MY TESTIMONY ANTONIO GUTIERREZ, LEAD PASTOR

Coming from a broken home, lifestyle of partying, drug abuse, depression and broken relationships. My life was completely changed after experiencing the love and grace of Jesus. I was called into ministry at the age of 18. Having experienced that one encounter with Jesus changes everything. I felt called to rearrange my entire life to chase young people with the message of hope, love and restoration. No title, no position, just a passion and a fire deep in my soul.

Shortly after, God changed my life. I volunteered to be a camp counselor for a group of 12 middle school boys. I knew then that I was never going to be the same. Any former dream or desire that I had for my life faded. I said Yes to the new dream in my heart. My first ministry was a once-a-week bible study at a local middle school. I started with 3 kids and within a few weeks we had over 78 students that were participating weekly and it just continued to grow. By the end of that school year, my wife, Candace, and I were married. Our church youth pastor asked if we would be willing to run a bible study. Within a few weeks, our apartment was full of students. As our bible study continued to grow, our church leadership recognized the anointing and call on our lives.

We served as youth pastors for 10 years. During that time, God gave me a vision of starting a youth camp. A camp where younger and older people could come together and experience the power and presence of God. We continued saying "Yes" every time the Lord spoke to our hearts. We went on to serve as the assistant, the associate, and lastly, the executive pastors in the last 3 years of our ministry at CenterPointe Community Church, while still running camp and conferences. We look back on the last 17 years and are overwhelmed by God's faithfulness and provision. As for our future, we gladly continue to give our lives to see people encounter God and His unconditional love. We love to see lives transformed and being able to help create a place for people to belong. We know that the message of Jesus' love and grace can radically transform any heart and redefine what community, faith, and leadership look like in our city. Our mission is to equip and empower others to see themselves as strong men and women of God, full of purpose and establish them as leaders amongst their families, friends and in everyday life.

Although, this is my testimony, it's a family ministry. My family is the most important thing to me. We do it together or we wouldn't do it at all. My greatest treasures are not accomplishments, titles, or things; it's the people to my right and my left, our family, our friends, our team. I am humbled to run alongside such selfless people with such great purpose, serving them is a privilege.

We are grateful for every experience that brought us to this moment but we are so excited that we serve a God who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen! (Ephesians 3:20-21)