In a deeply compelling episode, we witness the intersection of two lives once divided by the law, now united by faith and a shared purpose. The discussion centers around the transformative journey of Jay Jay, an ex-convict who found solace and redemption through Jesus Christ, and his reconnection with a former detective, who now plays a pivotal role in joining him with a new purpose. Their candid conversation highlights the stark realities of Jay Jay's past, but by God's powerful transformation has set him on a new trajectory. The detective’s perspective adds depth to the narrative, as he recounts his initial encounters with Jay Jay and the surprising twist of fate that brought them together again. This episode serves as a powerful reminder that no one is beyond redemption and that God’s grace can reach into the darkest corners of life, transforming hearts and lives in miraculous ways. It encourages listeners to reflect on their own journeys and consider how they, too, can be instruments of change in their communities, fostering understanding and compassion for those seeking a new path in life.

Takeaways:

• This episode illustrates the profound transformation one can undergo through faith, showcasing the power of God's grace in the life of an ex-convict.
• The reunion between the detective and the ex-convict serves as a testament to the belief that individuals can change when they accept Christ into their lives.
• Listeners are encouraged to recognize the potential for redemption in everyone, regardless of their past, as God’s love can lead to significant life changes.
• The discussion emphasizes the importance of community support in helping individuals reintegrate into society after incarceration, highlighting the role of faith-based initiatives.
• This episode reminds us that genuine connection and understanding can bridge the gaps between different walks of life, fostering healing and reconciliation.
• It illustrates the notion that God’s perfect plan involves using our past experiences, no matter how difficult, to impact others positively in their journeys of faith.

Welcome to the Abundant Life Podcast, bringing.

You encouragement and challenging believers to spiritual change and growth by applying biblical principles to everyday life.

And now your hosts, Sasso Mendez and Ben Arellano.

Welcome, everybody, to the Abundant Live Podcast.

This is episode number 69 here with my good friend of faithful servant of faith, so Mendez.

Hello.

Hello.

We got some special guests here in the house of man with two first name names.

He's making his second appearance.

Yeah.

Back by popular demand, we have jj.

How you doing?

Good, good.

How you doing?

JJ brought a guest.

Did you?

My.

My good friend Scott Crossle talked about him last time on the last podcast.

You did?

Yeah.

It's probably the last time you'll hear my first name.

Oh, from jj.

Yeah.

Yeah.

I always just refer to him as Crossle.

You know, Alex always says too, like, no, like, it doesn't even feel right.

Call him Scott.

That good or bad?

I mean, you know, I met him as an officer.

You know, I met him as a cop.

They go by their last names.

And he wasn't my friend at that time.

You know, like, we.

We built.

We built our relationship after that.

And I've always called him Crosso.

And then I think when he gave me his personal number, it's when he said, dude, you can start calling me Scott now.

You got to next level.

Yeah.

And I was just excited to have the number.

I was like, oh, he gave us the number.

You know, he wants us to call him Scott Alex.

Like, no.

Well, it's like an adult, right?

When you're a kid and you call them, you know, I don't think they do that anymore because kids don't have that same respect.

But you would say, you know, Mr. Mendez or something, and then you get old enough and they're like, yeah, just.

Just call me Jim.

And you're like, I can't do it.

Yeah, I still say Mr. Man.

Yeah.

I think it's just respect, right?

Yeah, it's just that maybe the same thing.

Yeah.

I don't know if it's respect.

I don't want to put words in.

Your mouth, but yeah, I mean, I definitely have a respect for him, but it's just Crosso.

I just.

To me, that is his first name.

You know, I'll take it.

All right, well, so, so, so for taco talk, bro, tell us about this ramen I hear that you made.

Oh, Alex made some beia for some friends the other day.

And yeah, so last night we had leftover beia.

I hooked up a ramen noodle and threw some beauty on there.

Made some video ramen and I was like, I gotta send a picture of this to Sasso.

That sounds pretty good actually.

It looked really good too.

It was so good.

I had another bowl before I came over here.

Oh, Tony would add five.

Wow.

Tony would ate the whole.

And then he still would have smashed the whole pizza.

Yeah, that's true.

That's a big boy.

Does he have to eat more than like a normal person?

Yeah.

There's a note that he comes with says feed every three to four hours.

You know what I mean?

He's like Jurassic Park.

He's eats with a shovel.

Man, that must be expansive.

Yeah, I mean they bring donuts to FTL and he's like, I'll have one box.

One box, one crate.

That's why I was so excited when he got a job because I no longer had to buy his meals.

Yeah, that was encouraging to me.

Well, what do you think would do?

He would do if you give him like a happy meal or something.

Think he'd cry?

Probably beat me up because there's like four nuggets.

Yeah, it's pretty sad, you know.

Yeah, he'd eat the prize too.

Yeah, he wouldn't even know.

Yeah, he's big.

So Scott, what do you.

What are you into?

What type of food do you like?

Well, I'm from the Midwest, so you could probably guess.

Where is it?

Where are we gonna go with this steak?

Yeah, definitely potatoes, meat and potatoes, roast grass fed beef.

Nothing crazy.

Right.

But I've been in Arizona for over 20 years now, so.

But I'm still kind of stuck in that.

Were you in law enforcement there as well and.

No, I actually graduated from high school, went to college for a couple years, but joined the army reserves straight out of high school.

Then I went to active duty in the Army.

Spent 10 years in the Army.

That's when I first entered into law enforcement.

I actually started at Maricopa county working in the jails.

So I'm very familiar with the ramen recipes from walking around in there.

Did that for a year and then got hired on by Salt River.

Worked out there for about four years and then went to the agency that I'm with now.

Okay.

So.

So question of the night.

Where, where's.

Where do you go for state here in Arizona in Phoenix?

You know, I. I like Firebirds is one of my go to.

I really like Firebirds.

JJ's house over there.

Oh, you got a Firebirds P3.

We do.

And Alex's parents took us there the day we got married.

Oh, nice.

That's the only way I know about.

It, but I actually go to Firebirds more for the deviled eggs with the bacon and jalapeno in them.

Is that an appetizer?

Yeah, yeah, it's.

Well, it could be a full meal.

It's.

Yeah, it's a lot.

Alex makes some good deviled eggs.

I hear about all the good things she's making, but I don't taste any of the good things she's making.

We'll have to have you guys.

We got a potluck at ftl.

You got to come through.

Yeah, like the rest of the month.

You know what I mean?

Let us know.

Just don't.

Don't tell Tony about it.

We'll tell him.

It's at 8.

I was listening to Caleb this morning.

They were talking about deviled egg.

They were talking about the different, you know, foods.

They have it like.

State fairs, you know, Caleb.

F. Caleb.

Oh, Caleb.

Yeah, Caleb.

And.

Sorry, bro.

Okay.

And they were talking about, you know, fair food, you know.

