Juvenile Mentors CIUWF Ep.39 ft Marco & Jacob Ponce

All right, welcome to Chop It Up with Faith. My

name is Brandon here with some some men of God right here. Uh can you guys introduce yourself? Starting with Jacob

introduce yourself? Starting with Jacob if you can.

What's up everybody? Uh my name is Jacob. Uh and I love the Lord.

Jacob. Uh and I love the Lord.

Hey, uh my name is uh Marco and uh I'm Jacob's dad.

That's my dad. So, um I'm excited for today um to to talk about some things.

Um we're doing a fundraiser. Um it is this Saturday. Uh it's a live it's uh

this Saturday. Uh it's a live it's uh watch lives saves lives event and it's with Phoenix inner city kids and uh I go

to this church and I this is where I met these men at it's called way of life and I I've been going to this church for a couple years and uh I had some marital

issues and so I started going to this church and um I just love Pastor Burke.

I love um obviously meeting you guys.

It's it's been kind of really really cool and stuff. So um we've had some discussions and I wanted to bring you guys on and um

especially with what Marco said and what Jacob has said in the past and uh your ministry, what you guys do at Way of Life. And um I want you to explain what

Life. And um I want you to explain what that is. Uh, Jacob or Marco, just

that is. Uh, Jacob or Marco, just explain what the ministry is and what you guys do.

Sure. Um, the ministry is uh New Beginnings Ministry uh New Creation.

Amen.

New Creation Ministry under Jacob and Pastor Isaac.

Awesome. And uh it is uh we go into uh Dolby Mountain um youth uh prison and uh we go in there and uh we have a couple services

every other Saturday and uh we go in there and we actually have church in there. Uh we there's a chapel in there. We have uh we literally

have church. We have a worship team that

have church. We have a worship team that that goes in there with us. And uh we have uh uh Jacob and Pastor Isaac, you know, literally leave lead uh uh they

preach and the message.

Yeah. We bring the message to to these young men and we we have church in there and it's amazing.

That's awesome, man. That's awesome. Um

I wanted to say this on the podcast cuz we were talking right now. I didn't want to say it, but we uh on Facebook I saw Jacob's post of you

working out.

Okay.

And I was like, who the heck is that, man? And it was you, man.

man? And it was you, man.

A long time ago, man. You used to work out a lot or what?

man. You used to work out a lot or what?

He used to work out a lot. Yes.

That's so crazy, man.

He was known to move some weight around.

He's being humble.

I was like 428, man. That was

Yeah, that was pretty impressive. But I wanted to mention that in the beginning of the podcast. But uh like we said um you guys

podcast. But uh like we said um you guys are from um way of life and the ministry. Correct.

ministry. Correct.

Correct.

And um so what do you guys do exactly when you is it's a juvenile center. Correct.

Correct. So Adobe Mountain so if you were to Google it it's a Dobby Mountain school but it does fall under the the Arizona Department of Corrections. Um,

so pretty much everybody that's 18 years old or or younger. I think it's uh starts at at what 13 or something like that. Um, it's both boys and girls. Uh,

that. Um, it's both boys and girls. Uh,

we only pretty much uh serve the boys at this time. Um, Pastor Isaac who heads up

this time. Um, Pastor Isaac who heads up the ministry and um, you know, I very humbly serve next to him. Um, but have taken up a little bit more of a bigger

role lately uh, under his watch. Um, we

are hoping to expand to the females, but getting an all female team specifically for that. Um, just so that way they have

for that. Um, just so that way they have exactly who they need to serve them. Um,

but yes, it's it's exactly that. So,

yes, it's still a school. There is, you know, programs for them to get their GEDs and go to trade schools and even get some college credits and so on and so forth. Um but beyond that um you know

so forth. Um but beyond that um you know it still is somewhere where you know these youngsters are going um to serve

out you know some convictions. Um I want to say uh if I remember correctly it's a minimum of one to two felonies or something like that. Um but when we go

in there and we serve those young men uh you know we don't really see that. Um

you know we're aware that that's what they're there for. Um, but we're not ever people that are throwing that in their face. Um, and that goes for

their face. Um, and that goes for everybody within the ministry. Um, you

know, a lot of the times sometimes we'll hear it get echoed that, you know, the units that we deal with or, you know, uh, these types of people, uh, these types of individuals, um, you know,

people will make kind of some comments sometimes, you know, but we we don't see that, you know, we don't they don't show that to us. Um, you know, when we go in there, it's all love. Um, and uh, it's,

you know, of course it's brotherly love, but it's godly love and uh, you know, uh, uh, strong godly male affection that sometimes these young men have probably never experienced.

What ages?

Uh, anywhere from, I believe, like 13 to 18, but we specifically see like anywhere from like 15 to 18. Um, in very rare cases, um, they'll be like 19. Um,

but that's, you know, the state kind of throwing them a bone in those cases.

Um, but it's, you know, pretty much late teens for us.

Um, you see some of these kids and they look like they're 10. You see some of these kids and they look like they're 25, you know, and and they're housed together.

Um, but man, you know, we we've gotten to know some of these kids, you know, very closely and uh, you know, know what some of their struggles are, um, so on and so forth. and you know just working with them and serving them and you know

like my dad said you know we have church there within those you know walls and uh you know there's there's still a chance for them to find you know freedom while

being there um we read of examples of that right you know of of you know godly men being incarcerated but still serving and uh man you know uh when we have

worship uh you know brother Hilson who plays piano at way of life uh you know he runs that with brother Joe brother Joe plays uh you know um you know guitar and they both sing. Um when we first got

there those kids wanted nothing to do with it. Uh a lot of them wouldn't stand

with it. Uh a lot of them wouldn't stand up. Um some of them you could tell maybe

up. Um some of them you could tell maybe had been to church before so there was you know a small glimpse of reverence there. And then now being you know close

there. And then now being you know close to a year into it, right? Um you know these kids sometimes are are putting up their hands on their own. They're

clapping. Some of them you'll see them singing because they recognize the music. Um, you know, Hilson and I, we

music. Um, you know, Hilson and I, we like to try to do some of the more, you know, classic, you know, 2000s, you know, church songs that you would hear in the church that we've heard growing up. It's easier to follow. They're kind

up. It's easier to follow. They're kind

of short because we're obviously operating within a, you know, a certain amount of time. We can't really go over.

Um, so we knock out two songs and then we go straight into the word. Uh

sometimes we have uh you know an open discussion where we break off into small groups where the you know young men and ourselves are able to be a lot more open with each other where you know they might not be answering questions in

front of everyone and feeling some type of way about that. Um, so you can be more vulnerable in those smaller group settings or sometimes it is straight up just questions being asked and who's brave enough to raise and discuss. And

sometimes we call in the volunteers and see what they've got to say because we've got some great people in there, you know, serving alongside with us.

We've met some great people, you know, that were already there serving before us that we've pretty much adopted into that. You know, shout out Manny and

that. You know, shout out Manny and Terry because they've been a great addition, you know, to our team. Um, and

then of course, you know, the the people that uh, you know, Pastor Isaac, you know, selected for this has been, uh, a lot of thought went into it. He wanted

to make sure that these young men got the very best, you know, that they could possibly get, you know, when it came to being served, you know.

Yeah. I see him post on uh, Facebook, too, saying that, you know, he really loves these kids. And I I hear you uh, went to Bible study. He really

spoke up to the men and said like a testimony what you guys are doing. And

that's it's powerful, man. And to have that fire that what you're doing, you know, you found your purpose, you know.

Absolutely.

Yeah. That's that's beautiful. But but I want I want to tell everybody why I brought them. So because of this live

brought them. So because of this live event, Phoenix Inner City Kids, I'm I'm volunteer there. Yeah.

volunteer there. Yeah.

So, um I'm the I'm the youth pastor there pretty much and my friend uh Pastor Xavier is as well. And pretty

much we minister to youth that age. And

so I want to tell people out there like, you know, there's a way to prevent this from happening. Yep.

from happening. Yep.

And a lot of these kids that have come in started coming when they were young.

And we outreached to the projects and these kids have been coming since they were like eight or maybe even like younger than that. And now they're like

17, 18. and to see uh see them go to

17, 18. and to see uh see them go to this this camp that we fundraised for.

And that's why we're doing this live is to fund raise that money for these kids.

And I just I've seen the impact in all these kids' lives.

And when we talked when we went to lunch that one day and we were talking about that, I'm like, bro, like we're like kind of doing the same thing, but it's like

on opposite sides.

Yeah. Exactly. I'm I'm more of the pre and you guys are more of like the after or like um these Yeah. These kids didn't experience something like that before.

Yeah. They didn't go to church.

They didn't have a kids ministry to go to like this, a camp to go to and you know, or they they went to it and they made that mistake, you know. But um

uh I wanted to bring you guys here for that reason and to introduce your ministry as well and kind of like a collab pretty much, you know, and I thought it was so interesting and we

just sat there. You were sharing your passion for your ministry. I was sharing my passion for my ministry and we were just sitting there just like going back and forth and

we just want what's best for kids in Phoenix. You know what I mean? in

Phoenix. You know what I mean? in

Arizona, we want to make a difference and wherever they're at, you know, and if some way somehow like with this ministry, with this camp, if we can

prevent them from going to juvenile, if we can have them accept Jesus before they go to juvenile and accept them, you know what I mean? That's that's what our

goal is. And if we're able to to do that

goal is. And if we're able to to do that and you know make a difference that that's I feel like this could be such a

great powerful um podcast. But um before we move on I I kind of want to hear you guys' stories. So um Jacob, can you

guys' stories. So um Jacob, can you start with your story first and just kind of share uh your history and you know couple minutes you know five

minutes it doesn't matter.

