With the release of Do You Mind?, we wanted to give readers the opportunity to get to know Dr. Rivers beyond the pages of his book. We asked him a few questions about his journey, his heart for ministry, and the message he hopes readers will glean. We hope you enjoy the interview below.
—The Harris House Publishing Team
If you had 60 seconds to give an elevator speech about who you are and what's important to you, what would you say?
“I am passionate about God, family, and adventure. God is most important to me, followed by a deep love for my family. I believe my call in life is to equip, encourage, and empower others to live on purpose, with purpose. I also consider myself a serial adventurer. I love trying new things, going to new places, and having new experiences.”
What are your top three favorite books?
The Bible
Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell
Mastery by Robert Greene
How did you first come to know Jesus?
“I was raised in a Christian home and learned about Jesus from birth. I had my own conversion experience on a Sunday night, November 17, 1996, when I was 9 years old. I was water baptized on Tuesday, November 19th, 1996. Since then, I’ve only continued to learn more about Jesus.”
Tell us about the church you pastor.
“I transitioned into the Lead Pastor role of Embassy City Church (ECC) in January of 2023. ECC is a multiracial, multiethnic, and multigenerational church that is built on Bible-based teaching, Spirit-led worship, and authentic relationships. A loving community, ECC’s purpose is to be a place where anyone can grow in Christ with others. Our core values drive our vision: Grace First, Rooted in Truth, Operate as Stewards, Work as One, Think Big, and Hold Joy. In recent years, we have experienced exponential growth and are now working toward expansion plans.”
What inspired you to pursue a doctorate, and how has that journey impacted your life and ministry?
“I always aspired to earn a doctorate by age 40. At the end of my master’s graduation ceremony, I made the decision to apply to the doctoral program immediately. I was inspired by the words of Paul to Timothy: “Study to show yourself approved . . .” (2 Timothy 2:15a). My goal was to dedicate myself to learning, studying, and honing my calling as a pastor. The journey through my doctoral program had an amazing impact on me. It taught me discipline to study, write, and rewrite. It taught me to be willing to submit my work for examination and criticism. Mostly, it taught me discipline to finish what I started for the Kingdom of God.”
Have you always considered yourself a writer?
“Yes. I would write made-up stories as a child. I also joined a Ministers in Training class at our church when I was fourteen. Our main assignments were to write exegetical papers on various passages. I have also written sermons for over 25 years.”
Who or what inspired you to write Do You Mind?
“I received the inspiration for a sermon series called ‘Do You Mind?’ at the end of 2022. For a little over a year, I started developing the materials for the series, and in May of 2024, I preached the sermon series for over seven weeks. Soon after the sermon series, I felt strongly about turning it into a book.
“The book is a combined inspiration from the Holy Spirit and my own experience. I went through an interesting church transition that left me with many unanswered questions. After I went to therapy in 2018 and received language to describe my experiences, I realized there was a great need for the church to address the intersection of theology and therapy more readily. Thus, Do You Mind? was born.”
What part of writing or speaking brings you the most joy?
“For me, it’s communicating a thought or idea in a way that is palatable and receptive to the hearer or reader, and seeing the light come on for them. Being part of someone's life transformation through writing or teaching brings me the greatest joy.”
This is not your first book. In 2021, you self-published Habits, a 14-day devotional. Can you tell us about that book and the heart behind it?
“I wrote Habits out of pure obedience to the Lord. I was serving as a NextGen pastor at the time and was asked constantly about how a person could develop consistent spiritual habits. I always had a difficult time finding recommended materials, so one day I felt the Lord say, “You write it.” So, I wrote Habits as a 14-day, easy-to-maneuver devotional, meant to inspire people to develop a habit of spiritual discipline.”
What do you hope readers remember long after they finish Do You Mind?
“Renewing your mind is a lifelong process. You don’t have to live mentally and emotionally bankrupt; you can have a rich, holistic life in Christ. And when you are whole, you can accomplish everything that God has purposed for you in this life.”