One of the great things about Social Networking and Blogging is being able to connect with so many cool friends around the world doing ministry.  One of my new friends is Eric Michael Bryant.  Eric oversees the leadership team at Mosaic in Los Angeles, a church known for its diversity and creativity.  Eric is also the author of Peppermint-Filled Piñatas and one of the coauthors of The Uprising Experience, based on Erwin McManus’s book Uprising: A Revolution of the Soul.   I had an opportunity to read his latest book entitled Peppermint-Filled Piñatas.  I highly recommend this book for you personally and also for a Small Group Study.  I asked Eric if he would do a brief Q/A with us and he was gracious enough to accept.  Here’s what he had to say:

TRACEY:  For those who may not be familiar with your story, please tell us a little bit about yourself.

Eric:  After growing up in Texas, I moved to Seattle to help plant a church where I stayed for 4 years. My wife Debbie and I then moved to Los Angeles where we have been at Mosaic for the past 10 years. As a bald white guy in a world of color, I have been discovering God’s love for all people – even those with whom I differ, disagree, or dislike. Debbie and I live in the middle of L.A. County with our two kids, Caleb and Trevi.

TRACEY:  When did you decide to write Peppermint-Filled Piñatas and why?

ERIC:  So many people were asking us about how we became such a diverse community at Mosaic, that I began writing this book as a response. As I began writing the book, I realized we are diverse in so many other ways beyond just ethnicity. We connect with people who are diverse socioeconomically, or in their understanding of God, or in their view of sexuality, and so on. In the end, the book became my attempt to help people who follow Jesus learn how to love, serve, and even reach those who are too often rejected or overlooked by the church.

TRACEY:  How can people use this book as a Small Group Study?

ERIC:  Churches who have used the books in their small groups have said they have been able to have really lively discussion which has led to very practical ways to engage our quickly-changing pluralistic and globalizing world. The small groups read through a chapter each week and use the small group questions at the end of the book to facilitate their discussion.

TRACEY:   Any plans for another book in the future?

ERIC:  I am always writing something at least for those wanting to discuss innovation and outreach at www.ericbryant.org! After completing my dissertation, I hope to have more books to offer people. Thanks for asking!

Thanks to Eric for taking the time to answer a few questions and giving us a little insight on Peppermint-Filled Piñatas.  If you would like more information about his book, www.ericbryant.org