Yeah. Yeah. Um, so I was uh born and raised here in Phoenix. Obviously, as my dad mentioned, this is my dad. Um, both

parents in the home. Um,

you know, inner city kid, you know, all the way, you know, all the way through. Um, but

for as long as I can remember, I've been fortunate and blessed enough to have been raised within the church. So, I've

got a lot of uh you know, church under my belt and uh you know, grew up going to camps and conferences and things of that nature. And you know, from

that nature. And you know, from firsthand experience, I can see how So, you're raised in church.

Yeah, 100%. You know, and so, um at least from what I can remember, you know, maybe when I was a baby, not right away, but you know, um pretty much everything that from my memory, yes. Um

and uh you know my grandparents used to have a church so we were serving you know 100% there. Um you know to you know attending but still serving. Um and then

you know I think as a lot of young people do right a lot of young people kind of do tend to uh distance themselves. Uh you know we as a family

themselves. Uh you know we as a family would find ourselves you know busy with life and things of that nature. Um and

for me it was again being that young.

Did you accept Jesus at a young age?

Yeah, I would say so. Um I think too a lot of the times I didn't know exactly how serious to take it just because um again being young and immature. I knew

that uh that I believed in God but didn't really know what to do with it past that. You know, from a young age, I

past that. You know, from a young age, I always wanted to serve and I always wanted to preach. I just didn't know what it was that I was going to say when I got the microphone. And because I was a, you know, a little kid, nobody would

give me the microphone. You know, maybe when they were breaking everything down, I could snatch it and start saying stuff. But, you know, there was there

stuff. But, you know, there was there was never that opportunity. Um, you

know, and so fast forward, you know, some years later, like I said, you know, uh, we start to grow up and go our own, you know, direction. And, uh, you know,

it just became very easy to not be plugged in at church. Um, just got, uh, you know, fascinated with everything that was in church. Uh

what age was this?

Uh probably like right after, you know, maybe mid high school to right after high school and stuff up until, you know, five, six years ago or so, you know, and and even then still, you know, was establishing myself.

How old are you now?

I am 29 now. Yeah. So my mid20s, uh you know, a lot of my uh you know, if you will, a lot of times, you know, people use a very dumb word for it, but

partying ways, right? you know, kind of all came to an end. You know, the the party ended, the music stopped, and uh all of a sudden I looked around and nobody else was there. Um I was You think it was who you hung out with,

too or I think partial some of that. Um there

has been some some people that I've been able to remove from my life and some people that I've been able to love from a distance. Um and I think a lot of

a distance. Um and I think a lot of those people that that are at arms length uh understand that and they respect that and I love them for that.

And I, you know, would hope that the Lord eventually gets a hold of them too, right? And whenever I have those

right? And whenever I have those opportunities to speak to them, I definitely do. Um,

definitely do. Um, it was, uh, you know, like I said, when everything kind of all came to it, uh, you're only responsible for yourself and, uh, there was nobody there that was

going to help me out and stuff. But

thank goodness I could remember, you know, a lot of the teachings and talks I would have with this guy. um that uh you know when when either the going got tough, some stuff I was open and willing

to admit and some stuff was just thrown you know out there to where I just had to face it in front of everyone. Um and

uh you know I just got tired of uh you know being being so disconnected from God at that point in my life. I remember

being at Way of Life Church at one point in time growing up like in my teenage years and Pastor Nick was preaching uh to the youth at the time because that's

what ministry he was in charge of and he had talked about being you know caught in a certain sin and feeling like he was you know he couldn't have ever felt any

further away from God at that time than he did in that moment. And uh that that message was ringing in my head and all of a sudden I was like man you know I am

so far away from the Lord at this point in time. You know I just knew that I had

in time. You know I just knew that I had to get back right. I knew that I had to get back and you know uh into church into serving out of certain places um

things of that nature. And who did I go to? I went to my parents. I went to my

to? I went to my parents. I went to my dad. And you know this is what it is.

dad. And you know this is what it is.

This is what the issues are. Um, and uh, you know, when can we get into church?

Um, Wednesday, you know, that was Sunday had already passed. It was too late for a Sunday. I want to say when I made that

a Sunday. I want to say when I made that decision that I needed the Lord back in my life and could make that decision as an adult cuz that was the difference. I

was a kid raised in the church, but I feel like making that decision as an adult is a different thing, too. I think

when you become an adult, you rededicate your life. If you've known the Lord

your life. If you've known the Lord before, I think it's necessary sometimes to rededicate your life, you know, to him be if you've ever walked away. Um,

so I knew that I wanted to rededicate my life on a Sunday. Uh, we called around and looked around and couldn't exactly, you know, uh, find somewhere to do it,

uh, to start that process. Um, so we went back to where we knew and that was way of life. And so we went on a Wednesday and uh we had heard some good stuff about it that their Wednesdays were good and that the church was good

and that there was this young man there that you know is somebody that I need to get connected with. And I was like just you know absolutely let's do it. You

know show me point me in the direction.

Let's go. We got there on a Wednesday and I didn't know who this young man was. I didn't know what he would look

was. I didn't know what he would look like or you know if he if he would even be there if he even still went there.

And all of a sudden, without, you know, my knowledge of who it was, uh, you know, here comes Pastor Isaac, you know, big smile on his face and a firm handshake and greeted, you know, myself,

my dad, and my mom and, um, you know, and the rest was history. And that was who, you know, people told me about, you know, and I love that guy. I'm obviously

not trying to over glorify the man himself, but I know the God that lives in that man, and that is a willing vessel to go and serve for the Lord. So

that's why I feel comfortable to, you know, give him, you know, even his praise as an individual, you know, um because I know what he's doing it for.

You know, it's never for his clout. And

um and so we've just been serving since.

We haven't I don't want to say we haven't skipped a beat, right?

You were the one that first went there and then you guys followed with them or what? we collectively went, you know,

what? we collectively went, you know, before when when me and my siblings were were pretty young and stuff and we were, you know, consistent for a period of time. Um, and then we just kind of all

time. Um, and then we just kind of all fizzled out a little bit. Um, and you know, my parents have never stopped believing. My parents have never stopped

believing. My parents have never stopped reading. My parents have never stopped

reading. My parents have never stopped praying. Um, you know, uh, I can

praying. Um, you know, uh, I can honestly say that, um, we just weren't super active in the church at that time.

Um, we went and we haven't stopped since then as a family. And, uh, you know, it's it's been amazing. You know, we've been able to all at different levels and

capacities and different ministries all serve. And, uh, you know, that that's

serve. And, uh, you know, that that's our home church, man. You know, um, I love it there. I love the people there.

you know, I've been able to, you know, introduce, you know, my wife to them and she's gotten to, you know, step out of her comfort zone into somewhere different and meet different, you know, people and and, you know, they they they

treat her well. They treat her as if she's been there for, you know, 10 plus years and stuff, you know. So, um, it's just the place to be if you're in the greater Phoenix area and you don't have

a home church. You know, Way of Life Church is a church where the Lord is there and he's moving and there are things that are taking place and uh you know again uh

the people are great, right? But I know the God that's in those people. I know

the God that's in that pastor that's preaching on Sundays and stuff. And uh

you know, they they hold back no punches, man. They tell you how it is.

punches, man. They tell you how it is.

And or or find a church nearby wherever you are. You know, if you're in a different

are. You know, if you're in a different state, you know, find a church near you.

find somewhere find your way of life church wherever you're at and you know uh it's just it'll it'll benefit you in the long run. You know a lot of times people will think that they don't need

to be in a place to have salvation that they can just read at home and you know I pray to God on my own time. I don't

really need church but you know I really hope that you're being fed you know and uh you know if unless you know you're at the I know a lot of people like that.

Yeah. Unless you go to school for that and you know everything, well then you know, hey, you know what? Uh that's

awesome. But if you don't, which none of us do, uh man, you know, get plugged in, get fed, you know, find that, you know, group, you know, if you know, we live nowhere near Way of Life Church. We

drive five minutes to an hour to get there because that's where we want to be. That's where we want to serve. You

be. That's where we want to serve. You

know, are there churches closer? Yes.

But that's our home church, you know.

Yeah. Let me ask you one more question.

Um, so your friends uh from the past that you you tal we talked about, you know,

do you um did you lose that friendship with them after, you know, accepting the Lord and you took it seriously? You know

what I mean?

No, I I would say that there's a a big chunk of them cuz I feel like with my friends when I took it seriously like it was always a distance.

Sure.

Unless I was doing what they were doing.

Very common. Yeah. you know, and there's just a very small amount that I would say that kind of fell off. And, you

know, I I I understand they're not in that season of their life. They're not,

you know, ready for that perhaps. Um,

and and I'm not going to be the person to try to fold up my Bible as best as I can and shove it down their throat, right? Um, but no, there's uh uh uh

right? Um, but no, there's uh uh uh still, you know, very significant friends in my life that are around me that, you know, I have the friends that'll probably never ask even though I

talk about it around them or try to, you know, talk to them about it. Sometimes

they'll never ask. I have friends that'll challenge me in it and cause me to go back like, hm, you know, that's a great question. I don't know. Uh, that's

great question. I don't know. Uh, that's

a great point that you brought up. Let

me go back and read and we'll start discussing these things. you know, I've got friends, you know, that that are on the cusp of believing, you know, I've got friends that are believing, you know, and so, um, no, no, I'm very

grateful that a lot of them were very respectful to that transition that I made, you know, to where I'm at now.

