A Life Shaped by Grace

“Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” — Philippians 1:6

 A Life Shaped by Grace

I never could have imagined that my life would become what it is today—a journey of faith that has led me from the streets of East Harlem to leading ministries that span across the United States, the Caribbean, and Latin America. I don’t share this story as someone who claims special revelation or a monopoly on truth. I share it as a man who has received grace—grace that has saved me, shaped me, and propelled me to extend that same grace to others.

This is my testimony—a story of how God’s transformative power not only saved my soul but also called me to confront the principalities and systems that oppress His people. This is not just my story—it is the story of what happens when faith and justice work together, when personal transformation gives birth to a prophetic call for systemic change.

Growing Up in East Harlem: The Struggle & The Call

I was born and raised in East Harlem, a neighborhood filled with culture, resilience, and hardship. During the 1950s and 60s, it was the heart of the Puerto Rican community in New York City. While it was alive with music, family, and faith, it was also a place of deep struggle. Systemic poverty, racism, and economic disparity were daily realities. The Puerto Rican community was often shut out of mainstream opportunities, confined to overcrowded housing, underfunded schools, and an environment that pushed many young men toward gangs or drugs.

I saw firsthand how these forces destroyed lives. Many of my friends were caught up in cycles of violence and addiction. I could have been one of them. But God had His hand on me. Even before I knew Him, He was leading me toward a different path. A path that would ultimately take me from survival to significance.

A Life-Changing Encounter with Jesus

At the age of fifteen, my life changed forever. One night, I heard music coming from a storefront in Ocean Hill Brownsville, Brooklyn. I thought it was a dance hall or a social club, so I walked in. It turned out that the dance hall had been rented by a small Pentecostal church for an evangelistic outreach. Inside that humble space, I encountered something I had never felt before: the presence of the Holy Spirit.

Within a week, I gave my life to Jesus. That decision set the course for everything that followed. I became involved in the church, first as a youth leader, then as a minister. In indigenous Pentecostalism at that time, formal education wasn’t emphasized. Instead, they believed that if you were truly called, they would send you to the hardest places—and if you survived, then you were truly called.

At just nineteen, I took on my first pastorate. It was a small church of about twenty people. But by the grace of God, over six years, that church grew to nearly 150. The lessons learned in those formative years shaped me to become not just a pastor, but a shepherd committed to holistic ministry.

Beyond the Pulpit: A Ministry of Faith and Justice

As I continued pastoring in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, and later in the South Bronx, I realized that ministry couldn’t just be about what happened inside the four walls of the church. My community was suffering, and the gospel had to be more than just words—it had to bring transformation. I saw families struggling, young people being swallowed by addiction, and entire neighborhoods left behind by the system.

It wasn’t enough to tell people to pray and hope for a better future. The church had to be a tool of resistance, standing against injustice and providing real solutions. This conviction led me to found the Latino Pastoral Action Center (LPAC) in 1992. LPAC became a place where pastors, churches, and faith-based organizations could be trained in holistic ministry—one that integrated spiritual renewal with social transformation.

Building an Educational Legacy: Family Life Academy Charter Schools (FLACS)

I also saw how the lack of quality education was trapping entire generations in poverty. This realization led to the birth of Family Life Academy Charter Schools (FLACS)—a network of schools dedicated to educating and empowering young people. What began as one school has now grown into five, serving nearly 2,000 students with over 300 staff members.

A Global Movement: The Council of Holistic Christian Churches and Ministries

The vision expanded beyond New York. The Council of Holistic Christian Churches and Ministries was formed, creating a network of faith communities committed to holistic ministry. Today, our fellowship has grown across the U.S. and internationally, including the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Venezuela, and Colombia. The vision of holistic ministry has ignited hearts far beyond our initial expectations.

A Life of Prophetic Advocacy: Faith and Justice Together

For me, faith and justice have never been separate. The gospel of Jesus Christ is not just about the next life—it is about transforming this life, right here and now. For over six decades, I have stood in the gap, advocating for justice, mentoring faith leaders, and working alongside those committed to both spiritual renewal and systemic change. I have had the privilege of raising up hundreds of men and women in ministry, equipping them to serve both in the church and in the world.

The Journey Continues: Looking to the Future

Now, as I celebrate my 78th birthday, I reflect on all that God has done. I do not take any of this as my own accomplishment—it is the work of Christ, and I am only His servant. I pray that I will live to at least 85 and continue building, mentoring, and expanding this vision. Faith and justice walk together, hand in hand, guiding my journey and shaping the legacy I hope to leave behind.

Final Words: God Has Never Failed Me Yet

From a fifteen-year-old boy in Brooklyn to pastoring in New York’s toughest neighborhoods…
From launching LPAC to building a network of schools…
From mentoring pastors to leading a movement that spans nations…

God has never failed me yet.

And the journey continues—until that final day when I will stand before my Lord and Savior, see Him face to face, and reign with Him forever.

Let’s keep building together.
Faith and justice are not separate—they walk hand in hand.