We Have Been Asked, "Who Is Alma?"

July 28th, 2022

Alma Rivera

We are just returning home from 11 exciting, overwhelming, and packed days in Washington, DC. We have much to share about that.

However, in this newsletter, I am going to answer the question we have been asked: “Who is Alma?”

Alma is the lady who leads in spectacular worship on so many of the World Prayer Network calls, and who – along with Pastor Jurgen Matthesius – gave the Future Conference such a distinct and clear Biblical and spiritual foundation. My wife Rosemary and I claim Alma as a “daughter in the Lord.” Alma has one of the strongest anointings I have ever seen, combined with true humility, and yet Holy Spirit boldness. Here is her story.

Taking it to the Streets in Times Square

HOW SHE CAME ON THE WORLD PRAYER NETWORK
Connie Wilson, a friend of WPN, invited Alma to come on one of our early World Prayer Network calls. However, I did not know who Alma was. When I saw the name “Alma Rivera” I thought that maybe I had seen her name on Facebook as a worship leader, but I was not certain. Right “on the air,” while live, I said, “I see Alma Rivera is on. Are you a worship leader?” She responded “Yes.” “Can you lead us in worship?” She said “Yes,” all of this happening with the WPN audience listening live! She began to lead us in worship, and has continued from that time to the present. But you don’t know her story. Let me tell it to you.

EARLIEST YEARS
Alma Salome' Rivera was born in Mexico City. As a little girl, she had big eyes and big dreams with a desire to sing and touch hearts. As early as two years old, family members recall her, not with a doll like most girls, but a microphone. Her mother often sang in church but was also an accomplished mariachi singer. Alma often sang background vocals and learned much from her mom’s beautiful voice. Before long, she would be singing front and center. In middle school, she won a competition and began singing at churches and events across town.

When Alma was twelve, Jerry and Vicky Love, American missionaries, came to her hometown and led Alma and her friends to Christ. Jesus was only twelve years old holding lawyers and doctors in the palm of His hand while teaching Scripture in the Synagogue (Luke 2:41-48). Alma experienced a similar anointing. Three years later, at age 15, Alma received the baptism of the Holy Ghost, and she began to walk with authority and the supernatural. As her passion for music and ministry grew the Lord opened more and more doors. But it was not always easy.

Pointing to Jesus

PREACHING ON THE STREETS
Her first preaching assignment was on the streets. The Lord led her to a subway station, with a crowd of people. By seventeen years of age, she stood boldly before the crowd and preached the Good News of Christ.

A drunk man began to taunt and curse at her and he appeared to be demonically possessed. Alma didn’t back down as she commanded him “in the Mighty Name of Jesus to be quiet,” and instantly the deranged man was muted. When he tried to speak, he stammered and stuttered. Those intoxicated with the “king of beers” are no match for those who have tasted the King of kings. With a stunned audience, she gave an invitation on the spot and asked if those listening, under the sound of her voice, wanted to receive Christ. Scores of hands were raised. She led them to a personal relationship with Jesus. Anytime God is moving, the Devil will also.

KIDNAPPED
At age 21, she was riding in a cab when the car abruptly stopped and armed men pointed a pistol at her face, threatening to kill her. They kidnapped her and held her hostage for five hours. She was forced to give her banking information and was held against her will, driving the dark, dusty roads in Mexico City. The thugs threatened to rape her if she would not produce access to her money.

In that moment, Alma began to speak boldly in a prayer language with the power of the Holy Spirit. Her captors became more afraid of her than she was of them. She told them to their face that “What you are doing is wrong and you had better repent and get right with the Lord, or you will go straight to Hell.” They were astonished. After realizing that she was a Christian, they eventually let her go unharmed. The men, despite their guns, were outgunned by God’s Protection over her. She went free, and has been giving freedom to countless lives ever since.

Alma (front) with Jim and Rosemary Garlow at the Georgia Prayer March

MINISTRY … AND FINALLY DATING
Alma studied Bible, theology, worship, and opera. Her diverse training enabled her to minister to audiences with various backgrounds. She was pastoring as a worship leader. She even started her own school of theology and worship with over 200 students, in two locations, ministering in Mexico and Latin America. She was preaching and singing in conferences, concerts, and churches. During her years of serving the Lord, persecuted in the mountains of Mexico, and building churches, her schedule did not allow time for dating.

