"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." Psalm 46:1

Missionary Angelina Garcia-Rivera was born on July 7, 1934 in Manuabo, Puerto Rico. She received her High School Diploma from La Escuela Secundaria Alfonso Casta Martinez. Angelina worked for her grandfather, Don Jose Gilberto Garcia, managing a family grocery store. In 1960, Angelina left Puerto for New York, where she met and married Jesus Manuel Pedregon-Rivera. To this union was born three daughters and two sons. Angelina accepted Christ at age thirteen and baptized at the Methodist Church of Manuabo. She joined the International Revival Tabernacle under the leadership of the late Bishop Ernest Trueblood Sr., where Angelina and Jesus ministered. As a missionary, Angelina ministered to women and led many to Christ. In 1986, Rev. Jesus M. Rivera alongside First Lady Angelina Rivera opened the Iglesia Cristo Misionera. Angelina and Jesus would go on to Pastor again in Tampa Florida until 2007 when they retired from senior leadership. Angelina was a loving and talented mother, who in addition to possessing excellent culinary skills, was also a dynamic worship leader, skilled gardener, Sunday School teacher and seamstress. In addition to her parents and siblings, Angelina was preceded in death by her husband, Jesus M. Rivera and her granddaughter Nicole. She leaves to cherish her loving memory; her three daughters, Norma Rodriquez (Angel), Monticello, NY; Lydia Torres (Christopher), Lithia, FL; Ruth Alvarez (Benjamin), Ruskin, FL; two sons Samuel Rivera (Ronnie), Lakeland, FL, David Rivera (Melissa), Valrico, FL; Thirteen grandchildren Angel, Michael, Josalyn, Stephanie, James, Christopher, Peter, Xavier, Zachary, Matthew, Jonathan, Angel and David; Five great-grandchildren; Jose, Lily, Isaiah, Antonio and Joshua.