Some of them see it, some of them are curious, some of them wonder why. Um,

some of them just flat out don't understand it. And, uh, you know, I try

understand it. And, uh, you know, I try my best to paint the picture for them.

Um, and uh, you know, when the going gets tough and these tough conversations get had, you know, um, we're close enough that I can, you know, remind them, you know, who can save them, who

can, uh, be leaned on, you know, for that support. You know, I'm a great

that support. You know, I'm a great friend, but, you know, there's a greater one that they can call friend. Exactly.

Yeah. Absolutely.

Yeah. People rely on man a lot, and that's a problem.

It's It's very easy.

When we talk about that, I think of my friend Wilson. I I grew up with him

friend Wilson. I I grew up with him across child Wilson. Um, and we knew each other since we were like five or six years old, seven, I don't know. He

lived across the street from me. And um,

he called me recently. And we we don't talk anymore, but we always considered each other best friends, you know.

And uh, one thing he told me, he watches the podcast. I was like, "Really?" Cuz

the podcast. I was like, "Really?" Cuz

he's he's a different religion. And I

was like, "Really?" He's like, "Yeah, I watch it." He's like, "I want to support

watch it." He's like, "I want to support you, man." And he just told me like,

you, man." And he just told me like, "I've never met somebody so real as you." Mhm.

you." Mhm.

You really that camp changed your life, you know. You really lead by example and

you know. You really lead by example and pretty much what he's saying is based on your fruits pretty much. I know who you are, you know, and that's what you're saying about Isaac. So, so Marco, can

you share your story now? Um,

pretty much where you come from.

So, um, you know, where where you come from?

Sure. Sure. Sure. Okay. Um, brother, uh, I'm going to share this, you know, uh, to to the honor of, you know, glorifying God, obviously, you know. Um, first of

all, I just want to make sure that I thank my mom for for praying praying me into the kingdom of heaven. I want to

thank my my father-in-law for being a a living miracle um, in my eyes and uh, being a godly man.

uh in my life. I want to thank my uh my dad for um for becoming uh that missing link in my

life at the perfect time that I needed uh in my life. Uh thank you guys for that. Um so uh I'm from a I'm from a

that. Um so uh I'm from a I'm from a little town uh named uh Summerton. Uh

it's a small um agricultural town uh uh near uh Yuma.

Near Yuma. Yeah. And um

it's a it's a a cool little interesting town. Um

town. Um it's really small or it's it's a small town. It's a small town. Um and um so

town. Um and um so you know, as a as a small child, um uh again, you know what I mean? uh uh this

is uh this is not meant to to uh insult anybody. It's not meant to to hurt

anybody. It's not meant to to hurt anybody. Uh but uh you know as a small

anybody. Uh but uh you know as a small child I was left with my with my grandparents and uh you know it caused uh some some issues in my life growing

up. um you know that uh eventually you

up. um you know that uh eventually you know became um it became some traumas in my life you know possibly some it became you know kind of some abandonment issues in in my life into my adult into my

adult life uh but uh but yeah that that's that's where I come from and um and uh eventually I came uh I came to

Phoenix uh probably when I was about uh about 12 years old I came to you know I came to to find my mom and stuff and you know come live with And uh Okay.

Yes sir.

Um you mentioned your father. Is that

your real father or is it stepfather?

So uh when I came here um I came with my mom and my stepdad.

Okay.

And so your stepdad is the one you're you were thanking pretty much.

I I thanked him and I and I thanked my dad eventually. Uh when I was about uh

dad eventually. Uh when I was about uh about 40 years old, I met my dad as well.

Oh 40 years old. Okay. So

I was 40 years old.

Where was your dad at at that time? at

the time. Um he was um So you didn't you weren't raised with your father?

No, I wasn't raised, you know, with my mom for a long time and I wasn't, you know, I met my dad, like I said, when I was about 40. Um you know what I mean?

So he was a, you know, a big uh a missing link, you know, I mean, that I craved, you know, to have, you know, in my life for a very long time. Um you

know, I I feel that that God has designed us men, you know, for, you know, with a big purpose, you know what I mean? He has designed us, you know, to

I mean? He has designed us, you know, to be to be leaders, you know, to be fathers, you know, to be husbands. Yeah.

You know, he designed us that way, right? Yeah. And and when one of those

right? Yeah. And and when one of those things is missing in our life, right?

When we're not those leaders, you know, uh we're not um we're not we're not fathers the way we're supposed to be.

We're not, you know, good husbands.

Yeah. It it just we're all out of out of sync, right? And

sync, right? And can you speak into the mic?

Sure. Sure. Sure. We're all out of sync, right? and and and and um you know,

right? and and and and um you know, we're not living, you know, uh to to our through our true purpose, right? Yeah.

Exactly.

And uh and what happens is we end up uh a lot of a lot of kids end up in the places that we talk about, right? Yeah.

Uh and uh and and I I I can relate to you a lot. My my dad um my mom and dad divorced when I was like around 10. And so when my dad was

gone, it was like a missing piece. I'd

always be there. You know what I mean? And so I

there. You know what I mean? And so I know I can feel that pain of like wanting somebody to to look up to for sure,

somebody to um admire, somebody to uh praise, you know, you go go to school and be like, you know, my dad or, you know, when it comes to Father's Day, that's another another day that really got to be a dad, you know.

Yeah. That like little things like that.

It would bother me. Did stuff like that bother you growing up?

Well, obviously I didn't know it at the time, right? I didn't know it at the

time, right? I didn't know it at the time, right? But, you know, you go

time, right? But, you know, you go through so many things as a child, right? You know what I mean? That

right? You know what I mean? That

eventually um I feel that that uh um you get molded into something, right? You

get molded into something and you become this unlovable, you know, person, right?

You know, and you don't even realize it, right? Uh but yes, it affects you. It

right? Uh but yes, it affects you. It

affects you and it affected you. It affected me as a child and then all of a sudden you get you become this this you know this sad boy and then you become an angry

teenager right and then and then it sets a pattern for your life and and and all of a sudden right you know you become you know an adult and and it shaped your

life into something that you would have never imagined right uh for kind of like what Jacob said uh did you hang out with the wrong crowd too or absolutely hung out with the wrong

crowd. Um, absolutely. You know,

crowd. Um, absolutely. You know,

he was the crowd.

I mean, I mean, yes. You know, uh, I think, uh, absolutely, you know, hung out with the wrong crowd. Um, you know, there was, uh, there was a a time in my life, you know, that, you know, I was a complete mess. I'm not going to sit here

complete mess. I'm not going to sit here and sugar coat it, right? Um, you know, I did some some, you know, some things that I'm not very proud of. Uh, I I had zero direction in my life. You know,

you think it was because of that missing piece? I feel that there was a lot of

piece? I feel that there was a lot of missing pieces and and can you explain that thoroughly like pieces? I had no um

pieces? I had no um because I think I remember you saying that your your mom was there at one point as well or something like that.

She was not there.

Yeah.

Correct. Yeah. She was not there. You

know what I mean? So, so uh you know my grandparents were there, right? You

know, and I love them. You know what's so cool when when you say that? Uh the

kids that we minister at the projects, they have your same story, bro, where they're with their grandparents or they're just with their mom or they're with their um their Thea or something

like that who took them over because of their parent was doing something that I mean they weren't taking care of their kid at the time. Let's just put it that way. Correct.

way. Correct.

So that was the same situation. And no,

and this is the thing, bro, that that, you know, we need more men like you. We

need more Jacobs, you know, we need more, you know, Pastor Isaac's. We need

more Hilsons, you know, we need more people, more men stepping into these roles, right? Because, you know,

roles, right? Because, you know, unfortunately, there's a bunch of boys that are waiting around there. We are failing

there. We are failing absolutely our communities.

Absolutely.

Our families um and people around us everywhere and and it's our presence is known as men. You know

what I mean? And that's I read this book. I I talked about it in the podcast

book. I I talked about it in the podcast many times. It's called the men we need.

many times. It's called the men we need.

And it talks about that clearly. And I

read that book and it changed my life, man. Like it I read it like a a year or

man. Like it I read it like a a year or something ago. And I just listened to it

something ago. And I just listened to it while because I'm a truck driver, you know what I mean? I listened to it while was audio book and it changed my life, man. And it it changed the way I thought

man. And it it changed the way I thought about things. Um, you know, always

about things. Um, you know, always thinking about trying to make more money or, you know, you know, not even being there for my family in some cases. And

and that that really convicted me in some way. But it's also, you know,

some way. But it's also, you know, people at my ministry, like there's kids that I overlooked some points and it was like I could have made a

difference. And that's what it kind of

difference. And that's what it kind of got a hold of me. And I I like that you said that because I felt like that it's key for men out there to understand that

that we have a purpose and once we once we accept the Lord and we figure out that purpose because when we don't have the Lord, we're empty, bro. Mhm.

And and um it it's it's just it's crazy to um keep going. Sorry. I I just had a great

keep going. Sorry. I I just had a great thought. That's fine.

thought. That's fine.

You're good, man. You're good. You know,

bro, and and you you said it right now.