Yeah.

And, you know, everything's usually fried, whatever, but this lady was talking about deviled eggs with cookie dough in them.

And I'm just thinking to myself, that just doesn't even sound good.

No, deviled eggs with cookie dough.

Jj, you got.

I mean, you got a mind for some of this stuff, bro.

What do you think?

I like cookie dough, and I like deviled eggs, so.

I mean, together, though, I don't know.

I wonder.

Maybe it's just, like, the cookie dough inside the egg white.

I'm thinking, because if you put the yolk part that's kind of good, it's.

Gonna clash with the mustard and.

Yeah.

Yeah, it's gonna.

Yeah, that doesn't sound good.

But they liked it.

I.

Well, no, I don't know.

They were just critiquing different things, but they.

They thought it was kind of sounded gross.

I don't know.

It does sound great.

That does.

Sounds terrible.

Yeah.

If you're not in jail, it's pretty gross.

Yeah.

Some of the fair food's pretty good, though, you know?

I mean, we've.

I would say most of it's pretty good.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Now they got some pretty good barbecue.

The big turkey legs, the.

What's the one you like?

The haystack fries.

Oh, yeah.

They're delicious.

Have you guys had the haystack fries at the fair?

I've only been in the fair once.

I have not.

I'm heading to the Orange County Fair next month, though.

So see what they got there.

Yeah, okay.

Yeah, I know.

There's a Orange county in New York, I think.

Yeah.

No, California.

Some hot dogs at the fair.

Are they good?

Corn dogs?

Corn dogs.

A lot of corn dogs.

They have hot dogs this affair?

They probably do.

I think so.

We went to the Iowa State Fair one time.

It was pretty cool.

But they got a lot of corn, obviously, because everything's roasted corn and whatever, you know.

But it was pretty good.

It's not elote, it's corn.

No, you know, I think they.

They did have elote.

I think, bro, they had some taco shops there, bro.

You wouldn't think so, but we got.

Taco shops everywhere, right?

Yeah, every place has tacos.

Mexicans are gremlins.

They just spawn everything.

Got no cable, 10 kids.

It's like in Maine, bro.

Montana.

There's like a taco shop.

There's a taco truck somewhere.

Yeah.

Lobster taco.

When me and Alex got together, she would just give me so many faces.

I throw everything in a tortilla.

She's like, why, what are you doing?

I'm not.

I'm eating.

And, you know, I told her I throw everything in a tortilla.

I throw ramen noodles in there, you know?

Yeah, that's a little hard for me.

That's Mexican though, apparently.

You made a tamale with.

Yeah, yeah.

Ramen noodles, some nachos.

Sauerkraut, right?

I mean, they can't.

Who eats it?

Yeah, like, it's nasty.

I mean, I don't mind.

I don't mind it.

It's different.

It's good for you.

Is it good for your gut?

It's good for your gut.

Yeah.

You get.

So is Robin.

Robin will clear you out.

So this alcohol, that's what they use for colonoscopies.

I'll just give you some.

Robin.

Oh, he'll be cleaning out.

He'll be out tomorrow, 24 hours.

He'd be good.

Good to go.

Yeah.

So what else do you like besides firebirds?

Is there another state house?

No.

Well, our go to lately is just very simple.

Cold beer and cheeseburgers.

But we go to church on Saturday nights and there's one right outside our church, like right down the road on your way out of the.

Do you go to ccv?

No, I go to Christchurch in Gilbert, so that's kind of.

My wife and I's go to spot after church, hang out for a little bit.

Yeah.

Because I know there's one on 67th, just north of CCV.

On.

Okay.

With Deer Valley, which Christchurch do you go to.

It's just Christchurch.

Gilbert.

Oh, Gilbert.

Okay.

Yeah.

Did you come all the way from Gilbert?

Well, yeah.

East Valley.

Wow.

We're gonna have to pitch in for gas money when we're done here.

Company.

Wow.

Okay.

All right.

All right.

We don't want to go too far.

I get what you're saying.

I see what you're laying down there.

Yeah.

Okay.

I mean, somebody.

So I'm taking a couple guys from church to the baseball game.

He's like, I'll take you wherever you want to go eat, you know?

So I try to pick, you know, Ritos, cheap place for happy hour specials.

And he said, oh, something good like steaks.

I go, let's go to steak 44.

He said, okay, wherever you want to go.

And I'm like, I'm just kidding.

Because the most expensive restaurant in Arizona.

Yeah.

He didn't know any better.

Like, we would never.

It's pretty good, though, man.

Yeah.

We would never talk again after he took me there.

Yeah.

Full grown.

Yeah.

We took my mom to.

What was it?

Mastros.

And that's.

That's up there.

It was funny.

Yeah, it was funny.

She.

She had ordered like, what do you want, Mom?

Like, whatever, you know, get whatever you're gonna eat.

And I think she ordered lobster or something.

And they brought her meal, and it was right behind her, and she's all like, oh, it stinks.

She's all like, smells like fish on.

Your food's here, Mom.

She's like, oh, yum.

It looks so good.

Oh, yeah, right?

Thanks.

That's what we can't have nice things.

I know, right?

But for the money, I think Texas Roadhouse, you really can't beat that steak for the money.

You can't.

I get that military discount there too.

Oh, nice.

Yeah, yeah.

You get those rolls with that fake butter.

But that fake butter is pretty bomb, dude.

It's still in me because it's plastic.

What do you mean, fake butter?

It's margarine.

You know what I mean?

It's not real butter.

It's not that Midwest butter.

It's not country Croc.

Didn't come from the croc.

It didn't come from the croc, but it didn't come from the country.

Come from the cow, bro.

You know what I mean?

But yeah, okay, so, like, steak.

I like steak, too.

And cheddar has a pretty good steak, man.

Is pretty good.

Have you been to cheddar before?

I have.

I don't think I've had the steak.

Is pretty good there.

I know somebody that likes the rolls better at Texas Roadhouse, but we're not going to say names in this podcast, but.

Yeah, I think Cheddar's.

Is those croissants?

Yeah, those are pretty good.

That honey butter.

Is that real butter?

That's real butter.

I don't ask, bro.

I just eat it.

I think so, because everything's made from scratch of it.

So they're turning butter somewhere, right?

Yeah.

There's a Mexican guy in the back.

Grind it.

There was.

Well, yeah.

He got raided.

Wow.

It's like cold barbecue.

You know what I mean?

They got rated.

Cisco told me they shut down.

Have you been a cold barbecue, Prescott?

No.

Shut down.

That's what Cisco said.

I told him, watch your mouth.

He said, no, I'm serious.

Seriously.

Broke my heart.

Oh, my.

It's the best barbecue.

I've had it.

Yeah, I don't know if it's the best, but it's pretty good.

It's.

Bro.

Little Miss is pretty good, too, bro.

