Night of adoration: Othello native presents concert at Bethel Spanish Assembly of God

OTHELLO — Edward Rivera is dedicated to his craft through-and-through. As a traveling musician Rivera knows firsthand how precarious flight schedules can be and how nothing is set in stone. That notion was put into play on Friday when Rivera’s flight was canceled. This was a big deal considering he was scheduled to be in concert at the Bethel Spanish Assembly of God in Othello Saturday night.

Rivera didn’t let that faze him. Even if the flight cancellation resulted in a loss of sleep and added stress, Rivera still made his concert date on Saturday and put on an impassioned performance in front of a congregation that he is well familiar with.

“He’s got a talent. A pure one that doesn’t really come around too often. Especially in these parts. His talent is just as big as his dedication to God however and that shows when he plays,” Rosa Diaz-Rodriguez remarked.

Rivera, a singer-songwriter/music pastor, is based out of Bethel and has been making quite the name for himself in the Christian music world. As word about his talent has gotten out, Rivera has been able to perform with Christian artists like Christine D’Clario, Marco Barrientos, BJ Putnam Bethel and Israel Houghton. He has traveled to Argentina, Guatemala, El Salvador, Australia, Mexico, France and Puerto Rico.

“I don’t know a lot about him, but I came out anyways because you really don’t have to know a lot about someone to get behind what they are doing. He is out there in the world doing good and bringing people to God and he is doing it with a smile on his face that shows you he believes in what he is singing about,” Julio Martinez-Garza said.

Saturday evening's concert was a mix between worship/praise songs in English and Spanish. At one moment Rivera and his band could be playing a fast-paced Spanish worship song, while at the next they would take it back to slightly slower-paced hymns like “Great is Thy Faithfulness.”