You said it earlier, too. You know,

that's the thing that I feel the same way. You know, I'm 55 years old. Jacob

way. You know, I'm 55 years old. Jacob

mentioned it earlier. You know, we started doing this a year ago. Bro, I

should have been doing this a long time ago. you know, uh I thank God that I've

ago. you know, uh I thank God that I've been sober for, you know, because of God for going on 27 years, you know, bro.

And and so I I should have been doing this. Now, don't get me wrong, in some

this. Now, don't get me wrong, in some way, shape, or form. I've been mentoring people for that long, but I should have been doing this more plugged in doing this. Exactly. A long time ago.

this. Exactly. A long time ago.

You were mentoring this guy.

I was. I was. and and I've been, you know, I've been, you know, doing this to my own family, to my own kids, right?

You know, as much as I can. Um, but, you know, but I still should have been doing, you know, exactly this what I'm doing, you know, uh, with the boys at Adobe. Um, you know, uh, Adobe Mountain

Adobe. Um, you know, uh, Adobe Mountain has a very very special place in my heart, right? You know, I I really

heart, right? You know, I I really really, you know, uh, you know, feel it in my heart, you know, I mean, for for young men like that, you know, there was a point in my life, you know, that just like those boys, you know, I mean, I was

very broken, you know, just like that, you know, and and I was very broken and I came from a, you know, broken, you know, dysfunctional place just like that, you know, and and so, you know, I

I really feel that that uh, you know, that when I'm in there and and I'm doing those those oneon- ons, you know, with those young men, Yeah.

You know what I mean? That that I can connect with them, bro. You know what I mean? And and uh and it's just uh it's

mean? And and uh and it's just uh it's powerful, bro. You know what I mean?

powerful, bro. You know what I mean?

Just like Jake says, you know what I mean? When when we're able to to to uh

mean? When when we're able to to to uh you know, to kind of break off into those sessions and and it's very powerful, bro, what God is doing in there.

So, we we'll get back into that. Let's

get back to your story. And um so did you have something growing up like a church or an after school program that you attended as a kid?

No, bro. Unfortunately, no. You know,

there there was nothing really like that, you know, in the town that I grew up in. Uh there really wasn't.

up in. Uh there really wasn't.

Um I think too to put context to that, you know, um let's also put like not trying to age you, you've already mentioned your age and stuff, but you know, let's also consider, you know,

Phoenix in the 80s, you know, like a lot of other, you know, big cities, what was going on at those times, you know, uh, for inner city, a whole different world,

you know, it was it was it was violent.

there was gang presence, you know, uh drugs were rampant in the streets, you know, and so now, like you mentioned, you know, being a young man growing up

in in in the inner city and uh not coming from necessarily the, you know, the best, you know, places and and not hanging around the best people, you know, it was, I'm sure, very easy to,

you know, as they say, become the product of your environment. um you know so yeah uh you know I don't think there was you know programs like that in place yet or if they were they were barely on

the ground level barely getting started and now they're probably big you know I don't know when the boys and girls club became a thing or when after school centers became a thing or when churches

started really adopting having you know youth group that you know and so you know I don't know I'm sure there might have been people in the in the projects and stuff like that that were coming and knocking on doors

is, you know, but witnesses have been knocking on doors for a long times and Mormons have been on their bikes for a long time. So, I mean, you know, whoever

long time. So, I mean, you know, whoever gets to that door first sometimes and uh, you know, they might all get it slammed on their face, but you know, it just all depended on that. And, you

know, a lot of the times, you know, what do they refer to you guys as the latch key kids, you know, and uh, you guys weren't home anyway, so if they came and knocked at the door, you know, they weren't there, you know.

Yeah. So, yeah, we we weren't home, you know, I mean, so that that's for sure. I

mean, we're uh you know, we were out there, you know what I mean? You know,

you know, running around and stuff, you know what I mean? You know, we just, you know, we're we're in the street, bro.

You know what I mean? You know, plain and simple.

That was your after school was, you know, seeing what you guys could get up to.

Do you think if if there was something like that, do you think it would have prevented the stuff you did?

Honestly, bro, I think I would have welcomed it to be honest with you.

I think so. If I would have Okay, that's a good question, bro. I would have I would have needed to got uh caught in something like that very young because So, what age would you say?

I would have said probably probably around nine. And I'm just being real

around nine. And I'm just being real with you, bro. Because other stuff got me very young, you know. By the time What age would you say that?

By the time I was I was um probably like 11 12ish bro.

It was it the street the street got a hold of me, bro. you know, and and and I'm talking about, you know, back in 1982,83, you know what I mean, bro? And that's a long time ago. I don't know what it's

like, but I mean, right now, it might be a lot different, obviously, you know, for kids. It might be a lot different.

for kids. It might be a lot different.

It might be a lot harder. I'm not sure, you know?

Yeah. It's crazy. It's really cool.

But if you did, um, you think that you would have welcomed it?

I think so, bro. cuz we we we we get kids at that age and they're so receptive.

And um I truly believe that some of the kids that we've had in the past in my youth, we altered some lives. We planted some seeds and even though that they're some

of them are still coming, I believe that they still have a relationship with God or the same thing with your story. you

know, they veered away for a little while and I believe back in they'll be real backed in and it will flourish, you know, and um we've seen kids later on and you know we'll be oh

yeah, I remember remember you from pick Brandon or something like that and it's always like that and so I I love that. I

love how it kind of like correlates you know in a way. So

I mean you know that's absolutely true.

I mean, we finally for the first time got to see two of the Adobe kids show up at at Way of Life this past Sunday and they're no longer Adobe kids. You know,

that might be where we got to meet them from, but you know, they're no longer, you know, that, you know, now they're Has that ever happened before?

That's the first time it's ever happened. It was two in one service, you

happened. It was two in one service, you know. So, that was awesome, you know,

know. So, that was awesome, you know, and so um I don't know where, you know, do they have a program for them when they get out?

I'm sure, you know, depending I'm sure on their ages and stuff like that if they're released as a minor. Um, even

I'm sure even if they're not a minor, there's still probation and so on and so forth. So, um, maybe even dependent on

forth. So, um, maybe even dependent on uh maybe perhaps what the state was after them for. Um, you know, if they were, you know, mixed up with drugs, I'm sure there's drug programs and things of

that nature. So, yes, I'm sure there is

that nature. So, yes, I'm sure there is programs. You know, what they do with it, of course, right? You know, uh, just because they come to chapel doesn't mean that they're ever going to show up to church whenever they leave. Um, but you

know, they're being presented the gospel, right? You know, so it was

gospel, right? You know, so it was really dope to see them. Yeah. You know,

and who knows, maybe we were the one watering a seed because maybe they were a part of a program like pick before and because XYZ were no longer allowed to, you know, be there no more and do just

get consumed by the fire of the streets, you know, and end up in places like that. Um, you know, and so I'm sure

that. Um, you know, and so I'm sure we've watered and I'm sure we've planted. Um, and now, you know,

planted. Um, and now, you know, sometimes the rest is up to the Lord cuz there's a lot of times, a majority of the times, 99% of the time when these kids are no longer there, we'll probably

never see them again. We'll never have contact with them again. Um, you know, because that's just how it is. Um and so uh we just we were very intentional with

having a a prayer with them before they leave, you know, and we all put hands on them, you know, or you know, extend a hand out, whatever is able, you know, to be done. And uh you know, we pray them

be done. And uh you know, we pray them out and uh that's pretty much it. You

know, it was funny. One of the kids, you know, tried to stop us one time because supposedly uh what was happening was that if you got prayed for you, that meant you were coming back cuz that was kind of the case, you know. But so far

we haven't we've had one. We won't we won't talk we won't shout him out. He

knows who he is. He came back and I'm going see him on Saturday. He got

himself in trouble again. But um you know we've only had one you know so far in the year you know come back and we've had a handful get released. Now I don't know where they're at but I trust that you know that there's some good values

that were instilled in them. You know

that's the same with with our ministry.

You know they age out and they start working and stuff. Um, so

a lot of, well, this is what I think a lot of the kids, uh, they saw me working, you know, hard, you know, and, um, and they saw the results. They saw

my house. They saw my car. They saw my friend Javier, you remember Javier?

Javier's car, and they're like, man, I want that, you know. So then they start working and working. And so that's that's kind of like what the kids do.

They age out and they start working, you know? So, but but it's just a I feel

know? So, but but it's just a I feel like it is a phase when you're growing up like that. You're out of high school, you want you're thinking about the future, you know, you think about the money. So,

money. So, so that's that's uh my guys right now.

Um did you have any positive influences in your life that you could think about or was it all negative influences like all all bad bad people around you?

I think people probably tried to be in their own ways, right? you know, what they thought was good because that's what the cards they worked out, right?

You know, why you do that, man? Bro, that's a that's a tough

man? Bro, that's a that's a tough question, you know, bro. Um, don't get me wrong, man. You know, there's there's a lot of people in my life that I love to death. You know what I mean? And like

to death. You know what I mean? And like

Jake says, bro, you know what I mean?

you know, there's a lot of people that that are very very hardworking people in my and you know, in my life, you know, I mean, that I've known, you know, um you

know, and but you know, for to the best of their abilities, you know, I mean, they tried to be good examples, you know what I mean, brother, you know, uh you know, but you know, to the best of their abilities, you know, but unfortunately,

did you ever look at them and like I want to be like this person? Did you say that? I did, you know, and and I did

that? I did, you know, and and I did unfortunately become like them, you know. I'm not You know what I mean? You

know. I'm not You know what I mean? You

know, I'm not trying to be me.