You think Little Miss is better than Colt?

I don't know.

I'd have to have him back to back.

That's the thing.

I've been wanting to go to that.

Is that good?

L miss?

Yeah, it's good.

It's really good, bro.

Have you heard of that brisket?

Amazing.

Get the.

Is there only one location in the Valley?

Two.

Oh, there's two.

Tempe and right here.

Didn't realize.

Yeah.

7Th street by John C. Lincoln.

Not too far from that house.

I. I've been talking about that for, like, the last two months.

I'm like, be sure and get the smoked pecan pie.

Smoke.

Yeah, I seen that on Sundays.

I got the pork belly.

You can take some home, put it in your ramen.

Yeah.

Mind blown.

Yeah.

Yes, everything's good.

And put that in tortilla.

The ramen and the pork belly.

Yeah.

When I was a kid, I was so fat that I'd put a tamale in a tortilla.

You're gonna die like it's 16.

Everything is better in a tortilla.

Monte.

With monte.

You know what I'm saying?

That don't equal the positive there.

That's still a negative.

So my dad.

You gota.

You got to slow down on that, son.

So do you.

Do you make your tortillas, man, or you.

You buy them or.

No, I buy them.

There's a car in Mesa that we would stop by.

It's on Broadway.

In the mornings, when we'd leave work, we'd stop there and I'd get tortillas.

There.

I don't know how they make those tortillas, but I'm pretty sure we had a pack that we didn't touch for, like, two or three months.

And I'm like, that thing's probably molded right now, and they were still good.

You sure wasn't McDonald's, bro.

Yeah, that's.

That's not good.

I'm like, there's no mold on it, but it's shouldn't be good still.

Oh, yeah.

Just.

Just.

Yeah.

Think the next time that I went there, I'm like, hey, how do you guys make your tortillas?

And she's like.

I'm like, I had a pack for, like, three months, and they never went bad.

Like, kind of stuff are you putting in there?

It's kind of scary, actually.

Yeah, I know, right?

Still in you right now, Preserved.

Right?

You got.

You got an internal tortilla with all.

Your food you eat.

That's a ramen.

Just chilling.

Good for the skin.

Like Carolinas, right?

I don't know if you've been in Carolinas.

Carolinas, Carolinas.

You know, whatever.

Anyway, they.

Their tortillas go bad, like, in a week.

Yeah, that's why I put them in the fridge.

Yeah, I think that's.

That's good.

I want my food to go bad, you know?

I don't want to just sit there and just.

Right.

You know, it's like, real food goes bad.

That's the thing.

There's no shelf life.

Right?

Yeah.

Like Juanitas or what?

What.

What is that?

That manudo you can buy at the store?

Is it Juanitas?

Yeah, Juanitas.

Yeah, Juanita.

Red manudo.

Poor man's Christmas right there.

Yeah, yeah, have a date with Juanita, but it's not how you think.

Yeah, you're taking me to dinner.

Should we hit it?

Let's hit it.

All right, guys, so just before we get into the content here, I wanted to remind you guys, visit us at Abundant Life fm and you can get all of our show notes.

You can see our last podcast with JJ as well, and you can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

And if this podcast episode is a blessing to you, would you just do me a favor and subscribe?

Hit that, like button, and that way you get notified when new releases drop.

And so with that, Sasa is going to get into our key verse for today, and we're going to jump into our.

I think we have an excellent story tonight of being reunited in a different way.

And so we're just going to go through with Romans 8, 28, 29.

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose, for whom he did foreknow he also be predestinated to be conformed to the image of his son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

So, jj, Last time you were here, you were telling us that you.

You got pulled over.

I think you said you were on the brass or close by.

And it's funny how, you know.

You know, some of my family there.

Not in a good way, like, you guys weren't praying together, but couldn't go into all that.

But you got pulled over.

Like, you saw a car out there and you didn't know who it was, and then.

Yeah.

So, I mean, obviously, you know, the.

The reservations don't have stores or a lot of things, so you got to go into the cities to, you know, do your shopping or, you know, car stuff.

Barber shop.

So I was looking for a barbershop, and I think I had to be at work in a couple hours, and I was on.

On a motorcycle, and I had my phone, my waistband.

So I pulled over into what looked like an empty business, into the parking lot, and to Google the address.

And when I went to go pull away, there's a couple cops walking up on me, and they.

They found out where I was coming from, and they called him.

He knew that area really good.

And I think there was another unit that pulled up before him.

And then that.

Then he pulled up, and I was like, oh, this is, like, feeling like my old days.

And I just remember holding my phone, and I was just like, I'm just looking for the barbershop.

And I'm just shaking.

I'm like, oh, this.

I just look guilty.

And he.

He pulled up, and he asked me my name, and I just told him, JJ And I just.

I'll never forget.

He's like, erasmo.

And I was like, whoa, dude.

Like, how do you know my name?

I'm like, I've been away for 14 years.

I'm like, I'm.

I'm not involved in that life.

I don't have anything to do with that life.

I. I walked away from all of it.

I was like, I'm just looking for the barbershop.

I was like, I work for cbi.

Like, I'm doing good, you know?

And I think the more I talked, he was just like.

I remember what he said.

He said, I can't believe I'm hearing you talk the way you're Talking.

He said, you used to be crazy.

And I was like, I changed, you know, it's not me no more.

And yeah, he asked me, they're like, oh, you're good.

Like I, I felt their, their, their, their body language relax.

And I was like, okay.

I'm like, I'm not, they're not gonna sweat me over not having a motorcycle license.

And you know, it's just my first encounter with them from getting out.

And he asked if.

I think we talked about, I think I first asked if you'd be interested in talking to kids maybe.

No, I brought that up to you.

I thought you asked, you said, you said, hey, would you mind talking to my officers?

And you know, I'm like, you want me to build a case on something?

Like, I'm not like, I don't know, I don't know anything.

You know, I'm like, I'm, I walked away from that la.

There's nothing relevant that I can tell you.

And he was like, no, nothing like that.

He was just like, every, every so often we have a training, you know, with, you know, rookie officers that, that have an interest in either the gang unit or they just take this class to, they take this class to I guess educate their self on people that look like me or gangs.

Right?

Yeah.

And I just like sort of took it all in and I was like, man, this is something positive.

Like if I do this, you know, this is going to be like one more step away from that life, you know, Like I'm going and I'm, I'm, I'm like essentially like working with officers.

I was like, oh, this is something good.

I was like, yeah, I'll do it.

And they called me up, I don't know what, a couple weeks later or something.

Yeah, probably and had sort of like this debriefing process, I think just to just fill me out and make sure like you know, not having somebody that's on drugs, talking to our officers that are training, you know.

So I went through that and went, spoke to I think more veteran officers the first time, right.

I think the first time you came in and talked, it was just to my unit.

Yeah.