However, that all changed when Alma got on an online Christian dating service and began corresponding with "Richard from New York". He spoke no Spanish. Alma, knowing no English, began to communicate through Google Translate. Quickly it was evident that God had brought them together.

When Richard popped the question for her hand in marriage, she still could not comprehend what he was saying due to the language barrier. It was only after his third attempt, when he finally revealed the ring, that she could understand he was actually proposing! They married shortly after. Richard has been her biggest fan and supporter and they are an incredible team in service to the Lord.

SETTLING INTO LIFE IN THE U.S.
Her desire was to come to the United States and be content to be a housewife, faithfully serving her husband, willing to leave her ministry behind. But God had other plans.

Richard encouraged her to audition for a local church choir. Alma initially had no desire except to serve God and her man. At Richard’s insistence, she reluctantly tried out, despite knowing little English. She thought she didn’t make the cut. However, she passed with flying colors. However, they didn’t want her singing in the background in the choir, but rather out in front as a soloist.

God supernaturally began to open doors, and Bobby Riedel saw her sing and booked her on Trinity Broadcast Network with world famous pianist, Dino. She was a guest multiple times on TBN, CBN and other well-known Christian television networks.

She was asked to sing at some of the largest churches in America, from Lakewood Church in Houston, TX to former Southern Baptist Convention President Dr. Ronnie Floyd’s church in Arkansas. Many churches begged her to come on staff, but she knew the Lord called her to sing on the road. The Lord had commissioned her to sing and minister to the Global Church and expand the Kingdom.

Excitedly becoming a U.S. Citizen!

AN EVANGELIST
As an evangelist and ordained minister, she travelled the world sharing the Gospel of Jesus. During her “revival nights” in America, Asia, and Africa, thousands of people have received salvation, miracles, freedom from oppression, and supernatural healings. In 2019, she sang multiple times in Times Square in New York City. The Christian Post reported the concert. Millions watched or read about the event.

BACK TO THE STREETS
In 2020, Alma was getting ready to embark on a world-wide tour to a dozen countries, including Indonesia, South Africa, Malaysia, Singapore, Canada, Philippines, to name a few. However, COVID-19 threw a curve-ball to those plans. But where many ministers and ministries stopped, she stood up! She made a vow that she would not be silent, and whereas she had previously graced stadiums, studios, and stages, now the unstoppable Alma went straight back to the streets.

Alma "onstage" (singing from the bed of her pickup truck, in the rain!)

When the world was in lockdown, she encouraged all to “look up!” With a portable speaker and microphone, she courageously began to sing in the burrows of New York. At one housing complex she sang with the heart of heaven. One woman heard beautiful music and after opening the window saw one of heaven’s angels singing hope when the world was depressed and hurt. Unbeknownst to Alma or Richard, the woman later confessed she had already plotted to commit suicide that day. But she heard the sound of freedom and God’s grace. Her life was spared, and her soul was saved!

Alma began to sing in cities, train stations, and parks all across America. She found herself in a heated exchange, toe-to-toe with Antifa, BLM, and other hate groups. Her stage was the back of a pickup truck, and eventually she even sang outside the United States Capitol and White House, while taking back territory.

The Mexicans who threatened to murder her in the past could sympathize with her aggressors in America now. They both failed, and God and Alma prevailed. She stood her ground, and her music and ministry not only shifted the atmosphere but turned protests into praise, and riots into revival.

When well-known musical artists, with Dove & Grammy awards, stayed home ‘protecting their voice,’ Alma went to the streets to lend her voice to set the captives free. In 2020, she began to crash Trump rallies. After singing “God Bless America,” she pointed people to the Gospel. Her faithfulness then opened the doors for her to be invited in 2021 to sing at those same rallies. Mayor Rudy Giuliani’s son, Andrew, was present at some of the rallies. When organizers invited her to attend and sing patriotic songs and give speeches at some of his campaign stops while running for Governor, Alma said, “Only if you allow me to sing and speak about Jesus.” She did and many were saved. To this day, she has never compromised or backed down.

At Lakewood Church, Houston, Texas

UPSTATE NEW YORK
Alma has a major upcoming event for those of you in and around Batavia, New York. Come to Cornerstone Church in Batavia, New York, August 4-6, 2022. Doors open at 6:30pm. She will be leading in worship, speaking and ministering salvation, hope, freedom, healing and deliverance.

Come and join with other believers as they pursue the Holy Spirit with all of their hearts. The pursuit of God is the only thing that will change this nation and bring it back to righteousness and prosperity.