Just the way you said it, guys.

You know what I mean? You know, I did.

And I and I did. I became just like that, you know. And uh you know, and and again, you know, I said it earlier. I'm

not trying to be hurtful, you know. I I

I literally became And then there's other people that I said I'll never become like that. And I became just like that, too. You know,

that, too. You know, you know, you know, and and but that's how it is. I think Jacob said it earlier, you know, become a product of your environment, you know, and and and look, we have choices, bro. You

know, we literally have choices, you know, um, you know, there's there's men there's biblical men, right? There's men

like, you know, like Joseph, right? You

know, he was born into a family, you know, he was, you know, he was, you know, sold by his brothers into slavery, right? He was accused of a crime later,

right? He was accused of a crime later, you know, got thrown in prison and he still made the right choice.

A crime he didn't commit, right? And he

still made the right choice, bro. He had

a choice, but he still made the right choices, bro. He still fulfilled, you

choices, bro. He still fulfilled, you know what I mean?

I like how you compared it to Samson, too, bro. You know, Samson, you know what I

bro. You know, Samson, you know what I mean? He was called by God and he was

mean? He was called by God and he was still making, you know, wrong choices, bro. And he had a calling in his life.

bro. And he had a calling in his life.

Yeah.

You know, you know, David, you know, he was still making some, you know, bad choices even though he had a calling in his life. So, what I'm saying is, you

his life. So, what I'm saying is, you know, we we there's a there comes a point in our life when we know right from wrong, right? and we and and we

blow it right we'll still make some bad choices you know you know so there comes a point in our life where you know we say man I'm never going to become that

and we'll still do it bro okay let me ask you this um so later on in life okay um if somebody approached you then

okay during those times right um do you think that would have made a difference at that Okay. Like

Okay. Like from what we're talking about, you know what I'm saying?

Like like somebody who's, you know, maybe perhaps offering you a different type of lifestyle. Correct. You know,

somebody who's offering you kind of um maybe somebody who presented the gospel even at that time when you were in the midst of everything kind of like what you're doing with uh you know mentoring.

Uhhuh.

But let's just say my mess or Yeah.

Yeah. Oh, it happened bro. And and and you know what? It's just like everybody else, you know, you you have to be ready, you know, you have to be.

But do you think at that time like before I became a mess or that wasn't my when there was a moment where you were on hold pretty much?

Mhm.

And you know, somebody was there kind of like what you guys are doing mentoring and somebody came up to you and was mentoring you.

Do you think that would have made a difference at that time? at that time like let's say like 10 years before you gave you know you see what I'm saying

you know yeah you know like you know cuz obviously when you eventually came to the Lord like that was the end of the line end of the rope now let's subtracted 10 years before it got to that point

cuz I kind of I kind of think like with you guys you know you're mentoring these guys sure and you know what I mean they're receptive do you think you would have

been receptive like that if something like that was right there in front of you and you were in a hard place, it's just

probably not probably not at that time.

So, do you have kids like that in Adobe where Yeah. they're not receptive?

where Yeah. they're not receptive?

Absolutely. Sometimes I wonder and and I keep it to myself. off. I know I'm about to voice it right now and I'm sure when we talk about it sometimes even sometimes we wonder why certain kids

come to chapel just based off of their behavior while in chapel. Um but you know we don't treat them any different.

You know we might have to remind them, right? Like hey when we're here

right? Like hey when we're here reverence right?

I'm kind of up to the challenge though.

You know what I mean? I kind of take it you know I kind of take it with it. I'm

kind of Yeah. You know what I mean? I

take it as a challenge bro. You know

what I mean? I'm like you know what Lord? He's here for a reason. And you

Lord? He's here for a reason. And you

know what Lord? Like I I'm here. I'm

here to see it, you know.

It's all about being patient, too, man.

It's about being patient, bro. And and

there's people in my life that I see at, you know, in certain places and I keep seeing them and they they reject the gospel like with hate, bro. And I refuse

to get them out of my life for a reason, bro. I refuse. I leave them there, bro.

bro. I refuse. I leave them there, bro.

I leave them in my life in some capacity. You know, in some way, I think

capacity. You know, in some way, I think they want you to chase them.

I know it sounds crazy, but I know some kids like that where it's like they're not receptive and it's just they want you to chase them. And because

I've had kids like that where it was like I thought I was the hardest kid to get in touch with, but later on it was just they just wanted you to chase them

because they they were hungry for that male figure or or that love from a like I knew a kid who his mother wasn't there

but his father was there um but his mother wasn't there but he was clinging for that affection from a mother.

It's so crazy like how we need the man and the woman.

Yep.

Separately.

No, bro. So, you know those that those moments where you know I would I would wonder like why is God chasing me? Like

you know like you know I would I would have those moments like man nobody loves me right but but God is chasing me right? I would have those moments to

right? I would have those moments to myself and he kept on and he kept on and he kept on right until until he literally chased me into my house and

and he went into my home and my wife who I never would have thought would have turned, you know, to the gospel. She

just was not into the gospel.

Can we go back in your story? I remember

you were saying you were 12 years old, right?

And your mom helped kind of presented the gospel to you.

Yeah. You guys went to church or something or what?

She, you know, and you said something about your stepdad.

That's what I I want you to go into that because I like that part.

Yeah. So, so one day, uh, one day, uh, this when you're 12 years old, correct?

I was around right around that age.

Yeah. Right around that age.

Sorry, we we went off a little bit, but it was good.

Yeah. So, right around that age. And,

uh, you know, uh, um, somebody was going to come over. My mom decided that she, you know, she wanted to turn her life around. This is around the time that I

around. This is around the time that I came to, you know, to live with her. And

uh, you know, she was trying to explain to this elderly man, you know what I mean, who was a, you know, like this hardcore, you know, pillar in the Christian church and she and and she was

like, "Yeah, my husband's, you know, he's not a very, you know, nice man."

You know what I mean? And he's like, "Oh, don't worry." You know what I mean?

We'll we'll wait for him and we'll talk to him and we'll minister to him. And

she was like, "Well, I don't know if he's going to, you know, you know, be that."

that." And it's your stepdad, correct?

My stepfather, you know what I mean?

Well, you know, they waited for him, right? And uh and uh they, you know, he

right? And uh and uh they, you know, he didn't really want nothing to do with them. And he kind of went in, showered

them. And he kind of went in, showered up, came out. He just got home from work and they were waiting for him still. I

guess he thought they were going to leave, right? And you know, they waited

leave, right? And you know, they waited for him and said, "Hey, I'm so and so.

Can we chat with you?"

So crazy how it correlates what we were just talking about. And they, you know, they started talking to him and they said, "Can we pray for you?" He started praying for him. And,

you know, he was slaying in the spirit right then and there, bro. And he went from, you know, being this hardcore man that, you know, was just so reluctant to What did you feel like? I remember you talking about this. What did you feel

like when you saw that?

I knew that that there was no way that he would ever change. And I went from seeing that to all of a sudden being slain in the spirit and changing from

one moment to the next. And then I I I knew he changed from that moment to being a miracle. You know what I mean, bro? And and he went sober from what

bro? And and he went sober from what that moment to the next. And I remember witnessing that. And I remember I I

witnessing that. And I remember I I grabbed that and I put it in my back pocket, that core memory. And I was, you know, a child and I I didn't, you know, I I didn't know and I didn't want that

for myself yet, right? But I held on to that for many years until that moment came for me from 12 years old until I

was 29 years old. And I decided, you know what?

If that if what you did that day, if you could go, right?

Yeah. I asked God, "If you could do that for me, what you did for my stepfather, if you're still into that, then let me see." You know what I mean? You know,

see." You know what I mean? You know,

and boy, was he still into that.

Wow.

And he did it, bro. You know what I mean? And and you know, man, you know,

mean? And and you know, man, you know, so you you held that in your back pocket. And so that you know,

pocket. And so that you know, and so let's go on let's go on to the future like you said. Um, so you did, you know, you committed crimes, you did certain things, and then, you know what

I mean, you know, you had to learn the hard way sometimes and then you got married, right?

Right. You got married.

Yeah. My wife had been together since we were 16 years old.

So, did you have kids at the time then?

What do you mean?

Did you Did you guys have kids at the time when when you came to God?

When you came to God?

Mhm.

Yep.

Can you explain that? Sorry. like to go in detail with that like what did your wife do? Yeah. What did your wife do and

wife do? Yeah. What did your wife do and just kind of explain that, you know, like when she decided all of a sudden that Yeah.

she explain how she can I mean just think about that for a second. I mean

second. I mean she said something too. I remember I don't know if you guys know this but I remember her saying this out after church. She said, uh, we explained like

church. She said, uh, we explained like what we do at PIC and we go to projects and stuff like that and she says, "I remember somebody going to my doorstep."

Mhm.

And ministering to us and my family, you know what I mean?

And so, did she do some type of program like that?

So, I I know I know the story that you're referring to. So I I I know that, you know, there was a church in the area that had came to the projects and was picking up kids and taking them, you

know, and doing some stuff, right? I

thought that was so cool.

And um she enjoyed it. And then, you know, I I want to say, if I remember correctly, mom, correct me, um was uh she just, you know, from one one time to

the next, I want to say she might not have been allowed to go for just x, y, and z. just that was just a decision

and z. just that was just a decision that was made in the home at that time.

I'll have to ask if if that was like a seed planted from that.

