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Straight outta…. Victory Outreach Compton
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Pastor Hector Monarrez
PHOTO: FUNAKI
Pastor Hector Monarrez of Victory Outreach Compton is a true survivor of the hard Streets of Los Angeles. I met Pastor Monarrez about 5 years ago when he was putting together an outreach program in the juvenile detention facilities in Los Angeles. His passion to work with young troubled youth really caught my attention. Pastor Hector is an example that there is hope for all those young men and women lost in the world of drug abuse and crime.
Pastor Hector grew up in the Boyle Heights section of Los Angeles where as a young boy he faced many challenges common within Mexican American neighborhoods. Monarrez’s home life was typical of Mexican American families of the time. His parents were immigrants from Juarez, Mexico here to achieve the American dream. His father worked hard to provide for 7 children and it was a challenge for his mother, a housewife to watch over everyone all the time. The ever-present gang and drug culture was an influence to young kids looking to fit in. “It made it impossible not to join a gang” says Pastor Monarrez. By the age of 11 years old Monarrez had been actively involved in gangs and by the end of his 7th grade year had sniffed glue, smoked marijuana, done PCP, LCD and pills. At the age of 12 years old he stepped into Central Juvenile Hall for various crimes. He would spend the next few years in the juvenile camps where he was often refiled on by his Probation Officer for gang activity. At 15 years old Monarrez was committed to the California Youth Authority where he would spend the next 10 years of his life. It was a constant battle of going in and out of the Youth Authority system. Upon his release Monarrez was shot 2 different times, both times almost losing his life.
After 8 years and 10 months locked up and 25 years old Monarrez had maxed out his time in the California Youth Authority. He was hooked on drugs and began to get a feeling of hopelessness in his life. “I thought I would never amount to anything,” says Monarrez so he tried committing suicide through a drug overdose in which the only reason it failed was due “to a divine intervention of God”. After the attempted suicide and without God in his life Monarrez knew he was going to die a drug addict, a gang member or do life in prison. “ I weighed 90 pounds, thought for sure I had AIDS and had nothing to live for when I stepped into the men’s home at Victory Outreach. The years of drug abuse, doing time and being shot had taken a big toll in my life”. It was a decision that would alter the course of his life.
Today Pastor Hector Monarrez is a changed man, he and his wife head the congregation at Victory Outreach in Compton. He’s gone from the being behind bars to now helping young men and women that have been in and out of the juvenile system. “ I look back at the amount of time I spent locked up, the loneliness, riots, fights and time in the “Hole”. Those memories come to me and I don’t wish them upon those I share my story with. My message is an urgent message of hope before their time is lost or before they get killed.
Monarrez’s approach to working with young people who have hit rock bottom is Compassion, Love and Concern. Compassion: I remember that at one time I was there. Love: The heavenly father that did not give up on me and accepted me for who I was. Concern: If we don’t reach them who will?
Pastor Monarrez states “My wife and I have been given the responsibility from god to make decisions over peoples lives. We have a stewardship that god has entrusted to us with his church and also to have the integrity that comes with running a church. Our congregation is still in its pioneering stages, reaching approx. 40 people from a few couples, to singles ages ranging from young people to elderly. Our vision is to have a diverse church in Compton, and to continue the vision of Victory Outreach Int’l in reaching the Treasures of Darkness (Is. 45:2-3) in our city”. Victory Outreach Compton is very much involved with the community with events such as: Outreach Crusades:
Consisting of dramas, concerts, and a lot of giveaways, Harvest Day consisting of carnivals for kids, candy giveaways, custom prizes, puppet shows, skits, entertainment, Thanksgiving Feed the Homeless, All out breakfast at local parks for the homeless in our city to let them know that they are not forgetting during the holidays.
Christmas Celebration, Consisting Toy giveaways, a time with Santa, skits and entertainment. Our Recovery Homes participate in major city clean ups, constantly reaching out to the lost in our city.
Victory Outreach Compton offers the following services to the community:
Men’s Recovery Home.
Couples Life Support groups.
Men and Woman ministry.
Youth Ministry.
Life Group’s (Home Bible Study).
Children’s Ministry.
Worship Services:
Friday Night Live @ 7:30pm
Sunday Morning Celebration @ 10am
Victory Outreach Compton is located on:
713 W. Rosecrans Ave. Compton, Ca. 90222
Victory Outreach Compton Recovery Home Located:
12506 S. Mona Blvd. Compton, Ca. 90222
Ph# 310-635-7087
Sunday Morning Celebration service @ 10am
Tuesday Eve. Life Groups @ 7:30pm
Friday Night Live @ 7:30pm
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