SpeakLifeAZ
The testimony of Jesus in, with, and through everyday people like us. A father and son who were addicts for over 20 yrs. You name it, WE DID IT, TOGETHER!!!! we used to use drugs together now we share about what God Has done for us to encourage the body of Christ and anyone else who may listen to this that is feeling hopeless and empty. LISTEN TO OUR STORY...and the testimony of others who feel led to share with you.... GOD BLESS YOU....TODAY WE CHOOSE TO SPEAK LIFE AZ!!!!!!!!!!
SpeakLifeAZ
Abel A. Testimony #2
What happens when God calls you to minister in places most Christians never venture? Abel's journey takes us from Bible college classrooms to high-end fashion shows in a story that redefines what ministry can look like in today's world.
Abel never expected to find himself photographing models and designers in Scottsdale's elite fashion scene. His path wound through youth ministry, high school teaching, and even pool cleaning before his childhood passion for photography unexpectedly reopened. When a friend asked him to snap a few wedding photos, something clicked—both literally and figuratively. His natural talent quickly earned recognition, leading to invitations to fashion shows where he discovered a world bursting with creativity and artistic expression.
What makes Abel's story remarkable isn't just his professional success but his approach to ministry. Without announcing his pastoral background, he allows his character and ethics to speak for themselves. "I'm not going to be that guy," he says about photographers who exploit models. Instead, he's established protocols to create safe environments, mentors new models on protecting themselves, and boldly challenges industry norms by telling models they "don't have to be naked to be successful." His Misplaced Surfer Studio has become what one podcast host prophetically called "a lighthouse" where Christian models can find community and safety.
The fashion world has noticed. "Every time I'm at an event, your name comes up. People love you," a fellow photographer recently texted him. "It's like a cartoon when your name comes up—stars come out of their eyes, their hearts start pounding." This reputation opens doors for conversations about faith that might never happen in traditional church settings.
Ready to rethink what ministry can look like? Listen now and discover how your unique skills might be the perfect vehicle for reaching people who would never walk through church doors. Follow us on social media @SpeakLifeAZ and visit our Youtube page at SpeakLifeAZ to hear more stories of faith showing up in unexpected places.
we were like, let's give it a try. So we've been here, since Come on, man, and then you know then. Then, uh, pastor Dave kind of does what any Perez does and he pulls me into I want to do Bible college.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 1:I think you're the guy who can do it. I can do it.
Speaker 3:That's his history, you know so um, still going.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's still going um, so, yeah, so I've been here for what I guess, eight years, a little less, maybe a little more, I don't know. Yeah, um, yeah, and I'm one of the staff pastors and and um kids love it all.
Speaker 3:Huh, your little girls love it all yeah, the girls love it yeah they, they just love being here so
Speaker 2:amen um, I tell people sometimes that I come across man that have kids. Dude, we got a better children's ministry than we do for the adults. That's funny.
Speaker 3:The kids love it bro.
Speaker 2:I deal with parents at CR that are like I keep coming back on Sunday because my kids love it. Great, Whatever it takes to get you here. Yeah.
Speaker 1:So that kind of brings us current. And then, you know, in the midst of that I was, I started building. I worked for a guy that used to attend my church, a minister. He opened up a pool company and I started. I was teaching at GO Combs High School. I was teaching biology in college and career teaching high school. And uh, cause I got degrees. They're desperate at school. So if you got a degree they're like come on staff.
Speaker 1:So I mean they hired me quick because of my education background. I have, you know, I have the ability to teach. I think so, um, uh, I was teaching there, and he, one summer he's like to teach. I think so, I was teaching there and one summer he's like, hey, I'm getting busier, you want to help out? I can pay you X amount of dollars for the summer and you come back to teaching because I'm on summer break. I said sure, so he taught me, I learned rules and I'm like, hey, this is nice easy money. I get to hang out outside. Yeah, it's hot, but yeah, this is cool. I'm not stressing out about meeting with counselors, teachers, other teachers, parents, I'm not stressing about meeting lawyers, because some of the kids had ieds, which is independent education, development or plan ip, excuse me, and uh.
Speaker 1:So you know I had all this caseload, I had all this work. I was right rewriting curriculum for the school for my classics, and like you're trying to teach this to the kids now, I'd rewrite it because I want to relate to the kids and get it, you know, and they loved it.
Speaker 1:So and we went well, it went well. So, um, so I worked that summer and I'm like, huh, this is easier job, just show up, clean a pool here and there, go home. I just show up, clean a pool here and there go home. I don't have to work after after hours on the computer writing or developing or fixing curriculum, and I'm like you know what. And so you ask me at the end of the summer he's like you're gonna go back to teach or you want to stay on. I said I think I want to stay on with you I said it's easier job.