The people that I worked with on a day to day basis.

And, and then after that I had, I had a, mentioned my interest in working with kids and trying to get kids to walk away like before they end up like what I had to go through.

And he said, you know what, sometimes we get calls for, for that, you know, to get, you know, the, you know, like I don't Know if you remember dare.

Oh, yeah.

So you remember dare.

They would have officers come to the school and, you know, they would talk to kids about drugs.

And you know what it does?

Like, this is your brain.

This is your brain on drugs and all that.

And he said, you know, hearing it from an officer, because I know for me when I was a kid and.

And their officers would come to the school, everybody's like, dare officers.

Like, nobody wants to hear that, you know, but, you know, bringing somebody that looks like your uncle or looks like your dad to the school, you know, you're going to be.

You're going to catch more kids attention.

I think that's what we were aiming for.

Yeah, that was definitely my purpose in it.

I can, you know, know preach to kids all day long and tell them, hey, you know, you don't want to walk down that road.

You don't want to go down that path.

This is what it's going to look like.

But I can never provide the perspective of somebody who's actually walked that path.

And so to have somebody that was so willing to do it, I just saw a great opportunity in that.

When did you first meet JJ informally or know about jj?

And what he failed to tell you guys in the last podcast was he was literally like the most wanted guy in the valley for probably a couple months.

And that presentation that we, that we do with kids, like there's know the headline from when he got sentenced and kind of tells the story of that.

And so although I had never met him because he got taken into custody while I wasn't at work, but I was looking for him.

So, you know, I.

Anytime we're looking for somebody, we.

We do a lot of research into their background, who do they hang out with, all that kind of stuff.

And so, so that's.

And then I have this crazy thing where I just remember people, which is how 14 years later when we meet on the side of the road and he says, jj And I say, oh, Erasmo.

Yeah, Yeah.

I didn't give my, my like, you know, government name first or like I just said jj.

And he's like, ed Osmo.

And I was like, oh.

I'm like, how do you know me know?

I'm like, I've been away for a long time.

But yeah, I, I was, I was on the, the front pre.

Front page every day on the news every day.

Yeah.

So they wanted you back.

Yeah.

Everywhere I'd go.

They'd were like, aj, you're on the news.

And I turn the TV off.

I'm like, I don't listen to that.

I'm like.

And I just didn't want to.

I just didn't.

I don't think I wanted to accept it as a.

As I re.

As a reality that I'm like, oh man, I'm about to go away for a long time.

People would show me newspapers, like, dude, look.

And I'd get the newspaper and I turn it around and I'm like, I don't believe that.

You know, like.

Well, you don't listen to your own podcast, so that makes sense to me.

You don't want to see yourself on the face.

Yeah.

Yeah.

So did you finally catch him or somebody else got him?

No, he.

He got caught.

He did get caught out on Salt river, but I wasn't at work when he got caught.

Yeah, it was.

It was an experience.

Yeah.

When they finally did catch up to me, it was Salt river pd.

Gilbert.

Gilbert pd, Scottsdale pd.

It was like a joint effort between all these agencies and it was like one o' clock in the morning and the house that they caught me at was just lit up like it was 12 o' clock in the afternoon.

There's a helicopter and is.

Yeah.

So there was taking you out.

Yeah.

You know, I try to ask for details and you know, he's like, I don't know, dude.

You know, I forgot that part.

Can.

Can't tell you that kind of information.

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So.

So how long have you been a Christian?

And were you a Christian before you became a cop?

No, I actually wasn't.

I. I would tell you that my whole life I believed in God.

My grandparents were Christians, but like, you know, my mom and dad never went to church.

I mean, maybe we went on like Easter sometimes or Something like that.

But so throughout my life, I. I would say I always believed in God, but I didn't know who Christ was.

And so I think that's the.

That's the distinction for me.

But always seeking God in some way.

So even when I was in the army, I would go to a different base or, you know, get stationed somewhere else, and I would go to church for a little bit and then not go for a long time, and I'm constantly reading books and so just seeking God, and.

And then once we moved to Arizona, started going pretty regularly to a Christian church.

But still, for me, at that point, I hadn't put my faith in Christ.

So I'm just kind of sitting in church on Sunday checking a box, because that's the thing I thought I should do with the, you know, a young family.

And so it really wasn't until.

For me, until I first really started looking at the Bible and understanding, like, the prophecies about Christ and.

And who he was in the Old Testament, who they were prophesying him to be, and then connecting that to the New Testament and then understanding, you know, who I was as a sinner and that I needed a savior.

Amen.

And then that actually, I mean, already a police officer at that point, and so that kind of changed my perspective on policing and how I dealt with people and.

And all that.

So definitely something I had been seeking for a long time.

Now, when you saw JJ those 14 years later or 15 years later, whatever it may be, what were your initial thoughts?

I mean, did you.

When you first saw him, did you think he was still up to no good, or did you hear him out?

And I. I really didn't think, oh, he must be doing bad.

I mean, his immediate thing was like, hey, I'm not.

I'm not in that life anymore.

I said, you know, I'm working at cbi.

His name hadn't come up at all.

How long had you been out at the time?

Had to have been at least over four months, because for the first four months, I was working on cars, and then I started at cbi.

So I was probably out five or six months already.

Yeah.

So, like, you know, I was on the gang unit at the time.

Time.

And so usually if people are becoming a problem, their name will pop up and, you know, hadn't heard anything about him.

And then just his.

His demeanor and.

And he seemed sincere.

And so, you know, I've learned a term called unconditional positive regard.

And him.

And I had a conversation about this the other day, and it's kind of like where you see somebody as the potential that they have as opposed to the condition that they're in.

And I've always felt like I try to take that approach to people and kind of give the benefit of the doubt until they prove themselves wrong.

And so that's kind of the approach that I took.

And you saw a difference in JJ from what you remember previous?

Yeah, definitely.

I mean, just the fact that he was working full time and even just having that conversation and being open to that conversation and then coming in and answering questions for officers.

And again, you know, like, he's always made the distinction.

Like, you know, he's never, like, told on anybody or gotten anybody in trouble with his past or what he knew, but just the fact that he was willing to open himself up so that officers could gain a perspective that they might not be able to get just from working, like, they.

He opened himself up to pretty much any questions that they wanted to ask him.

And we talked about last time that you didn't know what the next step that God had for you.

And I think we were trying to recognize that you were already kind of having another.

An impact that maybe you didn't even realize.

And then recently, you brought, you know, your cousin to freedom at last, who been out prison for maybe three and a half weeks, kind of as an example of.

This is what I. I mean, this is different.

Right.

You're talking to these officers and maybe youth in the future about trying to bridge that gap.

Right.

And now you're trying to bridge a different gap of.

Yeah.

And I just had another cousin get out yesterday.

Wow.

So.

So me and Junior, we started up a.

A family chat on.

