I Am What I Am

Felix Cervantes

I Am What I Am exists to equip evangelical pastors and church leaders to recognize, respond to, and appropriately refer individuals experiencing intimate partner violence. Hosted by Felix D. Cervantes, this podcast combines biblical truth, practical ministry leadership, research-informed teaching, and real-world experience to help churches become places of safety, restoration, and hope. Each episode explores topics including recognizing abuse, trauma-informed pastoral care, referral pathways, church policies, leadership development, survivor advocacy, and building healthier ministry cultures. As the ministry grows, the podcast will also serve as the foundation for the I Am What I Am Training Institute, providing ongoing education, church resources, leadership training, and practical tools for pastors and ministry teams. Whether you are a pastor, elder, ministry leader, counselor, or church volunteer, this podcast will equip you to lead with wisdom, compassion, and biblical conviction. Equipping pastors. Strengthening churches. Restoring lives.

Episodes

  1. 1d ago

    Episode 101: When a Survivor Says, "Pastor, Can We Talk?"

    "Pastor... can we talk?" Those five words may become one of the most significant conversations of your ministry. Every year, survivors of intimate partner violence quietly seek help from someone they trust. Often, that first person is their pastor. Yet many church leaders have never been trained to recognize abuse, understand trauma, or respond in a way that protects both the survivor and the integrity of the church. In this foundational episode, Pastor Felix Cervantes explores the biblical responsibility of shepherds to protect the vulnerable while providing practical guidance on recognizing abuse, understanding trauma responses, and responding with wisdom, compassion, and appropriate referrals. Whether you are a pastor, elder, ministry leader, counselor, or church volunteer, this episode will help equip you to respond faithfully when someone entrusts you with one of the most difficult conversations of their life. In This Episode  Why pastors are often the first person a survivor tells  The difference between marital conflict and abuse  Understanding coercive control  The four trauma responses: Fight, Flight, Freeze, and Fawn  What Scripture teaches about protecting the vulnerable  Practical first steps every pastor should take after a disclosureScripture  Psalm 82:3–4 (NKJV)  Isaiah 1:17 (NKJV)  James 1:27 (NKJV)Connect with I Am What I Am Ministry 🌐 https://iamwhatiam.org Find resources for pastors, churches, survivors, referral pathways, articles, and training opportunities designed to help churches become places of safety, healing, and restoration. Equipping pastors. Strengthening churches. Restoring lives. By the grace of God, I Am What I Am Ministry

    15 min

About

I Am What I Am exists to equip evangelical pastors and church leaders to recognize, respond to, and appropriately refer individuals experiencing intimate partner violence. Hosted by Felix D. Cervantes, this podcast combines biblical truth, practical ministry leadership, research-informed teaching, and real-world experience to help churches become places of safety, restoration, and hope. Each episode explores topics including recognizing abuse, trauma-informed pastoral care, referral pathways, church policies, leadership development, survivor advocacy, and building healthier ministry cultures. As the ministry grows, the podcast will also serve as the foundation for the I Am What I Am Training Institute, providing ongoing education, church resources, leadership training, and practical tools for pastors and ministry teams. Whether you are a pastor, elder, ministry leader, counselor, or church volunteer, this podcast will equip you to lead with wisdom, compassion, and biblical conviction. Equipping pastors. Strengthening churches. Restoring lives.