Not promising. That would sum up the childhood of José Rojas.

Born into an abusive home, José grew to fear his father’s drunken rampages. "Mama, what’s wrong with me? Why do I make you and Dad fight so much?"

Then things got worse. In school the other kids laughed at his accent, tormented him, called him "skunk" and "dirty Mexican."

His mom called him "my dreamer."

Then the Rojas family stumbled onto some followers of an ancient Jewish carpenter. Several of them saw something extraordinary in José, this young would-be upholsterer. They mentored him. Believed in him. Encouraged him . . . and prayed with him.

José overcame failing grades, fanaticism, and institutional inertia to develop a life-changing youth outreach based on love and prayer. Follow him through a street ministry in Fresno, where he becomes the target of a gang who trash his house, to meetings with the president of the United States. Today his preaching is in worldwide demand, and he serves a as mentor to others.

And his dad has become a loving, spiritual presence in the family.

Jose Vicente Rojas is the Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries and the Adventist Youth Service Network (YouthNet) for the North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists. He has served as a district pastor and Senior Youth and Family Ministries Director for the Central California Conference. Pastor Rojas is a recipient of the Maryland Governor’s Citation for leadership in community action; a member of the Alliance for Youth, General Colin Powell, Chairman; and an active consultant to the White House for various domestic policy initiatives. Jose holds graduate and undergraduate degrees in Religion from Loma Linda University, and received an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Southwestern Adventist University. His is an accomplished musician, composer, and author.