On messenger.

So it's me, my cousin Junior, Louie, Chris Weddle, and now Frankie.

But almost every morning.

Not every morning, it's everybody calling and.

And just like a roll call kind of thing.

Like a roll call and just keeping everybody, you know, accountable.

Like, hey, good day.

Everybody's at work, you know, and just pushing for each other just to change.

And, you know, my cousin that got out yesterday, we were all talking like, well, what do you think he's gonna do?

You know, like, I'm like, oh, we're just gonna love him from a distance on social media first.

Give him, like, a year and just sort of fill him out, you know, and we just added him on.

And he said he went to church last night.

His wife's father is a pastor at a church on 51st Ave.

In Glendale, I think.

So it's like I said, I don't know if I said it last time, but I just feel like there's like a lot of people turning to God right now.

A lot of people.

Well, you couldn't mention freedom at last.

That, you know, there's a, you know, on the tablets that there's messages coming in and even Christian songs, Christian rap, things like that, that, that are relatable to the inmates.

And then he said one thing that you had mentioned to that you had reverberated as well, that when he turned 18, his mom told him when you get to prison, you got to watch your mouth.

And he said that's kind of the advice.

Not go to college, but when you go to prison, like it was already an anticipated event in your life.

Like this was the, the dreams I have for you.

There was no positive reinforcement, enforcement, and this is kind of the, the outcome.

Yeah, I mean, just, just alone in that chat, there's, you know, five, six of us and everybody on there has been to prison.

And I, I screenshot it and I, I sent it to, to Alex.

I was like, ah, we got another one on the chat, you know, and she's, that's so crazy that all you guys are out at the same time right now.

I'm like, there's still another handful that are still serving time, you know, and you know, talking to, to Alex, it's, you know, everybody on her side of the family, it's, you know, so and so went off to college, so and so went off to the military, so and so went and had got married and has a family.

And you know, for my family it's, you know, so and so got a 20 year sentence, so and so got tried as an adult.

And, and just like you said, like my, my cousin said, his mom telling them, when you turn 18 and you go to prison, you're going to have to watch your mouth.

You know, those, that's how I grew up.

And now a lot of those family members though, they're all turning to God.

It's just different.

Do you see any change out there on the street of people perhaps wanting to change their life around or have things gotten worse since when you started?

I mean, I, I think just in looking at culture in general, I'm seeing more of a shift, I think towards God.

And I think it's just because things became like people just didn't have answers for anything.

Like even the most basic things, we, a lot of people couldn't even answer basic questions about human beings or whatever the case may be.

And now people are saying, you Know what?

Maybe this really doesn't make sense, but there's got to be something out there that does make sense.

You know, I watched a show recently where, you know, one of the, one of the guys that was talking, was talking actually how, you know, even where, you know, a lot of churches were just like very seeker friendly and, and almost more for the outside person than actually for the Christian.

And they'd done away with a lot of tradition and things like that.

He said, you know, I'm talking to a lot of younger people who are really looking for tradition, which is a complete shift, I think, from the last, I don't know, 10, 15 years where things got really seeker sensitive.

And now it seems to be kind of the pendulum is shifting back to traditional type of churches.

I think even on the streets.

Right.

Being real is respected, whoever you are.

And I think the secret sensitive, they realize at some point it may not be real.

Like you can live whatever you want and come on church on Sunday and, But not change your life.

Yeah.

And I think last time that we met up, we were talking about how now there's like a, a young crowd, like teenagers that are actively seeking God or going to church.

And, and, and it wasn't like that before.

I think Pastor Shaw hit on that probably like a month ago or something or somebody that was speaking was saying how there's a younger crowd now coming in.

And I think there's just a lot of things going on in the world world right now that are.

People are just like you said, see, looking for answers.

Yeah.

And I've seen a, I saw like a, a documentary.

It's been a while ago, but was this guy from Dade County, Florida.

He was pretty bad dude and you know, gangs and all of that, but he was kind of like, you know, most wanted type of deal over there.

And yeah, I mean he was crazy, like getting gunfights, bare knuckle fights and like just crazy.

A lot of the things that he did.

And then he gave his life to Christ.

I don't know if it was.

I can't remember if it was in prison, but he gave his life to Christ and now he's like a street preacher.

Now he's just going around preaching Christ like strong.

And it's, it's like you, you know, he, people see him and you know he's not.

Doesn't have the appearance of you.

And it has an effect though, because people will pay attention along the streets.

They pay attention because it's like that dude's already been there and done that Right.

And they are seeking, I think, but it's really neat to see that, that it kind of comes full circle around, you know.

You know, I think other places I've seen it is even like, you know, I'm.

I'm pretty big fan of the ufc, and I can remember watching some fights a couple weeks ago, and almost every person that won, as soon as they started their interview was, I want to give thanks to my Lord and savior, Jesus Christ.

And I told my wife, I was like, wow, this is amazing.

Like, I think every person that's come up here tonight, and then even, you know, you look at big podcasts like Joe Rogan, where he was completely anti, anti, and now, you know, I don't know if you guys are familiar with Wesley Huff, but he had Wesley Huff, who's a Christian historian, on there recently, and just very open to things that he would not have been open to just a few years ago.

So I think he's even been going to church.

I did hear that.

Joe Rogan.

Yeah, Joe Rogan's been attending church.

Yeah.

I mean, I don't know that he's a believer, but I know that I've heard.

But I think he's seeking, he's looking, and I. I respect him.

You know, he has a lot of profanity in his shows, but he's open, like, open minded to new ideas, new thoughts.

Well, I think.

I think what's happening is like, he's looking at what's happening out in the world, and then you kind of see what's in the Bible and it's like, man, that's truth.

Like, it matches what's going on out there.

I mean, you know, the way things are, the evil that's out there, I mean, it's.

It's all written.

It's.

It's there.

The truth is there.

I think for a non believer to.

To be able to open up the Bible and start connecting the dots, like, oh, this is real.

I think it's probably a scary feeling for them, like, oh, should I.

Should I be getting into this right now?

You know, like, have I been sleeping on this this whole time?

And, yeah, I think.

I didn't know Joe Rogan was.

Was going to church and stuff, though.

But you seen that with athletes and stuff.

I mean, I know you sent me a clip of Diamondbacks player, and he's.

Yeah.

And he's playing the, you know, Christian song as he goes up to the play.

Right.

Or something like that.

That was the catcher, McCann.

He's playing jolly Roll.

Yeah.

Hard Fought Hallelujah.

Yeah, yeah.

Pretty popular song, but it's out right now.

But you're seeing a lot of that, right?

I mean, a lot of.

A lot of pro players, and they're just coming out and I can't remember.

There was another one that you.

The video you showed me, that was the other guy, right?

I can't remember.

He showed me the video at FTL the other night.

I think Rebecca had sent it to you.

