A Journey Through Loss
Erwin McManus, born Irving Rafael Mesa-Cardona on August 28, 1958, in San Salvador, discovered a profound purpose that would shape his life's work. By the sixth grade, he had lost his mother, stepmother, and father, with tragedy further compounded by his uncle's violent act. Raised for a time by his Buddhist grandmother in Hong Kong, Chan's life took a transformative turn as he embraced Christianity in his teenage years.
Building Ministry
He pursued a BA in youth ministry and a Master's of Divinity, eventually founding Cornerstone Community Church in 1994 with his wife, Lisa. The church in Simi Valley grew rapidly from 30 to 6,000 members.
Mosaic and Creativity
In 1993, McManus moved to Los Angeles, becoming the senior pastor of The Church on Brady. Under his leadership, the church transformed into Mosaic, a non-denominational megachurch known for its creativity and cultural engagement. Mosaic's vision is to create a place where anyone can belong before they believe. McManus believes that creativity is essential to faith and ministry.