I think so. And I think too for my mom, you know, I don't want to, you know, I I can speak to what I know and I won't speak her testimony for her, but you know, being, you know, um by my dad's

side at that time, you know, living, you know, a fast crazy life, you know, you get tired, you get burnt out. And uh you know, she was tired and she wanted more.

And uh you know she found it and it was you know with God. Um and like my dad said you know the Lord started creeping into the house and you know I was a baby you know probably only a year or two old

and uh my brother is a few years older than I am and so you know you said too like she we talked before that she you couldn't believe it either with her

bro she never showed any interest interest in in in the gospel. So, you

know, my mom, like I like I said earlier, you know what I mean, bro? She,

you know, she became a Christian when I came to live with her when I was 12, okay? And my mom would minister to my

okay? And my mom would minister to my wife and I my mom my wife and I have been together since we were 16. My mom

would always minister to us and my my wife never showed any interest, right?

So then all of a sudden in the year 99, right? you know, late 1999. All of a

99, right? you know, late 1999. All of a sudden, my wife decides that she wants to go to church. So, I was like I was honestly I was terrified, bro. I was,

you know, in my mind, I'm terrified thinking, "Oh, man, you know, God's going to expose me." You know what I mean? You know, my my wild thinking,

mean? You know, my my wild thinking, right?

Yeah.

And so her the judgment, too, you know, people judging you.

Yeah. You know what I mean? So then her and the kids started going to church, right? And um and um man uh Pastor Mike,

right? And um and um man uh Pastor Mike, God bless him, man. You know what I mean? That's where that's where uh

mean? That's where that's where uh that's where I got saved. Uh amazing

amazing man of God, him and his wife, uh Sister Cassie. Uh anyways, uh sometimes

Sister Cassie. Uh anyways, uh sometimes I would drop her off, bro. This is a wild story I'm about to say. I would

drop her off, bro. And and after I'd go wait for her in the parking lot, right?

And this man, bro, I would park at a distance, right? And this man

distance, right? And this man instead of just, you know what I mean?

You know, like, you know, he would come out and I'd be parked at a distance and he'd wave at me and I'd be like, "Oh, man." You know what I mean? You know,

man." You know what I mean? You know,

and he would start walking over there.

You know what I mean? I'm like, "No, he's not coming over here." Yes, he is coming over here, man. Let me hide this 40 back here.

Oh, really?

We'll walk all the way over there, bro.

Hey. And then he, you know, leaned all the way like a Dutch Bros employee.

Hey, how are you, sir? How you doing?

You know, super lovable, not judging me, you know what I mean? And just be like, you know, hey, how are you? How you

been? You know, come visit, you know what I mean? Just being so loving, you know what I mean? You know, bro, and you know, just ah, man, that conviction, you know what I mean, bro? Just, you know, just God's love just, you know, I mean,

pouring into me, bro. You know what I mean? It was just a matter of time, bro.

mean? It was just a matter of time, bro.

You know, it was it literally was So was your wife then pretty much her coming to you. Little did I know that there was a

you. Little did I know that there was a an elder, you know, lady, Sister Lucy, that was giving her anointing oil and go pray over your husband's pill.

Oh, wow.

Bro, you know what I mean? Roll the way.

You know, God's, you know, God's amazing.

So, did you know that that she was doing that or what?

Oh, no.

Oh, so you found out later on then? Oh,

man.

That's cool, man. And so you you came to the Lord after that.

She kind of helped you come to the Lord, took you to church pretty much. And

pretty much. And Mhm.

That's cool, man.

All right. So, um, let me ask you guys something. So, what can we do to prevent

something. So, what can we do to prevent kids from going to juvie jail or committing crimes? Like, what in your

committing crimes? Like, what in your opinion, Marco, and then we'll go to Jacob.

Um, we just we just need to do we we need more men I I feel to to step up. OB, you

know what would be great?

More mentorship.

More mentorship. You know what would be great, bro? Is uh is is more more men to

great, bro? Is uh is is more more men to to stick around, you know, obviously that in a perfect world be a dad, you know. Yes. You know, more men just

you know. Yes. You know, more men just to step up and or step up and be that father figure.

Yeah. But you know, but you know, yes, if we could just have more men to just step up into that role, into that capacity, start mentoring,

start volunteering.

Yeah. I've had a lot of like, so for me, my dad wasn't always there. He was in and out of my life, you know, still today. And um it's it's still hard to

today. And um it's it's still hard to forgive, you know what I mean? So I have to live that daily, you know what I mean? He calls me, I answer, how you

mean? He calls me, I answer, how you doing? you know, and try to live live

doing? you know, and try to live live what the word says and that's to forgive, you know, and to love, you know what I mean? And so that's always been

hard, but like you said, um I've had people in my life that were that father figure in those moments. Like you guys met Tony, right? Tonyy's been kind of

like that. He's been like a mentor to me

like that. He's been like a mentor to me and always been there for me. I I have another friend as well. He's always been there for me. He's helped me out on certain occasions. So when you say that

certain occasions. So when you say that just know men out there that you can be a positive influence and be a mentor or be that just be there for them in those

moments and that that's being effective.

Um and I I believe God has used those people in my life to help me be who I am today, you know. So um so mentorship um Jacob, what do you think? Like what are

some thing some things that we could do?

Um, we just we just said right now surrounded by faith- centered people, you know what I mean? What what's

something else do you think like that you you know you think that could help those people?

I think that there's got to be you know um like help prevent that. Sorry.

Sure. Sure. You know, let's start, you know, signaling signaling the alarms now. Um, you know, there's got to be a

now. Um, you know, there's got to be a call to action to to those people of faith, whether you're a man or a woman.

Um, because there's a lot of girls out there too, right? Uh, that that need to be caught up in the right system rather than the wrong system. Um, but there's

got to be a major call to action. If you

are a believer and you're not planting those seeds or watering those seeds, then then then you're only doing a part of it, you know. um then you're only concerned

know. um then you're only concerned about um you know your household and I get that your household serves the Lord and that's awesome but you know we've been called to be fisher fishers of men

right you know and so um every tribe in every nation even the ones you might not like even the people that you might have judged or the people that you might have lived a very similar life to um because

our time here is short whether the Lord is coming back tonight or tomorrow and if he's not coming back for another hundred years from Now, our lives, our

time here on earth is short. Um, you

know, and so these young people that aren't being reached, you know, I always tell people, I could step out and get hit by a bus.

Absolutely.

That's my last.

Absolutely. you know, and so if we're not reaching them, uh, there's a lot of other people, a lot of other outlets, a lot of other, you know, faiths that will. You know, I felt very ashamed of

will. You know, I felt very ashamed of myself at one point in time that, you know, I had a very close friend of mine

who was um, considering, you know, entertaining uh, you know, being becoming a Muslim, you know, and that was like, you know, my best friend. And

yet here I was a believer, never once talked to him about God. Yeah. You know,

I I felt I felt very ashamed in that, you know, and so, you know, or or denied Christ. Like that's me, bro. I denied Christ in front of people

bro. I denied Christ in front of people just to fit in.

Yeah. I did.

And sometimes you might not even realize that you did it, you know, because you just didn't realize, you know, how your wording was or, you know, so on and so forth.

a major call to action whether it's somebody who's not a young person or who is in your means of uh you know circle of

influence be there do that you know be that bold person that that you know start off small um start off you know somewhere in your community within your family

because man if we're not doing it somebody else is you know we had the opportunity uh a few weeks back when when we were within the men's group and uh one of the things that I talked about

is exactly that, you know, if we're not doing it now, if we're not contending for the faith and out there trying to reach these people, well then that's fine. Guess what? The witnesses are

fine. Guess what? The witnesses are still knocking on the doors. The Mormons

are still out there and uh you know, the black Hebrew Israelites are still spewing their hate. And guess what? You

know, somehow someway they still reel people in and they There's a lot of false prophets, bro.

You know, and so but but you know, where are we? You know, a lot of the times,

are we? You know, a lot of the times, you know, uh we're just so concerned with what happens on the grounds of our church and beyond that, that's kind of it, you know, and so go to the service, you know,

it's very easy to do that, you know, and sometimes, yeah, you know what? I get

it. You have to rest and, you know, find your time outside of your ministry, too.

Um, but man, you know, if we're not doing it, you know, the streets will get a hold of them. You know, the next crazy drug is getting a hold of them. Um, you

know, the predator will get a hold of them. you know, it it doesn't matter,

them. you know, it it doesn't matter, you know, but man, if we could have been there, if we could have, you know, planted that seed or watered it, um what a different outcome it could have very

possibly have been, you know, because every one of us is here now because of at one point in time, a seed planted, you know, at 12 years old, a seed planted, you know, in your story, a seed

was planted, you know, and and for me, you know, even being raised up in the in the church, you would think like it would be, you know, so easy, but sometimes, you know, They say that even church kids might have it worse

sometimes because you know they go so far off and experiment so far off that they never get brought back you know and so um you know but but you know we've got to be there for those. It's just,

you know, like you said, uh, being present, uh, man, what what a difference the presence of a strong male figure or a mom or a dad makes, you know, for

these young kids, you know, um, it's just it's it's crucial, you know, look what happens when you have a bad teacher in the classroom. You know, those kids those kids run all over the place,

right? So imagine at home, you know,

right? So imagine at home, you know, when when there's a when there's the parents are strung out or whatever the case is, you know, um and grandma's too old to care for them. Uh you know, and

it just it's just what happens and it sucks, you know. But um if we can be there to do something, man, we need to, you know, because when we're driving down the street and we see those people

all slumped over at the bus stop, it's very easy to judge. It's very easy to even joke around. You know, I was that young kid that thought it was funny to, you know, to to think less of them. But

that's when every time I look at them, I think of my friends because they were in that stuff man.

