José Hernandez
Somewhere after gang life, incarceration and a stint with a Mexican Cartel, Jose Hernandez felt a stirring in his heart, which would eventually lead him towards ministry and a legacy of leadership and healing in Watts, California. But in order to move forward, Jose first had to make peace with his past, including the suffering and pain he caused others. Today, Pastor Jose Hernandez is a role model and father figure to many young boys in Watts, setting a strong example of hope, dedication and the power of personal transformation.
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In this episode:
Jose thought the life of a criminal was his fate and never imagined he would live this long.
His father abused him and his mother then abandoned them, which set the tone for a lot of his life.
His desire to belong, to be part of something bigger, to be protected because of all those things he was lacking.
Learning the cost of being a member of a gang.
Becoming the man he vowed he never would be and the journey to his faith.
His return to Hope Central Watts and the importance of forgiveness.
Stay connected to José:
Websites: www.hopecentralwatts.com
Facebook: Hope Central Watts
Instagram: @hopecentralwatts
Charity Donation: Hope Central Watts
Wise Words:
You become a person that maybe you never wanted to be. it becomes all about you. It becomes about if you have something that I want, then I’m just going to take it, I have no regard for you, I have no respect for you.
I think by the time I was probably 14 or 15, I was already carrying a small firearm on a regular basis just for protection.
There is a difference between us saying I give my life to God and I surrender. Giving is different than surrendering.
The hoodie kids of the projects, they’re the solution, but we have to invest in them. Unfortunately, the drug dealers, the pimps, the pushers, all of them, they’re investing in them, too. We’re losing the battle because we’re investing in the ones that show potential, but in order for us to see the potential of these kids, we have layers to get to before they’ll even let us see that potential. I was one of them.
people think these kids need a backpack, or shoes, and what they really need is someone to drive them to the DMV, someone to help them print a resume, someone to go shoot hoops with them, and that type of work.
When I came here, really quickly I realized that what people here needed was for people to do life with them.
When was the last time that you’ve heard of a youth pastor taking kids to the Social Security office so that they can go get an ID, so they can go get a birth certificate?
It's really hard for a young man who was born into a welfare system where two parents have never worked a day in their life to get a job.
I really believe that wherever you are in life you can make a difference, if you’re just willing. I believe that if you’re in a funk, and that’s kind of easy because of what we’ve just come out of, if you’re challenged, I remember a pastor saying this, here’s five ways to get out of any funk. One: Go help someone, . Two, go help someone. Three, go help someone.