And so when the.

Gustavo was like, this guy sounds fake, whatever, but, I mean, it's just.

You're seeing that it's more prevalent.

Like you said, the culture seems like there's a shift.

It's like maybe that pendulum's coming back the other way.

I don't know, because I was at UFC last.

The last headliner when they had Olivares, he had lost, and everybody had said, yeah, I wanted.

First of all, I just want to give thanks.

And some of them kind of, like, swore and things like that after they did kind of messed it up.

But there were some of them that were legitly just giving God.

Kayla Harrison, I mean, she.

She comes up right away.

She prays for the other person when she's done fighting.

Like, it's pretty wild.

I didn't.

I. I haven't seen it, but I think that's.

That goes with, you know, how you say, you know, some of them, you know, gave.

Gave praise to Jesus and all that, and then, you know, profanity came out their mouth.

But I think it's like how you were saying you.

You always were seeking God, or you would always say, like, yeah, yeah, I believe God.

For a lot of people, it's like, it is that.

And the stuff that comes out of their mouth, it's not Christian, right?

It's.

It's like listening to your nana or like when they drive by a church and, you know, for Catholics, you know, I grew up Mexican, they all, you know, do the cross and all that.

But I think it's just.

You grew up knowing that and hearing it, but you weren't actually, like, diving into it and saved and a believer, Right.

And it could be, too, that they are saved, and it's just they're being sanctified.

I mean, they're, you know, the Tony.

Think about Tony.

Yeah, The HR Night.

The HR nightmare, right?

HR nightmare.

Yeah.

It's growing.

It's growing Tony's money.

Just the maturity of a new believer and.

Yeah, yeah.

And for me and Crossle, when we met, I didn't know.

I didn't know his background, he's an.

He's a detective.

But you also going to school for.

What were you going to school for?

Yeah, I got my bachelor's degree in Christian ministry and been working on my master's degree.

Originally it was in chaplaincy, and I just switched to pastoral counseling.

So the, the way our relationship started growing more from just going and doing talks to, to officers, and then we'd go do talks to at risk youth and you know, talk to them about gang life in prison and try to, you know, you know, push the conversation away from like, dude, you don't want to go in there.

You know, Me and Alex, we were gonna get married in Italy and I was like, oh, it'd be pretty cool if, if Crosswell could marry us over there, you know, like, officiate the wedding.

And she said, yeah, you.

You think he would do it?

I'm like, I don't know.

That was pretty long shot, you know, and so we, we had came up with the, like the, the wedding invitations and everything.

And I had asked, I had asked him and he said, yeah, dude, it'd be an honor to go and do that, you know, And I was like, how do we get the wedding invitations to him?

And I'm like, it's gonna be weird for me to ask him for his address.

I'm like, maybe I should just set up like a breakfast and just like, oh, here, dude.

Just.

And we, we didn't have an answer for it.

We're just like, just go for it.

Just ask him.

And that's when I was telling you guys last time that he gave me the address, and I was like, oh.

I was like, I got his address.

You know, the golden ticket.

I know, it's just.

It was for me, it was a huge milestone in, in our friendship, you know, and, and everything has just progressed from there.

And when I got baptized last year, I.

And I told him about.

He's.

Oh, yeah, I won't miss it for the world, you know, like, that's cool.

I'm Rebecca Mendez with Lamplight Ministries, where I serve the Lord by loving others.

Through biblical counseling and workshops.

Every day we're reminded of our fallen world.

Through disappointment, grief, fear, despair.

We need a savior.

And in Jesus Christ, we have that Savior.

He came to rescue us, offering his.

Spirit to guide us and his word.

To comfort, correct and lead us.

If you're a follower of Christ, eager.

To grow in him, I'd be honored.

To walk this journey with you through.

One on one biblical counseling.

Together we'll explore God's word, find encouragement.

And pursue faithful obedience to our Savior.

Please Visit me at lamplightministries.com to book your appointment today.

How was it seeing JJ getting baptized?

It was fantastic.

Like, it was amazing.

But I knew.

I knew that he was heading in that direction, and so I wasn't surprised, you know, when he told me.

Obviously he lives way out here, so we don't.

We would mostly see each other.

Like, we'd get together for breakfast or something.

I'd meet up with him and Alex because they were working over in the evening, East Valley.

But, yeah, when he told me he was getting baptized, I wasn't surprised.

I think I had already gone to church with them once before, Just wanted to check it out.

So I came out here, went to church with them, and then it was.

I don't even know how much longer longer.

It was probably like six months later.

Six months?

Yeah.

When he told me he was getting baptized, so I was like, yeah, I'll be there for that.

So cool.

In your experience, how many people do you see, like J.J. that maybe had experience in doing criminal activity, you know, come to change their lives?

I imagine it's not common.

It's definitely not common.

And when I think about it, I probably don't.

It probably happens more than I assume, but I don't see it.

And it's just because him and I had that early contact when he got out and we started doing the talks together and kind of building that relationship where we stayed in touch.

Whereas had I not run into him that day, he'd still probably, I'm sure, be doing the same stuff he's doing now.

I just wouldn't know about it.

You know, I mean, there's one other guy that I talk to on a semi regular basis who's also, you know, done up some time in prison and gotten out.

Him and I'll chat with each other, and he's a Christian, and so really there's probably like two people that in.

You know, I've been a cop for.

21 years, and I think that's just, you know, the Lord working in.

In both of our lives.

I think I talked about it last time, like, for me to pull into that parking lot, you know, we always talk about it.

For me to pull into that abandoned parking lot on that day to look for the barber shop that was right across the street.

And, you know, I didn't know he was a Christian then.

And it was just, you know, me and an officer and, yeah, just for everything that's happened, you know, he does some.

He does another program now that, that he teaches.

But it'll be interesting just to see what.

What the future holds, you know, or, you know, if.

If God uses us together as a tool to go and.

And reach out to people or not.

You know, you just never know or where he wants you at, you know, but our talks have usually been, you know, about gangs and trying to get, you know, people to step away from that life.

Just me speaking from experience, like, that's not where you want to be.

It's not a cool place.

It's not something glorifying.

But to do it from.

From a Christian standpoint and, and talk to people about what God has done for both of us and how he's brought us together.

And I think that'll be interesting, you know?

Yeah.

Do you have visions of that or.

Yeah, I. I would love to see what the future holds, you know, I. I definitely place all of this in God's hands and recognize God's timing.

Exactly what he.

JJ was just talking about, you know, that we were working a special detail that day.

It's not a day that I normally work.

It was my sergeant that first contacted him, and he just called me on the phone.

He's like, hey, this dude just pulled up on a motorcycle he saw tatted up.

He's like, can you head my way?

And I was like, yeah, for sure.

And then again, we're talking about 14, 15 years later and just.

You can't like deny those kind of connections in your life.

God sovereignty.