And that's why I talk about in the podcast like have people who were in that stuff and who overdosed on drugs and almost died. I I

know people who died and that's kind of why I kind of started this podcast is because I want to encourage those people. I want to make a difference those people's lives because

a lot of people I know are dead in prison or overdose on drugs and if we can just make a difference somehow, you know, encourage them, oh, this is where I'm at

now. This is what I'm doing now. And and

now. This is what I'm doing now. And and

it's all because of Jesus. You know what I mean? And um the reason why I say

I mean? And um the reason why I say that, um I asked that question, how to prevent it.

Um I I'll go over a couple of my notes um what we can do to prevent it. So

obviously mentorship um uh surround ourselves with faithfilled people, you know what I mean? Um

biblical training, finding a mentor to train you up or the kids center, you know?

Mhm.

Go to a church, you know what I mean?

Get connected, you know what I mean?

Simple. Absolutely. And so

the reason why I go back to that is because in a way that's what we're doing, you know, in our ministries. And

with PIC, that's kind of what I'm trying to show everybody is, you know, this ministry can prevent that. We do those things. We we have mentorship. We

things. We we have mentorship. We

surround these kids around faithfilled people. We have biblical training with

people. We have biblical training with these kids. And we take them to church.

these kids. And we take them to church.

You know what I mean? And that's that's what I kind of wanted to bring it back.

And maybe some someday we can possibly completely eliminate, you know, these juvenile centers, you know what I mean?

And, you know, in some way somehow um with kids centers like this and men rising up and making a difference around their communities and the people around

them in their church and and wherever they're at, you know what I mean? And I

believe that we can make a difference.

Um, so yeah. So, um, so to kind of conclude this, um, I want to ask you a question. So, what

would you tell parents to do to help raise their child? Cuz obviously you raised um, a great man right here, you know what I mean? I'm a witness to that.

Seeing him, you know, I believe, you know, you see people, you know, it says in the word, see it by their fruits, you know what I And I I've seen it a few

times based on his fruits. So So what would you uh what would you tell parents out there to help raise their child?

What?

Man, I'll tell you I'll tell you what.

Uh brother um by no means am I a perfect man.

Um parenting I like that.

It it parenting is not easy. Um,

I struggle daily, you know, as as as a person, right? As a man. That's just that's just

right? As a man. That's just that's just the way it is, right? You know, um, but give yourself some credit. Just

being present.

That right there, you you have to plug in. You have to stay plugged in. Um,

in. You have to stay plugged in. Um,

not just, you know, with with your children, but you got to stay plugged in to the source, bro. You have to. If you

do not stay plugged in to the source, might as well throw in the towel.

That's what people do, you know. That's it. You know, because

you know. That's it. You know, because if you don't stay plugged in to the source bro you're going to probably drive yourself crazy, you know.

You want to comment on something your dad did possibly that um kind of going along with that question?

How you know, you know what your dad did that you know that you look up to now.

So when you have kids one day, you say, "Oh, you know, that's what I need to do to help raise my children."

You know, my my dad was very real with us, me and my siblings. You know, um we've we've gotten to hear just about every aspect of his testimony. Um you

know, even even at a young age, we got to hear, you know, certain things about his life. And uh even you know, my mom's

his life. And uh even you know, my mom's of course, you know, too, you know, we're very close with their mother as well. Um, but obviously, you know, boys

well. Um, but obviously, you know, boys and their dad, right? You know, it's a it's a different type of bond. I'm sure

you understand with your son, of course.

Um, you know, and and but my dad didn't never try to sugarcoat nothing with us, you know. He was he was very, uh, you

you know. He was he was very, uh, you know, firm with us, but he wasn't a bully. He didn't, you know, beat up on

bully. He didn't, you know, beat up on us. Um, he told us like how it was and

us. Um, he told us like how it was and what we needed to hear, never what we wanted to hear. Um, and uh, you know, when when things blew up in our face,

you know, he didn't have to tell us, "I told you so." We knew, you know, uh, he raised some smart young men, you know, so we knew. Um, you know, parents have a way sometimes of, uh, of being right,

you know, and and I think too, especially if they've if they've lived life right, if they've gone through things and um, you know, they can see

the direction that you're headed into.

Uh, a lot of times it's hard to fool a parent. Um,

parent. Um, here, let me let me just say something real quick. I saw this thing on uh I

real quick. I saw this thing on uh I just happened to come across it on Tik Tok. I'm not really a Tik Tok person,

Tok. I'm not really a Tik Tok person, okay? Just letting me know. I just post

okay? Just letting me know. I just post stuff for the podcast and stuff like that.

But I saw this video of this pastor who was ministering. He goes up to this

was ministering. He goes up to this father and it's kind of like by a club he's ministering to people and stuff like that. And he goes up to this father

like that. And he goes up to this father and he goes, "Hey, hey, how you doing?"

You know, kind of like ministering to him. He goes, "Oh, I know the Lord."

him. He goes, "Oh, I know the Lord."

"Yeah, I know the Lord." "And praise God, man. Praise God." Like, "What are

God, man. Praise God." Like, "What are you doing out here, man? Like, you you seem like you're you're not drunk or anything." He's like, "I'm waiting for

anything." He's like, "I'm waiting for my son.

I know he's accepted Christ and he's making mistakes, but I'm here to be his right home."

I thought that was so powerful, man. So,

when you said that correlated to that, um I thought it was so powerful, man. That

really touched me.

Absolutely. And, you know, my parents have been very present. You know, my parents have been parents through the good times and the bad times. You know,

they've allowed us to make decisions.

They've allowed us to go through certain things, you know, without, you know, uh, interrupting, you know, the very formative years of our life, right? You

know, and so, um, but they made it to where we were as comfortable as possible to go to them with with with the struggles that we went through. Um and

you know without that you know again where are those kids that don't have that outlet you know um we work with them right you know we see them and you know we might have them you know

literally in our workplaces you know not just in the places where we're serving in ministry um sometimes we're zoned out too you know you know we don't like pay attention to everybody else around you sometimes you know

also it's pride too I mean we get so prideful and we're like you know what the heck but but you know again just being super you know grateful and thankful for that

because having very present parents has given that you know and uh you know I don't I don't know who taught them how to love when they were growing up but they loved on us you know and so that

was also something very important wasn't there something you said uh your mother said to you or something like that yeah yeah that was that was powerful man

yeah right yeah that that was you know that was something you know very touching that I'll never forget.

And and that's what's awesome is that, you know, now because of those grandparents being redeemed, because of those friends and family members being redeemed, you know, now generations

before, they've they've they've prayed prayers not knowing exactly maybe who it was for or what it would look like, but now they're being played out now.

They're being lived today. You know, I seen something the other day where it talks about not squandering a grandmother's prayers, you know, and thank God we've had a praying grandmother and a praying grandfather.

Um because without that, you know, man, my nana still sends me, you know, devotionals every single day, you know, and I try my best to read through through all of them, you know, but you know, uh I just don't know what I would

do without that, you know. Shout out

grandmothers everywhere, you know. And

speaking of grandmothers, uh my wife's grandmother, she's been such a key role in our family. She just passed away, 93 years old.

And man, it was it we we just went to her our her funeral and buried her. Man,

it didn't really it didn't really hit me. I've been a part of this family for

me. I've been a part of this family for like trying to think how long. About 18

years, I think. No, not 18 years. Um

trying to think for a long time. Let's

just put it that way. I've been with my wife longer than I was I grew up, you know what I mean?

So, um, so I've known this family forever and she used to plant seeds to us and she used to have like the colors, you know, um, sharing the gospel

everywhere she went and, you know, just seeing all the fruit that she made, you know what I mean? And, you know, and her not being here anymore. That's what's

like crazy, bro. But,

yeah, but those prayers that she prayed are still very thinking about um you know and that's what's uh something that sometimes people might not ever be able to comprehend and even

when you compare it to your your uh grandparents like that's not my actual grandparent you know but you like she was my like I'm I'm married into the family and

she's known me she before she passed this one thing I remember she said I love you know what I mean and I was like man that's you know she didn't need to say that to

me but she did and She really uh she was an amazing person and um I yeah I love what you said that that was that was powerful. But

yeah, absolutely.

Yeah. So um

there was another question I had. Um

what would you tell somebody who isn't relying on God? Maybe a kid, maybe a a a family or or just a person who was just like you. Maybe somebody um just

like you. Maybe somebody um just somebody out there, you know, go ahead or Jacob, doesn't matter.

Yeah. Um my thing is that, you know, what do you have to lose? You know, a lot of the times if you go to you try out church for a Sunday, you lose out on an hour and a half or so. Um you know,

then you can choose whether or not you what you want to do with that. Now, um

you know, you try out God, you know, give Jesus a chance and you know, see what see what what it does for you. um

you really don't have much to lose but a whole lot to gain. Uh my thing is is that um you know a lot of people have opinions on what happens after we take

our last breath. you know, if you say nothing, you know, and you're correct, well, then, you know, I'm doing all this and nothing will happen, right? Um, but

if you know what I believe is correct and it happens, my goodness, are you in a very jeopardizing state, you know? So,

um, you know, not only is it something that I believe, but I also know what side it is that I want to be on when this is all said and done. Um, you know, so it's not just doing this just in case that we are right, you know, but it's

also the faith and believing and such.

