Written by Bethany Dzielski

Carlos Chavez was a drug user and drug dealer that encountered God’s unfailing love, forgiveness, and grace. Today, Carlos serves at the Tampa Bay Hope Home pouring into the lives of the men in the home.

Growing up

Carlos Chavez was born in Mexico, but his family immigrated to southern California when Carlos was two years old. Carlos grew up in a Catholic household with four brothers and four sisters and had a happy childhood. But, when Carlos was 14 years old his father died. Carlos started drinking, smoking marijuana, and ditching school.

On my own

As soon as Carlos turned 18, he moved out of his mother’s house. He began using methamphetamines and cocaine, and starting selling drugs to support his addiction. Despite his lifestyle, Carlos had no problems with the law until he was 25 years old. “Some friends asked me if I wanted to make money on the border. I got caught importing a car with drugs in it,” he says. Carlos was sent to federal prison for four years. Carlos was in and out of prison four or five times. “I did believe in God. I spoke to God. Even while I was using drugs and getting drunk, I knew there was something different out there. A way to live without being in sin all the time.” Carlos’s mother and sisters began attending a Christian church and seeking God. They kept inviting Carlos, but he said, “Don’t invite me to church. I’ll come whenever I feel ready.” Carlos’s older brother also struggled with drug addiction, but got clean and turned his life around after attending a men’s home. “I never thought my brother would change his life. He was addicted to heroin, living on the streets, collecting cans,” Carlos says. “I thought if he could change his life, then maybe I could too.”

Turning point

After getting out of prison the last time, Carlos overdosed and ended up in the hospital. The doctor said that if his heart rate didn’t slow down he was going to die. “I was dying. While I was there, I was trying to pray or think. But, I couldn’t.” The next day, when Carlos woke up he felt like God was giving him a second chance. “God spared my life.” Carlos’s probation officer agreed to send him to a rehab facility rather than to prison.

Getting help

Carlos went to a Christian rehabilitation center in central California, called New Creations. “The last thing I wanted to do was go to a Christian program. I wasn’t ready,” Carlos says. While he was at New Creations, Carlos began to pray:

“I had a lot of doubts. I wanted God to come down from heaven and appear to me,” he says.

On December 27, 2011, Carlos was in the chapel at New Creations. He put his head down and was trying to pray. While he was praying, Carlos felt someone come up behind him and place a hand on him to pray for him. Carlos wasn’t surprised, because it was a common practice in the chapel. After a while, however, Carlos thought “that’s enough” he looked up to see who was praying for him. No one was there! Yet he still felt the hand on his shoulder! Carlos immediately got on his knees and surrendered to God.

What’s next?

From New Creations, Carlos went to another program, called Restoration, in Kansas City, Missouri. After graduating from the program, Carlos didn’t know what to do next and was planning on moving back to California. “I was praying and asking for guidance and direction. I wanted to go deeper into the things of God.”

While at Restoration, Carlos met Pastor Ken Power, who was involved with the home. Ken was planning on moving to Tampa Bay, Florida to start the CityReach Tampa Bay Hope Home for men. Ken asked Carlos to join him on this journey and be a part of preparing and launching the Hope Home. Carlos agreed.

The Hope Home was scheduled to open in June of 2015, but Carlos moved with Ken in February. He helped clean up the dorms where the men would stay, put down carpet, and paint the sanctuary.

What’s my purpose?

Even at the Hope Home, Carlos was struggling with what his purpose was. When he was in Kansas City, God had given him a dream about being in boat on a river, and throwing out a net to catch fish. While in Tampa Bay, the Hope Home team was in the streets, ministering to homeless people when God brought that dream back to Carlos’s mind. “It hit me. This is what God wants me to do. To reach people and bring them in,” Carlos says.

Today, Carlos uses his testimony to minister to the men in the Hope Home.

In the future, Carlos would like to answer the call of God on his life to be a Hope Home director.

A family blessing

Not only has Carlos’s life been changed, but all four of his brothers had been addicted to drugs and are now clean and set free. “My mom always says that she’s been given so much grace because of us. She is so grateful that we are all free,” he says. “Before, I was a curse to my family. They would see me coming and say ‘Oh no, here comes Carlos. He’s drunk or high.’ Now, I’m a blessing. I share scriptures with them and encourage them.”