Yeah, for sure.

So do you have plans for.

I mean, you said you're going to or you did school, or you're going to school for pastoral counseling.

Is that kind of like after life, after police, or is that.

Is you just trying to maybe do something while now or what's your plan?

Yeah, I think originally my plan.

So I was trying to be a chaplain on our department.

We don't have any sworn officer chaplains.

So I was trying to work it out with my department to be a chaplain, which is why I was pursuing the chaplaincy side of things.

But I've been to a ton of chaplains training.

I've actually.

I took a break from school for a year because I realized my.

My faith had almost kind of become this academic pursuit.

And so I was like, I need to step back and read my Bible just to read my Bible, not because it's what I got to do for my homework this week.

Right.

So I took a break.

I'm actually just in my first class back.

But when I went back.

I decided I was going to change from a chaplaincy cohort to.

To pastoral counseling.

Not with necessarily any intentions of being a pastor, but just to see where it takes me.

I mean, when I got my bachelor's degree in Christian ministry, it was, I need to do my.

I want to get a bachelor's degree.

I really didn't need to.

And this would be a good route to go, and so I did it.

So that's kind of the same avenue that I'm taking with my.

My master's degree.

I don't need a master's degree, but let's see where.

Let's see where it'll take me.

That's pretty cool.

Yeah.

I just think of the impact you have out there, too, if, you know, you run into somebody and maybe they are.

They messed up, but then in the end they're seeking, like, help beyond just positivity, but, you know, seeking God in a different way.

And you have those tools to reach them and to show them the light.

Because I think a lot of people out there are just looking and lost.

Yeah, Just lost.

Just doing dumb stuff because they have no.

No other thing to do, or they're bored and they've come too far and they're like, you know, I don't.

I don't want to live this life anymore.

I'm done with it.

For me, it's always been drug addiction seems to be the thing that.

That keeps people, like, even the people with the best intentions.

It's once they get sucked back into that.

That addiction that you see them kind of veer back off of the path of.

Of doing good, you know, because, like, you were asking, how many people do you actually see who do it?

I hear it all the time.

I hear people say, this is, you know, when I worked at county jail.

All right, you ain't never going to see me again.

This is the last time.

And I'm handing them their property on Saturday as they're leaving out the jail, and then on Monday, they're putting their property back in a locker because they got arrested already again, you know, and so that's the thing is finding that way to be consistent with what you really want to do.

And it's.

It seems to always be an addiction that pulls people back in.

Yeah.

And we have ftl.

We do that every Friday night.

And we see that as well.

You know, had a friend pass away, just couldn't kick the habit.

Drug overdose.

Yeah.

But in reality, I believe he was saved.

He was.

And we've talked about It.

Before he was convicted, he would come and he would cry and he would, you know, he was convicted.

I mean, the spirit was working, but he just had that physical addiction.

Just couldn't kick it, and it took him.

Y. FTL is addiction ministry.

Yes, sir.

Freedom.

That last that we have at the church every Friday.

And it's different than church.

You know, I tell people, like, do I have to dress up?

I'm like, no, it's not.

It's pretty informal.

And you can share your story and share as much as you want and.

Come as you are.

Come as you are.

I think of it as a little church service, though, you know, because we.

We, you know, we do praises, we do sing some songs.

We have a small group.

We pray, and then we have a.

A chat challenge, a message.

And then we, you know, have food.

And fellowship and no ramen and video, but we do have food.

We could.

We could.

JJ's cooking the next one.

I don't know how they would feel about take the.

Bringing ramen into the church.

Take air out of Denise's tires and, like, hey, I don't know what happened.

Take her place and make the ramen.

Yeah.

You know, but the interesting thing when you guys are talking about, it's just, you know, it's planting seeds with people, right?

Like, it's.

You don't know when that seed's gonna stick, you know, to listen to JJ's story and the people that he has in his life that he knew prior to going to prison.

And, you know, Dino, that.

That picked him up from prison and put him to work the first day out, like, that was a seed that was planted years and years and years ago.

So, yeah, my brother Dino, he.

He.

When I was a troubled kid, 17 years old, years old, on probation, they had given me a job coordinator to.

To show me how to conduct myself in an interview.

In a job interview.

They took me to the store and got me, like, you know, dress clothes because, you know, I'm from.

I'm from the hood, you know, I had Dickies and muscle shirts, you know, and.

No Ben Davis.

Yeah, some Ben Davis and Frisco.

And.

And I met my.

You know, he's my brother now, Dino.

It was like, everything that I want to do, I want to.

I was like, they're like, what do you want to do?

I was like, I want to hook up car stereos.

You know, I was a kid.

They're like, all right.

Every place that we went to, they're like, you got any experience?

I'm like, no, they're like, yeah, you're not gonna touch our stuff.

You know, like, we work with some pretty expensive stuff.

And we had hit up I don't know how many places, but we're coming down Mill Ave. And there's like this store and it had like all these bright letters and everything on there.

And they're like, it was a Arizona tent and.

Arizona tent, car stereos and alarms.

And my job coordinators want to stop by, check this place out.

And I was like, sure.

And I met Dino and, and, and his wife Tammy, my sister Tammy.

They always talk about it.

They said, yeah, when we met Jose, they call me Jose.

I said, when we met Jose, you know, he was just really, you know, standing straight up and just, you know, serious look on his face.

And Dino said, want to learn how to tint windows?

And I was like, yeah, sure, you know, and he taught me how to tint windows and, and hook up car stereos, alarms, all that.

And he's the one that picked me up from prison, but he used to try to take me to church too, when I was younger.

And for him to pick me up was just like, just like a lifesaver.

They picked me up from prison and he put me to work that same day in his garage.

He wires hot rods and everything.

I think we were working on a razor.

But he put me to work that same day.

He said, I'm going to need you the next, you know, tomorrow.

I'm like, all right.

So every day we just go.

And it was just, just God working in my life.

You know, even, even I didn't see it then, you know, just he, he's putting all these people in my life.

And Dino was there as well when I got baptized.

Dino, Sister Tammy Crosso.

But yeah, these are all, you know, influences that, that I've had since I've been out.

Been out five years now.

That sounds like you can you have that opportunity now.

And you, you talked about this chat that you have with your, with your family and friends and you're the guy now maybe you, you're that guy.

That's the Dino.

You know what I mean?

So, so yeah, so I, I reach out to like, or sometimes I have people that.

Cuz, you know, prison was a big part of my life for all my life.

And sometimes I have these, these guys that get out and they'll reach out to me on social media and.

I.

Always tell all of them, you know, I'm.

I'll love you from a distance.

I'll wait to see, like, get a feel for you, you know, I'm not just going to show up to your house and you're doing some bad stuff that I don't want to be around.

But Cross was like, makes me sort of nervous, you know, you talking to some of these people sometimes.

