emphasis on outreach to the Spanish-speaking community, both at home and abroad. He has shared the Good News on numerous mission trips to Cuba, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, and Mexico.

Next Gen Catalyst

Samuel is a Canadian-born, second-generation Ethiopian follower of Jesus with a heart for the local church and the next generation. He is 32 years old and married to his wife, Mihret. Samuel brings both cultural insight and pastoral conviction to his ministry, particularly among diaspora youth and emerging leaders. He holds a Bachelor of Biblical Theology and Pastoral Studies from Vanguard Bible College and was ordained in April 2017 in Canada.

His ministry began at the Ethiopian Evangelical Church of Edmonton, where he served the youth and young adults. It was there that his passion for raising up diaspora leaders took root. In 2022, Samuel sensed a clear call to plant churches that would reach and disciple the next generation of Ethiopian diaspora—young people navigating faith, identity, and purpose between cultures.

In 2025, he was installed as the lead shepherd of a new church plant in Austin, Texas, now serving under the covering of the Ethiopian Evangelical Church of Austin. His vision is to cultivate Christ-centered, Spirit-led, multicultural communities that worship God, walk together, and win hearts to Jesus.

Samuel is passionate about equipping a new wave of leaders who will carry the gospel with clarity, compassion, and cultural fluency—leaders grounded in the Word, empowered by the Spirit, and committed to the mission of Jesus in every generation.

Ministry Resident

Peniel Tadesse, 28, was born and raised in Houston, Texas, and has served in a wide range of ministry contexts over the past eight years. His journey began in 2017 with YoungLife, where he developed a passion for relational ministry and discipleship. That same year, he joined Collide, serving faithfully in both Houston and Seattle, helping lead worship initiatives that united diverse communities across cities. Peniel currently serves as Worship Director at his local church, where he oversees worship teams, mentors emerging leaders, and helps cultivate a culture of spiritual depth and excellence.

Throughout his ministry experience, Peniel has worked alongside local churches and parachurch organizations, gaining a deep appreciation for the power of collaboration within the body of Christ.

Peniel carries a profound heart for pure worship and a calling to steward a hunger for God’s presence in the next generation.