Never the Same

Never the Same

JD Perez“Frats, drugs, alcohol, and pornography,” twenty-year old JD Perez enumerates, when asked what ruled his life before he met Christ. Violence was so ingrained in his character that hurting other people was the norm for him. “I would beat up a guy just to prove I’m not afraid of him,” he shares.

His temper and misguided behavior estranged him from his family. His relationship with his siblings deteriorated, and he was disrespectful towards his elders. Instead of attending classes, he would spend his time at a computer shop to play video games all day. The rotten condition of his heart manifested through his words and actions. “I would chain smoke, get drunk, curse a lot, and beat up other people out of spite,” he shares, “I was the perfect example of immorality.”

With no regard for his future, JD exploited various vices and lived a hedonistic lifestyle. He became such a troublemaker that his neighborhood started treating him like a criminal.

JD Perez 3His turning point came during his third year in high school, when a friend invited him to attend a worship service for young people. That’s when he met Jomari Badiong, the guy who would eventually disciple him and become his mentor.

When he heard the gospel for the first time, JD discovered God’s radical love. “He completely took hold of my hardened heart and He taught me how to love and forgive,” he says.

Through <a href=”http://facebook.com/one2onediscipleship”>One 2 One</a>, JD learned of a Father’s love that is unconditional, steadfast and eternal. Faced with such overwhelming truth, JD couldn’t help but share how God transformed his life radically. He started preaching the gospel to other people, risking persecution and being called a hypocrite. After all, he was the neighborhood troublemaker.

“The gospel changed my life inside out, but I wasn’t content to be the only one experiencing God’s life-changing love,” he shares, “I had to share it to other people, no matter what.”

JD Perez VGWith encouragement from his mentor, Jomari, he felt empowered to start his own Victory group. Today, JD leads two Victory groups, and mentors college students aged 17 to 19 years.
He considers discipleship very important and stresses that a healthy relationship is a big part of it. “When you disciple someone, you discipline them because you love them,” he says, “After all, God doesn’t just want to see us saved, He wants see us changed, too.”

In the future, JD yearns to lead more people to Christ as he pursues his dream of becoming a Mechanical Engineer. “My mentor is so passionate in sharing the gospel, even in public places, that it rubbed off on me!” he exclaims. He is in faith that if God can change his hardened heart, He can also change the lives of his brothers and relatives, who have yet to know Christ.

“Discipleship is a catalyst of change!” he declares.

3 Comments

  • 醫學美容 全新分店 cosmetic.wiki October 16, 2018 at 9:03 pm

    手快有手慢無!10大峇里島最搶手民宿 Marie Claire (HK) Edition 去峇里,識住一定係住民宿。點解?Well,平民嘅價錢、皇帝式嘅享受,何樂而不為?趁著暑假,小編為大家搜羅了峇里島最大熱嘅名宿,全部低於$1200一晚,想去嘅就早啲預約啦! 用竹木搭制而成的小木屋

  • 醫學美容 補濕 cosmetic.wiki October 18, 2018 at 3:04 am

    每日IG 說到愛美妝一定少不了日本女生 喜歡發掘日系妝容或妝品的你即管追蹤她吧! Marie Claire (HK) Edition 雖然現在韓系妝容當道,很多女生愛看很多的韓國美妝blogger,但說到日系美妝還是有它的魅力所在,這也是為甚麼我們每次到日本旅行都要瘋狂在藥妝掃貨的原因吧!所以除了追蹤韓國美妝情報之外,也不要忘了追蹤

  • 除皺 October 18, 2018 at 10:52 pm

    介紹底妝系列中的蜜粉餅産品。

Leave a Reply