Meet Mayra Cardenas | Minister & Public Speaker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Mayra Cardenas and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mayra, what do you attribute your success to?
The most important factor behind my success would be authenticity. I feel like in ministry you have to perform and be someone who can relate to hundreds or thousands of people, but realistically that would never be possible. Being the person who shows grace and love to others is by far more inspirational than being a good public speaker or the best speaker out there.

I have always been the type of person who has been able to enjoy being a sister, friend, mother figure to anyone who is needing or wanting one. Doing this has allowed me to find my confidence in who I am as a person and it allows me to have hope for the future and the generations to come.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Being a female minister and Latina in Houston, Texas has been a journey I wouldn’t trade for anything else. I have been able to flourish on and off stage. I feel like a lot of the time people expect me to be on stage everyday, but that’s not how ministry works. My everyday life like going to the hair salon, dinner with my friend group, or going to the gym that’s really where my ministry is. The people I can have genuine conversations with about life while being honest and vulnerable and creating a relationship, that’s ministry. It’s who you are and where you are.

is ministry easy? Absolutely not. Something I always say is that ministry isn’t about ambition, but submission to the calling and purpose that God has. With finding your purpose there are challenges that allow you to grow. Along the way I have learned to love myself and enjoy the little moments in life.

Maya Angelou has so many of my favorite quotes and one I truly relate to is:
“My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.”

If there’s anything I want people to know about me is that I love people so wholeheartedly. I have always been the girl who never thought she could become someone that people could look up to, but that has changed so much and I love being able to be a role model to women of all ages. Having a platform has allowed me to walk humbly and graciously towards anyone.

fun fact: I am so known as the Taylor Swift of preaching, so if I have ever gone on a date with someone I have probably talked about it and it has been the most relatable way to reach people from any generation!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If I had a friend visit for the week I would tell them to stay at The Post Oak Hotel. Wake up and get coffee at Tenfold, Brass tacks, and of course Starbucks. They have to go watch the sunset at Miller Outdoor Theatre, Hermann Park, but go and eat at Sixty Vines, and go to an Astros game! Rice Village has a lot of cute shops, so definitely go there and do some shopping.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My friends and family. My siblings have always meant so much to me, and we are all best friends and i’ve had the upmost support by each and every single one of them. My sister has always been someone who has been able to love me through the hardest times and it’s been easy to love her and look up to her. My sister is always someone who encourages me to shoot my shot in every way possible, whether it’s for a job, opportunity, or relationship. I couldn’t be more thankful. My brothers have always been the men in my life that have protected and loved me throughout my life, so they are a true blessing.

I also really look up to my mentors, some include Abram, Paul, Jon, Cassie, Kailey.. and the list goes on. I truly am grateful for who i’m around and the amount of encouragement they bring to my life to be the best minister that I can be.


Instagram: @mayraaa_c

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cardenasmayra80

Image Credits
Anthony Clark Jr. Kate Johnston