Speaker 1:When I'm done working, I go home and I'm I'm free I'm not you know I have don't have to be at these meetings and this.
Speaker 1:And that he says, okay, I resigned from school, from the district. And they said, hey, you're under contract, you're going to have to pay money. And I said I'm not under contract because they wanted me to sign the contract before the summer started. And I said I had a caseload of 30 students with IEPs, individual educational plans. It's a lot of work. It's like having a full-time job. The documents are federally regulated. You have to award them just so. It was a big pain in the butt, plus teaching eight hours a day. And I said you know what? I'll come back If you hire someone full-time to do these IEPs and stop making us teachers do this. We'll see.
Speaker 1:So when they called me back, hey, come be at this meeting, I said I'm going to resign. No, you signed a contract. The district guy was a jerk on the phone. I'm like no, you don't have me on a contract. I guy was the district guy was a jerk on the phone. I'm like uh, no, you don't have me on a contract, I haven't signed anything. What? And here's why. And I told him he changed his tune.
Speaker 3:He was like a different bird.
Speaker 1:Oh, we want you, we love you, we want you to come back. I'm done, I'm done. I I said hire someone full-time. And guess what they did? I quit because they're like no, we're going to do it, we don't have the money.
Speaker 3:Now they have a full-time IEP writer.
Speaker 1:Thank goodness, because you have to have a professional that's trained in that kind of lingo. Anyway. So I continue on with the pools and then I got to the point where I'm like man, he's making a lot of money I'm making tiddlywinks compared to this guy, and so I'm like I can do this, this is easy. So I talked to Lisa and I said I'm going to branch out on my own. What?
Speaker 1:Yeah we're going to do this ourselves and we're going to make a whole lot more money. And I talked to Doug, everything was on the up and up. He was the you and I said I want to branch out. I said I'm not going to step on your customers, I'm not going to try to steal your customers, I'm going to get my own people and when I get to the point where I can, I will, I will break off and do my own thing. He goes let's do it I trust you man, because you're brother in christ go for it amen.
Speaker 1:So we did it and worked out great and and, stepping out on my own, I relied on him for a lot. Hey, I got this problem, blah, blah, blah. Okay, do this, do this. So he was still a mentor in that field when I, you know, any time I needed him, I'd call him and we started working together.
Speaker 1:We'd give each other jobs if I didn't want to. Hey, can you do that? Yeah, I'd have my guy go out by the time I was done. He had like 7 or 8 guys working for him. I was his first employee, yeah, man. So yeah, I went on and and uh, you guys, you know you worked really rowdy.
Speaker 2:I mean, there was a day where we had the problem. I forgot what it was and you got on the phone and called doug yeah doug helped us out and we got the stuff and we figured it out and we got it done man yeah but the business became really lucrative.
Speaker 1:I mean, I was making a lot of money and the business kept growing and growing. I bought a website, never touched it because I'm like I don't need to build a website. Everyone's word of mouth they love me and they're hey, call Abel. I had communities in Scottsdale. You need people like hey, I'm looking for a good pool guy, like 15 people like call, abel, call.
Speaker 1:Abel this guy's phenomenal yeah and I'm like, wow, thanks god, I had my. Some of my customers were nfl players. Yeah, and um favor buddy, yeah, so I had a lot of favor word of mouth is better than any advertisement.
Speaker 1:Man it was awesome yeah and still, I still people have. Have people calling me. Hey, I have people calling me. Hey, I have people like will you come back Please? I know you're doing this now, but you know. So I still have a couple pools, like three, that I take care of on the side and I still do pool drains and some repairs, you know, just for some side cash and stuff. But you know, as you guys know, I'm during that time.
Speaker 1:Here's the funny thing I started. I've always been a photographer, from a kid. I've always been an artist drawing, sketching. I used to enter competitions and stuff. I did photography in high school, learned how to shoot and I was at a wedding one time. A mutual friend was shooting the wedding and he goes hey, I'm going to take a break, do you mind just snapping a couple pictures with our camera? Sure, he goes. No, do you know what to do? Yeah, I know how to shoot, I took photography. So I took some pictures and when he went through and edited and processed them, he goes hey, your pictures are really good, you got an eye. I said, oh, thank you. And he goes you should do you shoot anymore? I said, no, I don't even have a camera. He goes. You should really seriously do that. I said eh, okay.
