Growing up in the church I had my times of wanting to serve God and moments where I felt the opposite. Times where I could see myself doing what God had created me for and moments where I felt like I could never measure up. I was young, impressionable, and lacked direction. Looking back to when my life took a turn, I never thought that a moment can change everything. That moment, literally took me on a four-year run; of doing drugs, acting a fool, and hurting people. I was broken and thought that I did too much to come back.
During my time of running from the plan of God, He had an interesting way of showing me that His hand never left me. People “randomly” come up to me and tell me that “He hasn’t forgotten about me” and “Jesus loves me.” I didn’t like these conversations because they always tugged at my heart. I was mad at God or you could say disappointed. My grandmother passed away and she was a God-fearing woman, and I didn’t understand why she had to go. I didn’t get why my prayers weren’t answered, I was 15 at that time. But what she said before she went to be with the Lord made me think; She said “Israel, remember to give God all the honor and all the glory.”
Not only did I know this, but the people around me knew I was different. I was 19 years old; depressed, addicted, and suicidal… I didn’t think I had a reason to live anymore. I was doing a lot of drugs at the time, I felt alone but I was tired of running from God. My friend Tony reminded me of who I was and how I was created for something else, something more. He said “it’s time for you to be like your dad, he is a good man. And when you get the help you need, come back and help me.”
On August 21st, 2003, my life changed forever. I surrendered my life to Jesus on Jane Street, no more running, no more facing my hurt alone, and I finally got the answers to a lot of the questions that were uneasy in my heart. I knew a little of what God had for me but I didn’t know how it was going to happen. I walked through the doors of the Urban Training Center in Bridgeport, CT and my life had a complete 180-degree turnaround. I fell in love with Jesus, my savior. I thank God that men were in my life that believed in me like Pastor Tim Arguinzoni and Pastor Al Valdez, they took a chance on a kid like me, not knowing where my life would take me, and because of this, I am forever grateful.
In the years following, I served in God’s Anointed Now Generation. 19 years old, tried every other option but something was different. I found my purpose, developed my craft and fell in love with our vision. I was disciplined and trained for not only the season I was in but for my future. I didn’t know what my future held but I knew it was something great. Being in God’s Anointed Now Generation I knew I was in the will of God, I had the privilege to travel the world and preach the gospel, serve my generation, and build lifelong friendships. I had the opportunity to lead our local G.A.N.G. in Phoenix and then was raised to be the Southwest G.A.N.G. Regional leader serving under Pastor Philip La Crue Jr. and Pastor Sonny Arguinzoni Jr. I wouldn’t trade my time in the G.A.N.G. for anything. I met my amazing wife, Tiyana in the G.A.N.G., raised our 3 beautiful girls in the G.A.N.G. and got licensed to be a minister at 24 years old, the G.A.N.G. works.
I am forever grateful for God’s Anointed Now Generation and how God used this time to shape my life for who I was going to become.
Pastor Israel Tavor
Southwest Regional Pastor