And Alex is the same way.

Alex is like, yeah, you know, but like I said, I all, you know, I have, you know, my friend Thumper.

I've been trying to help him out since he got out, just being there for him.

I brought him to church one time, but he's doing good.

He gets a CDL on on the 1st, but he'll call me and chat, you know, sometimes, and he's just like, man, I'm just really grateful for you, and you're an inspiration to me, and I'm happy to see you doing good.

And for me, it's just like, how can I give back?

You know, how can I please God, he's been so good to me and, you know, everything that I have right now, you know, I have a. I have a wife.

I have, you know, a family, kids.

I have, you know, good friends in my life that, you know, I just.

I'm.

I'm grateful, you know, for this friendship, you know, for.

For you guys.

God put.

God gave that to me, you know, And I don't think he just set me up just so I can just, you know, live a lavish life and just, you know, sit at home and eat b ramen.

You know, it's like, okay, dude, like, you.

You got to get to work sometime, you know, and trying to figure out, you know, what it is that I need to do.

You know, I'm like, maybe I need to reach out to people.

Maybe, you know, my story will help out some people, you know, hopefully, you know, they get saved.

That.

That's the goal, right?

But if not, you know, at least maybe I could just, you know, be that influence to tell you just get a job and just.

Just work and just pay bills and be normal, you know.

So I think it's a little bit of both, right?

I mean, you.

You can.

You can love on these people and show the love of Christ and, you know, maybe working them at that, from that angle, you know, you're helping them get a job or whatever, but at the same time time, they're watching you and how you live and conduct your life.

It's like you said, plant that seed.

You know, and you're.

You're shining that light of Jesus and.

And so, you know, invite him to church.

Just little, little things, you Know, or, hey, pray before your meal or whatever.

And just these little seeds that you're planning and you're showing them, just drawing them in, you know, but building that relationship.

And you never know, man.

You might lead somebody to Christ, and that's the ultimate goal.

Yeah, I think.

Yeah.

For me, I always remember when I was in juvenile in Adobe Mountain, I always remember there was this guy that was all tatted up.

I think he was from California.

He came to talk to us at church one time.

And I always remember his story was just captivating.

His testimony was captivating to me.

You know, I'm like, oh, man, he looks like all my.

My family and, you know, but he's been saved.

And he.

He.

He had this saying.

What did he say?

He said, man, I was beat up from the feet up.

I was tore up from the floor up.

I needed a checkup from the neck up, you know, And I was just like, oh, this dude, he knows how to rhyme.

But yeah, you know, he's.

He sort of planted a seed then, you know, and sometimes you're going to plant seeds everywhere and you're not going to stick around to see that blossom into anything.

You know, you'll probably never see it again, but hopefully, you know, somewhere years later, they're telling.

Telling that story, you know, eternity only knows.

Right.

When you get to heaven.

And you may hear stories of people, people that you had an influence on.

Yeah.

Or you might get to.

You might not be the one planting the seed.

You might get the opportunity to pull that little harvest right there.

Yeah.

You know what I mean?

Because other people have been planting, and.

Then you're the one that's just right.

You know what I mean?

You never know.

I mean, you never know what part of the.

The story you're gonna process and the process.

Right.

You know, God can use you in all kind of different ways, man.

Yeah, I think he already is using you.

Only time will tell, right?

Yeah.

Yeah.

Well, I saw it when we were going out and talking to kids and stuff.

Just even some of the crazy connections that he had with kids.

Like, he's like, oh, yeah, I know your dad.

And I'm like, how do you know their dad?

Like, we're in Pinal county right now and.

Oh, yeah, that's Pinal County.

Then when we went to the.

To the school, too, when.

When Alex came along, we did like, those four classes.

I knew that kids.

He was from my neighborhood.

He.

He's like, oh, you know, so I'm like, yeah.

I'm like, you're Talking about Pepe, which is funny, because Pepe had.

Got out after that, and I got him a job at cbi.

And I'm like, I seen one of your nephews at school.

I'm like, you're a little knucklehead, man.

Like, went over there to talk to him about.

You know, we always talk about this.

Like, you go talk to these kids, and, you know, they're.

They're at risk.

They're, like, already in that life or drawn to that life, and you go and talk to them and try to steer them away from it.

Like, hey, I've been down that road.

Like, this is what you got to look forward to, you know?

And there's always that one that's just seems more intrigued about that life, like, asking you all the.

The wrong question, you know?

So when you were there, did you do this or did you have that?

And it's like, all right, dude, like, gotta go somewhere else.

Yeah, yeah.

And even Frankie at our church, you know, Tony's friend that he was in the sober living house.

Oh, right.

You knew kind of where he was from, too.

Yeah.

Tony brought somebody to church one time, but he was all tatted up.

Like, me, too.

You know, I was like, who's that guy over there?

You know, introduced myself.

Like, oh, so and so, like, where are you from?

He's a Guadalupe.

I'm like, where all my family's from, you know, it's me, J.J. you know, we just knew all the same people.

But, yeah, I mean, when you talk about, like, all the bad neighborhoods and everything in Arizona.

Yeah, I'll know somebody from there.

Just from the prison system or something.

You know, same thing, like where I used to work at at cbi.

Like, I was good at my job because we'd have a.

A lot of people from the prison culture that would go in, and I would be able to relate to them because they're like, oh, you don't know I'm from.

So and so.

I'm like, oh.

Like, oh, you know, sasso.

Like, yeah, how do you know that's my good friend?

Like, oh.

You know, and then sort of de.

Escalates people.

But, yeah, well, I think that's kind of the.

The.

The powerful thing about it.

Right.

Because all these people knew you as an old James.

Right, Right.

And now when they see you, it's the.

It's the new creature, the new JJ and they.

It's like, what's different?

Like, I want that.

How did that happen?

You know?

And that's where the power of this Comes in.

This power of this story comes in, man.

The changed life, the power of God.

It's amazing, bro.

Yeah, that's what I was saying Sasa last time, like next time you guys go out, you know, with freedom that last, I'd like to go along, just help out wherever I can.

You know, it's funny because we were passing out the bag to the homeless and Tony recognized a dude that we passed a bag out from being rehab.

He's like, yeah, I was in rehab with that guy.

Right.

Like I think the second or third time.

Right.

And it's, he said in the, you know, criminality, it's really a small world.

Yeah, people.

Yeah.

Really small.

Yeah.

If you're going to give any parting words or just anything about your story and you want our listeners to know about you or your story about anything, but you know, what would you have to say?

I think the biggest thing for me, and especially as it relates to JJ is it just really shows I've seen people with a Christian heart, just how they've had that effect on his life, whether it's his father in law, whether it's the church that you guys go to, because let's be honest, there's a lot of places that he could have walked into with the tattoos all over his head and over his arms and could say, yeah, we're a church, but my might not have been so kind to him.