Speaker 1:I got thinking about it and I went and bought a cheap camera from Staples I don't know if they still sell cameras, but that's where it was, so it was on sale. I bought it. And sale, I bought it and I started shooting. And I started shooting just family and, and I did started doing weddings in vegas. I was doing weddings and and uh, and people liked it and they'd start to pay me. So anyway, you know, when I started here, they found out I could shoot and I started shooting on the media team and did that for a long time. Only recently I stopped doing it.
Speaker 2:But uh, um, yeah, bro I got your favorite picture, dude favorite picture of lifelink camera? Yes me coming out of the water.
Speaker 1:That is my favorite that is my favorite picture from lifelink church.
Speaker 1:It's the best, bro, my favorite so so, anyway, uh, yeah, so I started doing that. I'm like, well, somebody invited me to a, I don't know who, I don't even remember. They invited me to a fashion show in Scottsdale. Hey, come shoot the show. I'm like, okay, cool, I'll give it a try. And I went and I'm like this is the coolest thing ever, because I was in a place that had creative people, artists of all backgrounds and I love art, I'm very visual, right. Um, we had designers that had weird, crazy off the wall fashions you'd never seen before. You had models who were beautiful, guys and girls you had. You had, uh, photographers.
Speaker 1:You had makeup artists makeup artists, everyone with everything is art hair. Yeah, and I'm like like this is really cool and I had fun shooting and my pictures came out good. I started handing them out to the people like who's this guy? I'm like it's just me, you know.
Speaker 1:So yeah from there I I'm like let me try this other show. They I got invited to another show because they liked the pictures and took this place. And I went and then people like who's able? Who's this photographer? He's, we really liked this stuff. And I'm like what am I doing? I don't even know what I'm doing, I'm just you know, and they just liked my style of shooting, I guess, and so wow, Then I started getting favor. Favor in the sense of God. I clearly God was opening the doors wide.
Speaker 3:Yeah, wow.
Speaker 1:And I was able to minister to people, talk to people and I'm like, oh, this is pure evangelism. I'm at heart, I'm an evangelist. Yeah, I mean, look, I started out going to Russia. Yeah, I've been to Venezuela, europe, you know, and um, and I'm around my church family.
Speaker 2:That's fine, yeah, but let's go get crazy with some non-believers and leave them to Christ, you know so so, um, yeah, so it opened up, the doors kept opening wide.
Speaker 1:I'm like Lord, what are you doing here? And I was getting invited and people started paying me and and, and you know I I got a call from a few, not a call. I got a text two weeks ago from a female photographer in Scottsdale and she goes. I'm so sick of hearing about you and I text her. What do you mean? She goes. Every time I met at an event, I met somewhere shooting. She shoots for a magazine in Scottsdale, anytime, anywhere, and your name comes up. People like love you.
Speaker 3:I said what.
Speaker 1:She goes. What are you talking about? She goes. I'm so sick of people. They just dote on you all the time. She goes. It's like a cartoon when your name comes up, stars come out of their eyes, their heart starts pounding. They just love you. I'm like, really, she goes. Yeah, everyone, I'm sick of hearing about you. I'm like that's hysterical. She goes. Then I tell him you're my mentor and she used a couple choice words and I'm like oh, she goes because I've mentored her on a couple things with photography. And she goes. So I tell him you trained me and I said oh, okay I didn't really train her
Speaker 1:but you know but um, but she likes the name I got thrown around. But she goes. Yeah, everyone speaks so highly of you and they just love you to pieces and say they're the nicest guy. I said, oh awesome, that's cool. I had no idea.
Speaker 3:That speaks volumes, buddy, it does.
Speaker 1:It's kind of like in the pool company. People spoke highly about me and I'm like wow.
Speaker 3:What's that scripture where it says, uh, let not your own lips praise you, but the lips of others. Right, and that's that, right there, brother.
Speaker 1:There you go. I mean, I see it as God's favor, you know, just opening the door. So he opens the doors. I walk through them, the designer and she's crying and I got to pray for her and minister to her and and um she's. She told me the first time. I don't tell anyone, I'm pastor, I'm out there, I'm just able. Yeah, Because people act different. I don't want you to act different.
Speaker 3:I want you to be you, the authentic man.
Speaker 1:I don't care if you cuss my face, I don't care. I don't care if you cuss my face, I don't care. I want to see you, as you don't give me some fake face or pretend attitude just be you and all your rawness. I just despise, but once you throw the title pastor, people are like oh, I gotta straighten up, I gotta be good.
Speaker 2:Sorry I cussed in front of I'm not.
