Church is Changing Church is Changing: Episode 90 - Rosario Picardo
Feb 25, 2026
Rosario Picardo, pastor, author, and former seminary professor leading Mosaic Church in Dayton, Ohio. He talks about starting a multiethnic, multilingual church and integrating immigrant cultural gifts into worship. He recounts creative pandemic pivots like drive-in services and adopting a declining congregation. He describes recovery and foster/adoptive ministries shaping church life and a vision for special needs ministry.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Church Plant Began From A Carpool Decision
- Rosario Picardo and a co-pastor carpooled to a church planter day, decided to plant together, and launched Mosaic in September 2017.
- They intentionally aimed for a multi-ethnic, multilingual plant and began by hosting concerts and informational meetings in a shopping-center green space and a movie theater.
Multilingual Worship Shapes Congregational Identity
- Mosaic prioritized multi-ethnic worship by featuring different languages in songs and prayers to reflect Dayton's immigrant and refugee communities.
- Roz's Sicilian immigrant background shaped a heart for those who 'don't fit,' leading to services representing many nationalities and languages.
Drive-In Worship On A Flatbed Truck During COVID
- During COVID Mosaic shifted to drive-in worship using a flatbed truck and FM transmitter, meeting in different parking lots across Dayton for eight months.
- They provided safety-first gatherings, sometimes in snow, and attracted new people who valued that approach.
