10 MAY 2026 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition PASTOR PROFILE Vertical Church, in Sunrise, Fla., and its lead pastor, Virgil Sierra, share the same origin story — and it starts in a living room. "My father, Virgilio Sierra, Sr., never intended to be a pastor, but in 1993, a Bible study outgrew our house, and Iglesia Buenas Noticias de Fe (Good News of Faith) was born." By 15, Virgil was in Paraguay for his first missions trip and something clicked." That experience got my heart pumping for evangelism and sharing the gospel." He went on to lead worship, earn a master's in occupational therapy, marry his childhood sweetheart Gislaine, and launch Contagious, a Christian band that had him recording and touring internationally. At a church conference in 2014, Virgil sat in a session called "Burn Your Plows" about Elisha taking on the mantle of Elijah. Mid-session, he felt the Holy Spirit stop him cold: “Your time at the hospital is up. Your dad's getting older. You need to talk.” Down the hall, Gislaine was listening to Tom and Todd Mullins of Christ Fellowship speak on transitioning a church from father to son. "My salary as an OT and with Contagious was our main income," Virgil says, "but when I finally told Gislaine what I sensed God was saying, she looked at me and said, 'I was waiting for you.'" How did Iglesia Buenas Noticias de Fe become Vertical Church? We speak Spanish and English, so we started asking, 'What if the church looked like us?' We became one church, two languages. In February of 2015, we needed a name consistent in both languages and landed on vertical for our relationship up to the Lord. Same logo, same name, same spelling in Spanish and English. At Vertical, grandparents who speak Spanish and grandkids who prefer English can be part of the same church. How has your leadership style evolved in the past eleven years? Our leadership has evolved throughout the years as the church has grown. For example, the way we led and pastored the church when we were 250 members as compared to when we grew to 500, and then 1,000, and serving 2500 people in eight services for our special Easter services this year. Each season requires different leadership, skills and shepherding strategies. What keeps you up at night when you think about the church in South Florida? A 2020 Barna study said only 3% of Broward County would be considered evangelical Christians based on essentials like ‘the Bible is the word of God’ and ‘Jesus is the only way to a relationship with God.’ That’s a lot of people who don’t know Jesus. Because of that, I am passionate about raising up the next generation of leaders. I have a passion for training and equipping leaders and pastors, in both English and Spanish, locally, nationally and internationally. What do you think people misunderstand about Vertical? Because the church began in Spanish, English only speakers might not consider attending. I want them to know that like so much of South Florida, Vertical Church is multicultural, multigenerational, multiethnic. Everybody’s welcome here. We want Vertical Church to be a place where everyone can experience healing and restoration. What are the rhythms and practices that keep your personal relationship with Christ fresh? In my personal walk, remembering that God doesn't call me pastor has been so helpful. My wife is good at reminding me I'm just Virg, and I need that. Second is truly honoring the Sabbath by truly, truly honoring the day of rest. We forget it's one of the commandments. No Christian would consider committing adultery or murder but somehow working seven days a week is okay. Finally, the principle of tithing. God first, the first and the best goes to Him. I'm not an owner, I'm a steward. These things keep me, my family and my marriage aligned with a true view of who we are and who God is. Tell us about your wife, Gislaine, and your children. What are some of the pros and cons of ministry for them? It doesn't look the same for every pastor or church, but our skills complement each other, and we love having a together calling to ministry. Dr. Bob Barnes from Sheridan House counseled me, "Virgil, when you're praying to your Father, you're also praying to your father-in-law. Would you call your wife's father and complain about her?" That gave me so much perspective. We have three kids. Caleb, a senior in high school, Sophia, a junior, and Nico, in seventh grade, are all active and serving in youth ministry and church. We've found wisdom in mentors, counselors, and coaches who bring perspective. We're thankful our kids love Jesus, love the church and love us as their parents. As pastor's kids, we didn't want them feeling the pressure of others' expectations, so we remind each of them that God's view of them is what matters. What would surprise people about you? Number one, I'm passionate about basketball. I love it, I'm really good, and it gives me joy. I've been a Miami Heat fan since they started in 1988. Second, people might be surprised that I'm very goofy with those close to me. I like to be funny and make people laugh. And recently I've really gotten into fragrances and colognes. What advice would you have for your younger self? Everyone who starts with you may not finish with you, and that's okay. There are friends for a reason, friends for a season and even friends of treason. For any new church project, double the time and cost estimate. Enjoy the journey; don't rush it. A mentor is Dr. Sam Chand, who wrote Leadership Pain. The premise is you will only grow to the threshold of your pain. Most of us avoid pain because it isn't fun, but I can't choose both comfort and growth. God's calling us to grow, and that's going to cost us comfort. Is there an area where your position has evolved? In my later teenage years, I had tension around how the Holy Spirit works and the gifts of the Spirit. I wanted everything God has for me and He broke through in ways I wasn't expecting. Through our Freedom curriculum, we've seen personal restoration, inner healing and people filled with the Spirit. Early on, I underestimated how much people need spiritual breakthrough — whether healing from deep wounds or walking through true forgiveness. What does it mean to you to be part of Church United? When we look at the spiritual lostness, social pain and cultural brokenness of South Florida, no single church is going to make a dent alone. It's impossible. We need all Christian churches, pastors and believers pushing in the same direction — unifying, connecting, collaborating. I've been part of Church United since its inception and now serve on the board. Looking back, being part of Church United will likely be one of the most significant things I've done as a pastor. To learn more about Vertical Church or plan your visit, go to GoVerticalChurch.com Virgil Sierra Bridges Cultures at Vertical Church Anitra Parmele GOOD NEWS Senior Writer Photo credit: Leslie J. Feldman - Pastor Virgil Sierra -
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