Speaker 1:It makes people weird bud. I'm sure people cussed in front of I'm not it makes people weird bud it does, I'm sure, people cussed in front of Jesus.
Speaker 3:He wasn't offended, he ministered to them. And I tell them hey, don't, peter, cut a dude's ear off, right, right.
Speaker 2:At least I'm not cutting people's ear off. I love Jesus. I just cuss a little bit.
Speaker 1:So we're all rough around the edges, right? So you know, don't treat me as like. Oh, he's a holy man.
Speaker 2:Okay, yeah, I serve a holy god.
Speaker 1:Yeah, but I'm a servant, I'm a broken man. Yeah, so please just be yourself. Yeah, so I don't, I'm a, I don't walk around, I'm a minister, I'm a pastor if people find out, I share yeah. And so this lady I met her at a, a fashion show, and she starts talking my ear off and we talk about God, we talk about fashion, we talk about all kinds of stuff, and then later on she's like I really enjoy talking to you. I don't know why.
Speaker 2:I know why I don't even say why.
Speaker 1:Oh, I know it's God. You know I'd love to use. It's so easy to talk to. Anyway, we've, we've become friends and her designs are amazing. Um, and so she's dressed stars from Hollywood and and singers, rap singers, and um, anyway, she uh, and she called me. She knows that I'm a pastor, you know a minister, and she calls me. She goes. You know I'm struggling. I think I'm going to be out of this. Just get out of the scene for a while. I said why you have such amazing talent. God's using you and she your creativity. And she goes. Well, she goes. I'm just sick of people. She goes. People are weird. I said people are broken and she goes. Just some of the things I'm seeing and hearing. I just I don't want to be used like that. Manipulated people are in it for themselves. I said, yeah, we live in a selfish world.
Speaker 1:We do everyone and I, you know, I encouraged her and I said can I pray for you? Yeah, she's weeping on the phone, she's just crying. Thank you so much, apo. I know I can talk to you and I'm talking to her in my office, you know, and Lisa comes in Everything. Okay, I said I'm talking to, I won't say the name.
Speaker 1:I'm talking to so-and-so and she goes oh okay, I said I'm ministering to her and so I've talked to models, who one model? She's like my friend's, just she's a Christian. Amazingly, there's a Christian. Amazingly, there's a lot of Christians in the fashion industry a lot. But some of them are not discipled, in that they don't know everything they should know and they're bringing in. Syncretism is a word where you bring in other thoughts and beliefs and they're bringing in new age stuff like affirmations and positive, just stuff that.
Speaker 1:So it's like let's tweak you the right way towards scripture and less of the world.
Speaker 1:Anyway, this model really sweet, she's married and she's like I think I'm going to give up modeling. I'm like, why, why would you? And she's like, well, all my friends at church are like why do you do this? You pose in bikinis. She doesn't do anything inappropriate, she goes maybe they're right. I said no, they're fools.
Speaker 1:I said, listen, go read in the Old Testament about brain fart, esther. And I ministered to her through the story of Esther. I said you know, esther saved her nation. God used her beauty to save her people. Yeah, she was the one of one of the king's wives, one, I said, and she won a beauty contest. They had them back then and if you know the history of of what they did, they would, they would do um, it would be several weeks and months of makeup and and primming and priming the girl to be this most beautiful bride for and and woman, a model for the, for the King. They had the best of the best, right and Esther wins in the Bible says she was beautiful right and she, she wins hands down. And because of her beauty, I said because of her beauty, she, she, she saved her people from execution and murder and destroyed, being destroyed and wiped off the face of the earth. Cause remember, you know the story she went to the. I mean, she didn't walk into the palace like, hey, honey, you know you had proper protocol.
Speaker 1:She went in knowing that she could lose her life, and she went the proper channels. And because he was spent by her beauty and he believed her and God used that situation. Her people were saved. I said so I said God can use your beauty for his glory alone. I said stop, stop listening to your friends. Maybe they're jealous. I said, if you're, you know, ask God for his leading and I said if he leads you to continue, don't quit just because your friends think you're not doing something right because uh you're not doing anything wrong that's crazy so well, my friend, and she's like oh my gosh.
Speaker 1:She's like I thank you. And she's like you.
Speaker 2:She says I felt the holy spirit ministering to me god is going to open a ton of god is going to open a ton of doors for you in that specific field.
Speaker 1:We'll see.
Speaker 2:Because there's probably not a lot of evangelists in that field. Nope, no. So yeah, you go and fly. Sure, bro, in there, dude.
Speaker 3:Some of your pictures have been on magazine covers, haven't they? Yeah, I've made magazine covers.
