Pastor Santos Chavez grew up in the city of Westminster. He and his sibling were involved in gangs. When he was in only in the sixth grade, he decided to follow his big brother into the gang life. His first arrest was at the young age of 13 year old. By the time he was 17, Chavez was all about running the streets, seemingly destined to never live past his 20's. In 1987, on high school graduation night Chavez joined his brother and a some homeboys. They had it set in their minds to go get back at another gang for beating up his brother. Shortly before midnight, at the intersection of Highland Street and Pacific Avenue in Santa Ana, the warring gangs faced each other. Chavez says his gang brought nothing more than fists. However the other gang brought more than that. Under a streetlight, he saw his brother drop, five bullets from a .38 in his back. Two blasts from sawed-off shotgun shredded his brothers neck. Another homeboy crumpled, his stomach was torn open. A third homeboy spun, a bullet tearing into his shoulder. Chavez ended up with a gun to his face. He clearly remembers the click of the trigger. However, all that followed was another click, the gun was empty. Then that's when the beating started. That night was life changing, he lost his oldest brother. Chavez spent the year after his brother's killing looking for payback. But along the way, he met a self-styled minister, who was a recovering addict and former gangster. He clearly remembers that minister telling him, 'You don't have to go to prison. You don't have to die.' As he states, it was opposite to everything knew. "I was taught that once you get in, you can't get out. I was taught this is till death." Oddly enough, the man's ideas kept ringing in Chavez's head. At a gang meeting, he announced: "That's it. I'm out." Some of his former homeboys, disagreed with Chavez's decision to leave the gang. For safety reasons, his parents and some of his siblings decided to leave Orange County.
Despite the challenges that arose due to his decision, on January 14, 1989, Chavez entered a Christian recovery home. He decided he finally needed to kick a PCP and alcohol addiction. His desire was to become a lawyer to help teens in trouble with the law but his faith began to take priority in his life. Today, Chavez has his own church, Street Light Church. He targets young gang members and addicts. The mission is for the love of God that is shared through the congregation to be life changing. An estimated three-fourths of his congregation is between 14 and 25. Pastor Santos Chavez and wife Alana come from a lifestyle of drugs, alcohol and gangs. They have been married more then 25 years and have 4 beautiful daughters. They are a great example of what God can do in the life of anyone who is ready to surrender to Him, and allow God to be in control.
To learn more about his story: https://www.ocregister.com/2012/08/29/two-pastors-reach-across-the-racial-divide/
Despite the challenges that arose due to his decision, on January 14, 1989, Chavez entered a Christian recovery home. He decided he finally needed to kick a PCP and alcohol addiction. His desire was to become a lawyer to help teens in trouble with the law but his faith began to take priority in his life. Today, Chavez has his own church, Street Light Church. He targets young gang members and addicts. The mission is for the love of God that is shared through the congregation to be life changing. An estimated three-fourths of his congregation is between 14 and 25. Pastor Santos Chavez and wife Alana come from a lifestyle of drugs, alcohol and gangs. They have been married more then 25 years and have 4 beautiful daughters. They are a great example of what God can do in the life of anyone who is ready to surrender to Him, and allow God to be in control.
To learn more about his story: https://www.ocregister.com/2012/08/29/two-pastors-reach-across-the-racial-divide/