So man, you've got nothing to lose. If

you're questioning it, dig deeper, tap in with somebody that you can trust. Um,

you know, mentors around you, you know, so on and so forth. You know, reach out to Brandon and and if you want to know further, you know, beyond that, you know, he'll connect you with us, you know, and so um, you know, find those

people, find that church, find that community that you can trust and that's got your back. And my goodness, you know, you you know, the Lord will elevate you to a a place that you would

have never imagined. All three of us can attest to that that we should not be here for X, Y, and Z, but yet the Lord has made it possible. And um now we get to, you know, give it to those that also

now need it, you know.

Um so I I told one of the one of the kids that I was mentoring, it's something very simple. I told them, is this something you're telling them as well?

Yes. Yes. Uh, I I told him, uh, how bold do you act when you when you want to act like a clown? I told him, you know, and, you know, he says, "Well, I'm pretty bold about it." I said, "How

come you don't act like that when you want to ask for help and you want to be, you know, you want a mentor, like you're going to get," he was about to get out.

I said, "Will you be bold like that and go to church and go to the men's ministry and say, "Hey, I need a mentor." I said, "Be bold." or or are

mentor." I said, "Be bold." or or are you all of a sudden gonna be all shy about it?

I said, "Because you you're bold about all your other stuff that you that you you know go around doing, but all of a sudden you don't want to be bold when it's time to man up." I told him, "That's cool."

"That's cool." You know, I said, "Come on now." You

know what I mean? You know, it's time to man up. You know,

man up. You know, it's time to man up. Be bold.

Time to man up. I man up. Women women

up.

Can you share a scripture or story in the Bible just real quick for somebody out there that really encouraged you that possibly encouraged them?

Um, one of the one of the last things that I and I don't know if this really is in line with exactly what you just asked, but you know, it sticks out to me

is um, one of the last things that I spoke about with uh, the young man at Adobe was um, the very interesting story of Lot's wife. you know, um she's

commanded not to look back. And you

know, if you're still stuck looking back at your old ways, uh your old life, um you know, remember Lot's wife, you know, uh mentioned uh two times in the Bible, Old Testament, New Testament, the only

woman that Jesus ever tells us to remember. Um and it was for a very

remember. Um and it was for a very specific reason, and it was to, you know, to stop yourself from looking back and being stuck in your old ways. Um,

you know, if you're stuck and you feel like you haven't been able to progress in your walk, maybe it's because you are uh still looking back. Um, you know, stop looking back.

That's good. Stop looking back.

Good stuff.

Yeah.

Uh, I got scripture. Um, second Timothy chapter 2. Um, you have heard me teach

chapter 2. Um, you have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses.

Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others. You know, just just like we continue to teach other

reliable young men so that they can continue to teach him onto others. You

know, that's something that we need to just continue and continue to hand off, right?

Yeah. For generations to come.

Absolutely.

That was awesome. Um Jacob, can you pray us out? Um just pray for those people

us out? Um just pray for those people out there. Um and just let the Lord lead

out there. Um and just let the Lord lead you. You know what I mean?

you. You know what I mean?

Absolutely.

To close this out.

Yeah.

Uh Father God, uh Lord, we thank you for this just this wonderful opportunity to sit in fellowship and to sit and broadcast to those that are needing a pickme up, Father God. That those that

are maybe perhaps needing that confirmation of uh what exactly it is that they need to do, Lord, in their life, Father God. And of course, we just, you know, we thank our brother for

inviting us. And we ask that, Lord, that

inviting us. And we ask that, Lord, that you look over him, his family, his home, his ministry, and those that they come into contact with, Father God, because Lord, we know that they need it, Father

God. Lord, we ask that you continue to

God. Lord, we ask that you continue to look over New Creation Ministries and look over uh the Adobe um school, Father God, and every single person that steps

foot on that campus, staff and students alike, Father God, we ask that you just continue to work in their minds, continue to work in their lives, Lord.

um those that are called to serve, Father God. May you call them and may

Father God. May you call them and may you uh give them the strength to boldly stand uh and answer that call, Father God. Lord, as you just continue to work

God. Lord, as you just continue to work in those that are around us, those that are near and those that are far, Father God, just continue to uh give them that fresh pour, Father God, into their

vessel, Father God, so they can continue pouring into those that are around them, Father God. What good is it if we are

Father God. What good is it if we are not pouring into those around us, Father God? Lord, we thank you for this exact

God? Lord, we thank you for this exact moment. We thank you for the moment that

moment. We thank you for the moment that has passed and for the one that is upcoming, Father God, because we know that you have commanded it to be, Lord.

Again, we just thank you again for this opportunity. We thank you for good

opportunity. We thank you for good fellowship. We thank you uh for good

fellowship. We thank you uh for good community that you have given us, Father God. We praise your name and elevate it

God. We praise your name and elevate it to the highest possible place that we can, Father God. we lift our eyes and we lift our hands up to you Lord in Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Amen.

Can you please um for your ministry um promote it? Promote the ministry and how

promote it? Promote the ministry and how they can maybe just the plugin pretty much and how they can participate maybe um what else? Um

what else? Um maybe donate, you know, maybe.

Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. So, um, we do have a three-day retreat that's coming up soon that we are doing specifically within Adobe. Um, we're having, uh, you

within Adobe. Um, we're having, uh, you know, some guest speakers coming in, some, um, some professional athletes and stuff like that that are coming in to speak with them, you know, athletes of faith and whatnot. Um, you know, we're

going to be, you know, doing meals and so on and so forth. Um, so with that being said, obviously there's, you know, almost always a cost that comes with that. Um, and so, you know, of course,

that. Um, and so, you know, of course, we're we're looking for any little bit that that helps. Um, you know, whatever the Lord impresses on your heart and mind, uh, you know, we'll gladly, you

know, put that to where the need is is at. Um,

at. Um, we, this is, you know, a great, uh, reminder that, and I'll get with Pastor Isaac on that, that we should probably start a specific, uh, social media for our ministry. It's just kind of hard

our ministry. It's just kind of hard obviously cuz it's inside the correction system. So, we can't put photos and

system. So, we can't put photos and things of that nature, but for for for instances like this, you know, absolutely. But for the time being, you

absolutely. But for the time being, you know, we can get you guys connected uh with how to get do you have like a website or something that So, not at this time, but if they're able to, you know, reach out. So, my

name is Jacob Ona. Find me on Facebook.

Uh reach out to Brandon and he'll get you uh you know, connected with us. Um,

you know, I'll get you guys connected with Pastor Isaac and and he's got a lot of the details in regards to uh, you know, how to give. He's got he's actually got something set up specifically for that. Um,

and they can volunteer as well. Correct.

Um, so there is uh sometimes uh volunteer uh um possibilities. Um,

again, you know, getting into the process, it's it it is it is pretty, you know, tough to try to get in there and stuff. And and for that one, I would

stuff. And and for that one, I would specifically say to tap in with our pastor, with Pastor Isaac Herrera.

Again, you can find him on social media.

He will not trip out if you friend request him. Um, you know, tell him

request him. Um, you know, tell him that, you know, where it is that you found him from or who it is that you heard it from. Again, my name is Jacob.

Um, you know, that that's my brother right there, you know. So, um, and and he can get you, you know, squared away in regards to what volunteer options

look like. um you know what giving looks

look like. um you know what giving looks like and so on and so forth. But you

know the one of the greatest and most biggest and simplest ways that you guys can give to us is uh in the form of prayer. Um you know so again let's not

prayer. Um you know so again let's not forget you know what adobe is and and the reason why those kids are there um you know so there's a lot of unique challenges that present themselves. um

you know and so um you know just continue to lift up those that are going um into those systems and and presenting the gospel. Um you know we might not be

the gospel. Um you know we might not be going to other countries to preach but I still consider us much like you know very much involved in missions. Um it's

a place where you would least likely you know expect to find the gospel and somewhere where a lot of people aren't really exactly eager to go. Um but there we are and we're presenting it and uh

you know so just uh continue to pray for us. Continue to pray for those that are

us. Continue to pray for those that are in there.

Praise God. Also uh uh keep my family in prayer. You know they're grieving right

prayer. You know they're grieving right now. Also pray for my brother uh Marco.

now. Also pray for my brother uh Marco.

He had had a loss as well. You know

keep him in prayer as well. Um you know it's not easy, you know. And um make sure to watch uh watch the the live

podcast this Saturday, May 23rd at 2:00 p.m. Uh make sure you stay tuned. Um

p.m. Uh make sure you stay tuned. Um

we're doing a pretty much like a 1 to 250 um board pretty much and you pretty much just pick a number and that's your, you know, you're going to donate that amount

pretty much. And if we get a hundred

pretty much. And if we get a hundred uh numbers off the board, it equals to the amount we need. It's about $20,000.

So, I'm hopefully uh you know, we're trusting God and seeing what what happens this year. You know, we're hoping that we get all the donations.

But I also want to um say to my sister-in-law, happy birthday. She just

uh had her birthday and um I just want to say happy birthday to her. She's been

doing a great job with the kids and she's the director of the camp. So,

she's she's awesome. So, um I think that's it, but make sure to like, follow, and subscribe on Chop It Up with Faith, uh YouTube, Facebook, and um in

Instagram, and also uh Tik Tok. I always

forget that. I don't know why. All

right. Thank you. Thank you guys. Good

night.