Speaker 1:I just found sometimes I don't get the credit, uh, which is frustrating. I just found I was in the um paradise valley magazine uh, scottsdale and yeah, there's a lot of magazines teen magazines for because I shoot a lot of the younger girls in high school and um I've been on uh fashion magazines and if somebody, if somebody wants you to come and shoot them, or they want to use your studio, how can they get ahold of you? They can contact me on Instagram. They can, uh, they can what's your name?
Speaker 1:It's a misplaced surfer photography and, uh, my studio is misplaced surfer studio and there's a. There's a link for that also, and they can we, and there's a link for that also, and they can we also have a website. It's up, but we're finishing the finishing touches and you can rent the studio. The studio is not just for me, it's for others.
Speaker 2:And already.
Speaker 1:It's kind of a lighthouse. I'll rent it out to people who want to have Bible studies or podcasts. I don't care, but I have a lady that wants to bake cookies in there. Okay, bake cookies.
Speaker 3:I don't care. I've seen a couple things you've done there already.
Speaker 1:Oh, we've done quite a bit already and already I've talked to new models that come on the scene. I like working with new models and they're really green and I share with them. I tell them how to protect themselves, because I'm like there are guys out there that are stalkers and predators, oh yeah themselves because I'm like there are guys out there that are stalkers and predators, oh yeah.
Speaker 1:And and I had a situation last week where a poor girl, brand new, and she got or the wrong guy and it made her really uncomfortable. Nothing horrible horrible happened, but still she felt a little violated and it's real.
Speaker 3:That's real and I I told her because I have certain protocol.
Speaker 1:I you know. There's always a parent, there's always a. There's always a parent, there's always a friend, there's always someone there.
Speaker 2:Good, I'm never alone, yeah, and protect yourself and I never touch yeah.
Speaker 1:I never guy or girl. I never touch the model. If I do for some reason a couple of times I've you know, can you move your hand? This way, I'll say do you mind if I touch your hand? Sure, but I never touched, I never, just randomly some guys will go up and it freaks the girls out.
Speaker 2:I've talked to.
Speaker 1:I've talked to several girls that they just don't go talk, they don't share what happened, yeah, and there's people out there still doing stuff nice and charming, but man, they, it's horrible. So I'm like, okay, I'm going to help. I got four daughters and I have a sensitivity to women and an understanding and I've been around women my whole life, right, so some of my good friends when I was younger were girls. I have best friend guy friends, but a lot of my friends growing up were girls, not just girlfriends, but just friends, non-romantic girls, yeah, not just girlfriends, but just friends, non-romantic, yeah.
Speaker 1:So, um, you know, I have a sensitivity and a heart for girls and, and, um, I don't want to see anyone abused, so I, man, I I help out with a posing 101s runway 101s and I. I get a spot where I say, as a photographer, you don't ever show up alone with someone you don't know and you never um, you never let them touch you if they touch you tell them I said you're the model they want you in the pictures. They want you to wear the.
Speaker 3:Whatever you have the power you leave if you have to, yeah don't let anyone touch you I had one girl crying because that happened and amen.
Speaker 1:So you know it's yeah, it's sad, but uh I'm like okay, I'm gonna help protect some of these girls because I would never want my daughters to go out there and be abused in some way.
Speaker 3:Because a lot of them girls think they need these people.
Speaker 1:That's what I told these models? I said you don't have to be naked to be successful. I said everyone out there says get naked success. I said that's a big lie. Yeah, man, I've seen models do that and they get nowhere. They get plotted for a moment and then they get forgotten. Yeah, I said you. You, if you have standards, integrity, moral morals. I said you hold your ground and you do what only you feel you know. Of course I I'm generalizing, but I always, always preach Jesus a little bit without coming out, and I tell them you keep your clothes on yeah.
Speaker 1:That's so good. So because you know you're beautiful regardless of whatever you're wearing. So, yeah, so people really like that in Christian. I'm really different, I guess, than a lot of people A that in Christian. I'm really different, I guess, than a lot of people. A lot of nice guys out there, photographers, and a lot of nice girls. But you know, you've got those ones that want to ruin everything for everyone. And so I'm not known as that guy. I'm not going to be that known as that guy.
Speaker 1:And I'm taking the raise a standard you lived a pretty full life brother. A pretty full life brother. Yeah, who, who knows what else is coming? I mean, I just I'm open to everything and whatever the lord wants, I do.
Speaker 3:And god got anything that you put on your heart or anything that you're you know lately it's just ever have a desire to start another church or anything, or it's, it's there but it's not.
