Raised in Sun Valley, California, John spent his formative years attending
Catholic School. During this time John's gifting in the Arts' began to
develop. This led
John to join the All Boys' choir and participate in drama performances at school. He was also
asked to paint special murals for the school.
However, in the early 1970's as a pre-teen, seeking acceptance, John began
to experiment with drugs. He soon became enveloped in the drug culture,
taking drugs and selling them to make money. Looking back on this
dangerous
time in his life it became very apparent that God's hand of protection was upon
him
and that God had another plan in mind.
It was in 1976, that his mother brought home a beginner classical guitar which
sat for a year collecting dust. Realizing his only ability seemed to be
rolling joints (marijuana cigarettes), he decided to ask his mother if he could
take guitar lessons.
Frustrated, angry, and strung out on drugs the guitar became his escape, and
learning to play was difficult at best. Yet God was beginning to bring
about His purposes in John's life.
John recalls," I always loved Jesus in the best way I knew
how.", but in 1981 a friend's mother introduced John to Jesus Christ in a new way.
This woman had something different, something John knew he wanted. As a
result, he accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. Struggling in his
new found faith, John experienced many ups and downs until God miraculously
delivered him from drugs during a church service in 1984. John shared,
" It was like a dam had broken in my heart and a flood of worship came
pouring forth from my soul. All I wanted to do was sing and worship the
Lord! Nothing could stop it, not even the insecurities that ran deep
within me."
John started playing guitar at a Christian club in high school. Within
a short period of time he began leading worship in home bible studies and in
1985 wrote his first worship song. John's hunger for the Lord and passion
for worship continued, and in 1989 he left for Youth With A Missions', Academy
of Performing Arts, in Cambridge Ontario, Canada. There he completed a
six- month DTS (Discipleship Training School) and a six- month School of Music. John went on to receive his Bachelors' degree in Pastoral Studies
from L.I.F.E. Bible College in San Dimas, California.
John has been blessed to have ministered the grace of Jesus Christ through the word, worship, and his
testimony in Mexico, Honduras, Africa, Canada, Rome,
Israel, and across the United States. Currently, John is the Singles' Pastor and one of the worship leaders at
Osborne Neighborhood Church (Directions) in Arleta,
California, where he receives the greatest blessing and is personally encouraged
as he continues to witness the faithfulness of God through the
growth in the lives of God's people at his own home church.
