Santos’ Story
Santos’ journey to Good Soil Industries began like many others—with a desperate phone call. “Me being homeless and unemployed,” he says, was what brought him to KCB. Sleeping in a church parking lot, laid off from work, and trying to stay sober, Santos was facing tough challenges that he didn’t think he could pull out of. When he called the KCB Community Center, the weight of his situation was clear.
I (Javvy) had answered his call that day, and I vividly remember the Holy Spirit tugging on my heart to pray with him over the phone, so I asked Santos if he was okay with that, and immediately after his “yes,” he opened up. We ended up speaking for another hour it seemed. We shared stories of both ministry and struggle, and I was just really eager to give him a hand to reach out to. He learned about GSI during that call, and was excited for the opportunity. I spoke to George about him because of that enthusiasm, and George scheduled him for an interview shortly after. Seeing Santos now after knowing where he was is inspiring and I’m just so glad he followed through with GSI. Santos has a lot to offer this world, and I have no doubt the Lord is going to use him in mighty ways if he allows Him to.
When Santos joined GSI, he had already taken an important step—he was on his way to sobriety—40 days clean. George, his case manager and now mentor, remembers the transformation. “Now, he’s five months clean. Through every positive opportunity, he’s become a better version of himself,” George shares. “From serving a nine-year prison sentence to being a leader at his church, holding prayer groups, and pointing others to Christ, his journey has been nothing short of inspiring.”
For Santos, having stable employment was more than just a job. “It made me feel worthy and good about bringing home an honest paycheck,” he says. That sense of worth became real during a special moment that brought tears to his eyes. “The day I got to shop at the Christmas Store and buy gifts for my grandkids and kids. It was the first time in over 15 years that they got a gift from me.”
Beyond an employment program, Santos found a community that actually believed in him. He received work clothes, hygiene kits, food gift cards, conversations, and more through KCB’s resources. Court letters helped him navigate legal challenges, and his growing faith reassured him that God was at work in his life. “It was a big relief and proof of my faith at work,” Santos says. The ripple effect of his journey reached his family. His wife, inspired by him and his drive, also got clean and now serves in music ministry at their church.
Santos now has a full time job (with Sundays off for church!) His legal charges have been dropped, and he’s gone from living in a car to having a roof over his head. What seems to mean even more to him though—he’s gained the trust of his loved ones and now even enjoys unsupervised visits with his grandchildren.
To those who make programs like GSI possible, Santos says, “Thank you for helping me when no one else wanted to.” His story reminds us that sometimes, all it takes is one person to believe in us. “I belong for sure,” Santos says, reflecting on the Bible studies and the community that have become part of his life. His goals for the future are clear: to improve his credit and one day purchase a home.
George sums it up best: “His actions have impacted both his life as well as those around him. It’s amazing to see the huge change he has made.”
For Santos, it’s more than a change… it’s a new beginning.