Speaker 1:um, I think I just there's a lot about the American church that I think could be changed for the better. Yeah, and you know we don't have to get into details about that, but I we can, if you'd like.
Speaker 2:That's another podcast, right? I was like we're already at four and a half hours, are we really? Oh my gosh, yeah bud. What time? What Are we really? Oh my gosh, yeah, bud, what time? Holy cow, this boy can talk, so that happens to everybody.
Speaker 3:They're like, oh, I'll be short. And then they get here and they're like three hours that was quick.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so you know there's again. I've been in the best ministries, the biggest, smallest, you name it. I've been there. Any denomination, I've been there, any denomination. I've been there. I've seen a lot. Yeah, I've observed a lot and I have a lot of opinions. I don't think I'm perfect, but I know how things can be done better. Yeah, and it stumps me sometimes when certain ministries or churches, or even people, leaders, whatever, they do something a certain way and I'm like and they cater to the world, they cater to the seeker-sensitive, they, you know, let's not be offensive and I'm not saying we have to go out there and be offensive, but let's speak the truth. Sometimes it offends. I don't care who I offend.
Speaker 3:Truth's supposed to offend, as long as they get the truth.
Speaker 1:Truth's supposed to offend. Oh, look at Jesusesus ministry. Jesus was not a soft, no man. He wasn't a softy, he spoke the truth ruffling feathers oh, yeah, yeah. Well, that's why he was crucified. He ruffled the feathers man, but he spoke the truth and he is the truth. The truth will always ruffle feathers.
Speaker 3:Oh, absolutely, even if it's spoken in love you can't handle the truth.
Speaker 1:It's true it's real, it's true, though I mean, yeah, it's so true, and so I see you know I'm concerned at the way a lot of American churches are leaning where it's more a show rather than true ministry and I want to see people discipled and it's all discipleship. Jesus said go and make disciples. He didn't say go make mega churches. I mean, and I'm not against mega churches, I've been on staff of mega churches. I love mega churches because they have a lot of resource, but they have a lot of issues too. The bigger the church, the bigger issues you know the smaller churches have. We all have issues.
Speaker 2:Nobody's. The church is not. I've got a subscription to them, yeah, so I'm not saying anything. They show up monthly, I deal with this one and this one shows up. It's like what is this? Yeah, it's a never-ending pie chart right you just get delivered to the house. But another right right so.
Speaker 1:So I'm not against, you know, winning one particular way or set, but it's by and large I see just a decline in America. I see other churches thriving. Now I see some problems with some of the other churches in the other country too, because they're they're huge into their prosperity. Yes, I believe people, people should be blessed, and God does bless people, but not the extreme. I see some of these African preachers that are living high. I'm like, wait a minute, what?
Speaker 3:about the guy the other day Lock the doors $40,000.
Speaker 2:We ain't leaving until we get this money.
Speaker 3:I should have shut the door. There's a lot.
Speaker 1:I feel that can change, that needs to change, otherwise we're just a big, you know a club, this look at the barna stats, the stats less people going to church. We're losing young people left and right. They're not, they don't see churches relevant. So why? There's a reason because we're so stuck on our programs and let's do it this way and we're not listening to people.
Speaker 1:I don't mean that they it this way and we're not listening to people. I don't mean that they dictate what we do. I'm saying listening to the spirit of god, knowing what the people need.
Speaker 2:Amen and so um. There's more people going to these campus talks than there are going to the churches bro, absolutely they love these campus talks. Young man, they saw this thing.
Speaker 3:They said that the young crowd, 25 to like 16, they're hungry for the truth, Yep they are. And they want it. They're just not finding it.
Speaker 1:In the church? In the church they're not. And what's the general consensus about church? Oh, church, irrelevant. Unfortunately, it's the church's fault. It's no one's fault, but the church and church leaders, and I'm not talking about anyone specific, so please, no one. Have you ever?
Speaker 3:seen, you know who Cliff is. Oh, I love Cliff.
Speaker 1:There's Cliff, cliff Canato.
Speaker 3:There's this young Asian guy and one other cat. They go around to these campuses and they are drawing massive massive crowds because they're getting. They're not getting preaching knees, they're getting truth.
Speaker 1:You know what I mean and truth is what sets people free, not preaching knees you know what I mean, what I'm, what I'm seeing, especially what I'm doing with photography. I'm seeing a trend where god is hey, you go out yeah. Yeah, because, again, my conviction for the church is we don't do things to draw unbelievers in.
Speaker 3:We go out.
Speaker 2:We go out.
Speaker 1:We take care of the believers, we disciple them strong. We teach them, we educate them, we let them know the Bible.
