Our Vision for Society
In the early 1990s, Rev. Dr. Raymond Rivera had a Vision for a holistic ministry that would deal with the personal and systemic issues affecting people and institutions, particularly in low-income communities of color. After nearly 30 years of active ministry in Christian and secular posts, Rev. Rivera launched LPAC in 1992 following a series of providential events. Indeed, LPAC has enabled Rev. Rivera to employ a holistic gospel that seeks to reconcile the personal with the social, the individual with the collective.
Our vision for a holistic ministry represents the vivid, mental image that Rev. Rivera received from the Triune God. It:
ª Constitutes a concrete picture of a future idealized state of an institution.
ª Is bold powerful, attractive, and valuable.
ª Provides a map or a guide that people and institutions can strive to follow.
ª Is consistent with the values of the participating people and institutions.
ª Inspires people and institutions to work toward its fruition,
ª Stretches their expectations, aspirations, and performance, and orients their energies.
Our vision came after reflecting on the conditions of people, institutions, community, and society; consequently, it points toward a realistic and ambitious response to these conditions. It also arrived with a corresponding philosophy, principles and beliefs, and strategy; thus, our vision has the proper foundation from which we can take action and expect to bear much fruit.
OUR VISION LPAC’s Vision is that:
| Holistic Ministries and Holistic Servant Leaders will bring about Healthy Communities by energizing the civil society and rebuilding social capital. |
ª We foresee Holistic Ministries that rely on sound internal systems and structures and relevant need-based programs and services to address multitudes of community issues.
ª We also foresee strong, independent, articulate Holistic Servant Leaders who legitimately represent and are accountable to their families and communities.
ª Ultimately, Holistic Ministries and Holistic Servant Leaders will help bring about Healthy Communities that benefit from strong community pillars.
As Holistic Servant Leaders, children, youth, and adults will:
ª Be leaders in school, community, and religious congregation groups,
ª Manage conflicts non-violently,
ª Serve as conflict mediators,
ª Be literate in English, computers, etc.,
ª Read at least at their grade level,
ª Earn high grade point averages,
ª Earn high SAT or GED scores,
ª Graduate from high school, college, and graduate school,
ª Be gainfully employed,
ª Exercise regularly
ª Maintain a healthy diet,
ª Be literate in the arts,
ª Play a sport or engage in ongoing recreational activities,
ª Be active in family affairs,
ª Participate in community revitalization and building projects,
ª Establish small businesses responsive to the needs of their community,
ª Volunteer and/or financially support community organizations,
ª Hold school officials responsible for improved student performance,
ª Engage organizations in community improvement efforts, and
ª Mentor peers and younger individuals.
As Holistic Ministries, faith-based and community-based organizations will have:
ª Clearly formulated institutional frameworks that advance personal and community transformation,
ª Effective character and leadership development programs that involve participants in leadership and service roles within & outside the organization,
ª Effective personal growth and development programs that enhance the spiritual, emotional, mental, physical, and social dimensions of participants
ª Fully engaged community residents in community development initiatives, and partnerships and collaborations.
ª Sound organizational systems and structures that support their service delivery and/or direct action initiatives,
ª Fully trained organizational leaders who are engaged in all aspects of institutional operations and decision-making, and
ª Diverse and sustainable funding pool with a healthy diversity of funders.
As Healthy Communities, communities will have:
ª People involved in decision-making and advisory bodies in their schools, jobs, houses of worship, and community institutions,
ª Low incidence of any expressions of violence,
ª Low incidence of crime and recidivism,
ª Neighborhood associations and safety corridors,
ª Highly literate citizens,
ª Schools with high student performance and strong parental involvement,
ª High number of high school and higher education enrollments and completions,
ª High numbers of people employed and earning livable wages,
ª Striving small businesses,
ª Physically fit citizens,
ª People maintaining balanced diets and healthy eating habits,
ª Low incidence of preventable health conditions,
ª Arts-oriented citizens,
ª Strong and stable families,
ª Civically-engaged citizens,
ª Philanthropic-minded citizens,
ª High number of volunteers,
ª Community gardens and trees and graffiti-free zones, and
ª Productive intergenerational relationships.
THE FOUR PILLARS OF COMMUNITY LIFE
These Healthy Communities also will have strong community pillars [Families, Schools, 
Community-Based Organizations (CBOs), and Churches, which collectively make up the foundation of a healthy community. These pillars provide the necessary support to members of their community. They meet the needs of the people they exist to serve. In addition, they connect to other institutions in the community to increase their reach and impact.
FAMILIES…
Become Holistic Families, strong interdependent collective units that are accountable to other families and their communities.
ª They identify and use their gifts & knowledge toward fulfilling their family plans.
ª They employ their collective gifts and knowledge for the common good.
SCHOOLS…
Become Holistic School that are accountable to the students, parents, and their surrounding community.
ª They align their structures and programs to ensure quality education and engagement of students, parents, and the community in school improvement efforts.
ª They integrate students, parents and community members in decision-making and advisory bodies.
ª They also teach their institutional framework to other schools.
CHURCHES…
Become Holistic Churches (or Houses of Worship) that are accountable to the congregation and the surrounding community.
ª They align their structures and programs to address the spiritual, emotional, mental, physical, and social needs of the congregation.
ª They engage congregation members in decision-making and advisory bodies.
ª They also teach their institutional framework to other churches.
COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS…
Become Holistic Community-based Organizations that legitimately represent and are accountable to their local communities.
ª They align their structures and programs to provide direct service and address community development needs.
ª They engage children, youth, and adults in decision-making and community development efforts.
ª They also teach their institutional framework to other community orgs.