I grew up in a Spanish home in a small town in the heart of Mexico.  With little resources, my parents raised me and my 6 siblings in a home with cultural and social challenges.  At 8 years old, I started working with my father at his ice cream business.  My father instilled values of working hard, responsibility, and contributing to the family and society.

Since I was 11 years old, I had a passion for life and a commitment to personal growth and searching for a bright future for myself. I knew life had more to offer and went on a search to find myself and what was missing.  At a young age, I became addicted to alcohol and tobacco.  I was also partying with my friends and chasing after women.  My father had some of the same addictions and I found myself following all too closely in his footsteps.

When I turned 14, I decided to pursue my dream of going to the United States.  I knew my better life was waiting for me across the border.  To say crossing the border was difficult would be an understatement.  I faced the most difficult and trying time of my life.  I took buses, a train, and walked many miles to get close to the border.  Before crossing the border, I was held hostage at gunpoint and all of my money was stolen by people who promised to help. I eventually escaped but not without a valuable lesson.

When I entered the United States, I did not know any English and had difficulty communicating with others.  Many people crossed my path and helped me cross the border.  I think because I was a child, people felt more willing to help me and I eventually made my way to the United States.

By the age of 21, I had lived in many places in the United States.   I lived in Austin, Dallas, and South Carolina working whatever jobs came my way.  Eventually I made my way to Tulsa, Oklahoma where I became a citizen of the United States in 2005. Citizenship was a challenge for me to obtain. It was a difficult process and required a lot of my time.

During my first years in Tulsa, I was at one of the lowest points in my life.  The best had been taken from mind and soul. I was desperate and had very little hope.  Then a miracle happened.  Two young ladies approached me at the restaurant that I worked at and began talking to me about Jesus and their faith in Him.  I was so t

ouched by these ladies and their acceptance of me that I accepted Jesus few days later and started my new life in Jesus Christ.  I felt the amazing healing touch of God and became a new person in Him.

With my new dedication to the Lord, I began my new life.  I met a woman and got married to the mother of my four children: Joshua, Jesse, Jonathan, and Jose.  We attended Grace Church in Tulsa and I also attended classes to become a minister.  I worked with other pastors to start a Spanish church in Tulsa.  Meanwhile, I was working two jobs.  I was at On the Border where I have worked for almost 20 years and a variety of other restaurants in the area.  I worked almost 80-100 hours a week and was trying to balance my work, family, and church life.

I felt like my life was on track and I was right where God wanted me to be.  My wife had other plans though.  This life was very difficult on her and she decided that this wasn’t the life she wanted.  We divorced and I felt like this was a huge strike to my accomplishments.  I felt discouraged and decided I needed some time off from my church activities.  How could I teach God’s love when my life was such a mess? I now had four children to raise on my own and too many bills to pay to devote my time to God like I had before.  Even through all of this, I didn’t blame God for my problems.  However, I wasn’t following Him either.

For nine years I did whatever I wanted.  I found myself falling into my old habits.  After a health scare, I changed my ways.  I was in my early 40s when my devotion to God came back stronger than ever.  Facing a hospitalization and finding out that I was deathly ill, I renewed my relationship with God.  I needed Him and I wanted Him in my life now more than I ever had.  I repented, asked God to forgive me, and renewed my devotion to Him.

During the years I wasn’t following God, many friends and former pastors had been praying for me.  They knew I was on the wrong path and wanted to help me find my way again.  I had also been searching for God during these times and had asked Him if I could stay single forever so I could focus on my ministry again.  God didn’t want that for me and he gave me my beautiful wife, Angela, who is full of God’s love and committed to Him.  I remarried after so many years of being alone with my boys and have another son Josiah.

My passion for God took on a new spark.  I now attend World Outreach Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma.  My faith in God is encouraged and strengthened under the teaching of Pastor Mark Brazee.  My wife helps teach Bible studies at the Sacred Nest in Broken Arrow.  I have a new commitment to my family, my wife, and my God.

My vision is to connect people to churches and to God.  I want to bring unity to the body of Christ through people like you and me.  I will share testimonies of what God is doing in people’s lives and teach you what God says on many topics we all face today.  I’ll share my life experiences with you and tell you how I made it through those situations.  It doesn’t matter where you are spiritually with the Lord.  I can help you reach that next level in your relationship.

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