Speaker 2:Empower them. Empower them yes.
Speaker 1:Tell them how to pray for the sick.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:How many Christians are afraid to cast out a demon? Come on bro, I'm like what.
Speaker 3:It's real dude.
Speaker 1:I've never dealt with it. Well, I hope you do. I tell people I hope you confront a demon and learn how to do it.
Speaker 2:It's real.
Speaker 1:I don't know if I can handle that, because you haven't been taught well. So yeah, so I'm for. I'm like the church, the church. Stop being watered down, start preaching real. I don't want to say stop preaching biblical Start. I said stop.
Speaker 3:Start. Let me start over. You're all right, buddy.
Speaker 1:Start preaching biblical messages that teach people the Bible and how to do this or that the pop psychology feel good Trash, can it? Because I can get that anywhere on the internet. Let's speak the truth. Our buddy, anthony. He's been working out.
Speaker 2:I was like he sat right next to you. I was like is that anthony?
Speaker 1:he's texting I think that's anthony, if you said I don't know I don't think so he's like, yeah, that's it looks bigger than anthony you know, anthony is all about um expository preaching, which is verse by verse. It's fabulous. Now I don't think that's the only way right, but it's a great way. Yeah and uh, I can't argue with him about that I mean he's, he's, bible, bible, bible yeah I'm the same way, so you know that's I'm, so I'm. What I'm seeing is god is sending people more out to do things para para, church ministry, um, and seeing great success.
Speaker 1:Uh, I I know of gatherings that are just people. We're not a church, but we're believers. We come together, learn and study the scripture and it's flocked with young people, college age amazing yeah but I look at campuses I'm like how's your uh young adults?
Speaker 1:well, we got like three people yeah I want to change some things up there, buddy yeah so I um, yeah, so you know I can, I can get on my soapbox, I have opinions, but, uh, I just see the american church changing not for the better. Yeah, and maybe that's a sign of things to come. You know there's going to be people apostatizing all kinds of stuff, but, um, you know, as long as I'm around I want people to know the bible. Yeah, and whatever I can do to help people understand and learn. You don't have to learn the languages, but, man, it certainly helps. My mom, I'll say this, my mom, when I started Bible college, she was kind of a. She said this in pride. I said, yeah, I'm going to, I'm learning, you know, she goes. I don't need, oh, I just have the Holy Spirit teach me. I don't need college, I don't need Bible college or university. She goes. I said Mom, do you hear yourself? You know how arrogant that sounds. I said what do you think I'm doing? Who do you think's teaching me?
Speaker 1:The Holy Spirit through all these men and women who are fantastic, who have been around the world and seen things and done things and preach and teach things Pastors, professors, guest speakers. I said do you not think the Holy Spirit is teaching me through that? I said, you know what? Go grab a passage of scripture and I'll grab the same passage of scripture. And I said I guarantee you I can teach more to people about that passage of scripture than you can.
Speaker 1:So if you want to just go by, well, the Holy Spirit yes the Holy Spirit teaches, but we have this concept Education in church has a bad name, yeah, biblical education. It's frowned upon. And I'm like, why? Because we, we get in this mindset. Well, the holy spirit, yes, the holy, the holy spirit, can use a knowledgeable vessel, more so than someone who's not as knowledgeable but hands down the longest time I couldn't understand why churches wanted people to have at least a four-year bachelor's degree.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I get it now. Yeah, after me and him putting in four years, I get it now. It's dedication, it's. It's four years, I get it now. It's dedication. There's knowledge, there's the study to show yourself.
Speaker 2:A lot of stuff you learn.
Speaker 1:There's a lot of stuff to share. Brother Discipleship yeah, I told you I won't mention the name, but I showed you someone on Sunday. He said watch out.
Speaker 3:This is a heretic.
Speaker 1:And I don't say that about many people, but I've studied this person and seen what they're doing and it's biblically wrong and they want the glory for themselves. And I'm like people get deceived and sucked into following this person because they don't know the Bible. They see a few signs and wonders and you know God will move in through signs and wonders, through anyone Doesn't mean you're right. So, um, you know his spirit. You know the gifts and callings are yea and amen. But if you start preaching something that's wrong, you better watch out because you're going to answer for it. So, yeah, it frustrates me that people frown upon you know education, education biblical education.
Speaker 3:So give us something you believe in God for man.
Speaker 1:Well, you know I I sold my pool business and we're now doing this photography business. My prayer is like the Lord, bless us, cause we're running lean you know, we put a lot of money into this to get this going. And so you know, put a lot of money into this to get this going, and um, so you know we're, we took a huge step of faith and that's where we're at.
