A Successful Comic Book Launch at Our Home Church: Connecting and Inspiring

In today’s digital world, where comics often live on screens and social media, it’s refreshing to see something as old-school as comic books used to connect with our community, especially the younger generation, in a fresh and meaningful way. Our recent homegrown comic book promo launch at our local home church EFC (Echoes From Calvary) in Salinas turned out to be a huge hit, bringing together families, comic fans, and churchgoers for a unique event.

The Idea: Blending Comics and Faith

It all began with a vision long ago but The Good Lord had other plans. It would be a way to use a comic book and a select group of imperfect characters as a tool for ministry and bring people together and reach our community in a new way. A fresh way to engage with kids and parents and the people not just in our church, bridge a digital divide with younger generations who might feel disconnected from parents and as a result of generational gap. As a local artist who had been working on this idea (for a while) the comic book series The misadventures of VATOMAN ..AND RUBEN!! heavily rooted with flawed characters, themes of struggle, faith, hope, resilience, and community, it was something I would hope folks could get behind and really see the message. The stories in the comic didn’t just focus on overcoming hardships, but also celebrated the power of seen and unseen miracles of Almighty God in the life of a believer and the importance of reflection and holding on to our hope and faith—filled values that get us through even the strangest of times in hopes that this could resonate with common everyday people, believers and as a church.

This post promo launch wasn’t just about pushing a comic book; it was an opportunity to come together, share stories, and show how comics—just like scripture—can inspire people to rise above challenges and hold on to what truly matters faith and trust in Jesus Christ.

Setting the Scene: A Family-Friendly Event with a Throwback Flavor

The church entry way, that familiar spot where we gather every Sunday, transformed into the perfect venue for this event. Thanks to my wife and daughters they decorated the space with comic book posters and pop ups and an amazing and thoughtful custom pinata that my Janae my eldest daughter had made, but we didn’t forget to add a little Chicano touch—bright colors, cultural art, and an atmosphere that felt like home to everyone. The goal was for everyone—from the youngest to the oldest to feel welcome and part of something special.

Bringing the Community Together: More Than Just Comics

What really stood out about this event wasn’t just the comic itself, but the way it sparked conversations and connected people. Families were sharing stories about their favorite comics growing up, while the younger generation was excited to understand how comics could address big issues like faith, justice, and community in a somewhat modern day setting. Again, It just felt like a bridge between the old school and the new school, with everyone finding something to relate to.

The event gave us all a chance to talk about potential ideas, personal experiences, and storytelling, whether it’s in comic books or through scripture, can help us understand the world around us and most importantly who to rely on when those challenges arise. The church became a place not only for prayer but also for creativity, fun, and deep conversations.

The Impact: More Than Just a Promo

What started as a simple comic book promo turned into a powerful way for our community to connect with each other and with the church in a more personal, relatable way. We’ve heard so many positive stories from families who felt closer connection to each other as a church and the people around them after attending and the support was truly overwhelming. Growing up I had very little biological family around as so the support from my church family at EFC was priceless especially in the moments when I would experience feelings of sadness and regret regarding my mother to see all this and the dream that we what we had talked about many days and nights so many times before and to finally see it come to fruition just in complete awe of what God has done and could have only been accomplished by His divine hand not mine. Needless to say, it wasn’t just about the comic; it was about creating a space where everyone, regardless of age, or background could come together, share their experiences, and feel part of something bigger.

Conclusion

The comic book promo launch at our family church EFC was a reminder of how powerful faith and trust in the Lord is and how He makes all things beautiful in His time. Whether through comics, testimonials or scripture, stories have the ability to bring people together, inspire change, and help us see the world and our circumstances in a new light if we are willing to understand from a different perspective. It was a day full of renewed faith, chicano culture, and community, and we can’t wait to do it again. Keep an eye out for our next event—it’s going to be just as exciting, as a good friend mine always says, stay tooned!