Speaker 2:We're walking on faith right now.
Speaker 1:Come on and it's always uncomfortable, but god has always seen me through, yeah, and I know he's going to see me through again. So that's my biggest prayer right now and to be a bigger influence and blessing to the community out there there's a whole world that a lot of people can't reach or don't reach because they don't even know they exist. What church has a photography ministry?
Speaker 3:Now I'm not talking about media.
Speaker 1:But what church truly has a photography ministry?
Speaker 3:No one that I know of Come on.
Speaker 1:Why not? Yeah, I like to think out of the box a lot.
Speaker 3:I think.
Speaker 1:that's why sometimes I don't fit in. Amen, because I think out of the box and I walk in faith. I'm not.
Speaker 2:We're not meant to fit in bud. We're meant to stand out and shine, bro. Well, I try the best I can.
Speaker 1:I try the best I can. We don't fit in because you guys are weirdos.
Speaker 1:I love it weird for Jesus Jesus pray for this dude dad so yeah that's what I'm hoping for and you know I just want to be. I'm going to be 58 in June. I want you know I'm probably closer to death than I am to more life and I don't fear death. I talk about it all the time. People are like, yeah, who cares, I know where I'm going. When I I talk about it all the time, people are like, yeah, you're talking about dying. Yeah, who cares?
Speaker 3:I know where I'm going when I die, it's inevitable man.
Speaker 1:I want to be a blessing to people and see them grow in God. And if that means I do it at a fashion show or in a church, on staff somewhere. So be it.
Speaker 2:I don't care either way.
Speaker 1:It's good you don way. It's good you look here, because I'm the same wherever I'm at.
Speaker 3:Yeah, and I have the same convictions.
Speaker 1:They don't change, and uh people are the same wherever they're at.
Speaker 3:People are hurting everywhere, in church, out in the world, you could say well, we appreciate you, brother, we appreciate your friendship we appreciate your knowledge that you freely share. Thank you, sir.
Speaker 1:So we just thank you for that man and I appreciate you guys, you, I think you guys, what you're doing here is phenomenal, and I know you've wanted me on here a long time ago, at least a year ago, right, yes, sir, with a couple of reschedules, but in God's time we got them.
Speaker 3:It was worth the wait.
Speaker 2:Thank you for having me. It was worth the wait man.
Speaker 3:Thanks, man, and man just glad I get to know you a little better, bro, and I want it to be wild.
Speaker 1:the rest of the ride, yeah that's right.
Speaker 2:Has it been dull yet brother, it's never been dull, that's for sure.
Speaker 1:My life, my ministry, whatever you want to call it, has not been dull at all.
Speaker 3:If anybody says living for Jesus is boring they're doing it.
Speaker 3:They're doing it wrong. I don't know what they're doing, because it's not boring. No, let me pray for you, man. Thank you, jesus. Oh man, father, I just thank you, god, man, I knew it was going to be a just a phenomenal story, god, but I just sit here in awe. Um, just how you operated and moved all through Abel's life, god. You see, we see your presence there at the very beginning, god, and we see your presence throughout his entire life, god, even in the hard times with the medical issues, even in the times with the divorce, even with the times of just uncertainty.
Speaker 3:God, we just see you in it all, god, and we just thank you for it. Father Lord, right now, I just lift him up to you. Father God, he is your servant, he is your son, he is your tool. God, he says with his own mouth just how much of an impact he wants to be on the world, god. So I thank you. Right now, father God, the world that he lives in is in the photography world, god, thank you. So I thank you, lord, and he knows how to do it. God, he doesn't have to go out there and be preachy. He doesn't have to go out there and beat people with the bible, god. He just has to go out there and see people, love people and tell them the truth, god. So I thank you for more opportunities, god, I thank you maybe even for starting something inside, uh, this fashion world where these christian models can have this uh connection with each other, father, god, where they can talk with each other, where they can fellowship with each other.
Speaker 2:So good, where they can have this connection with each other Father God, Say it please when they can talk with each other. So good, Dad.
Speaker 3:Where they can fellowship with each other God so good. Where they can have a community within the fashion world of believers. God Wow, oh wow, Wow Wow, God Wow.
Speaker 2:I thank you for what you're going to do inside that, right there God.
Speaker 3:Where these young women who? Love you, god, who are coming into a world that we know can be demonic and evil at times. God, where men want to prey on young, beautiful girls.
Speaker 3:God. So I thank you for maybe just helping Abel start something where these young ladies can connect and grow together, father God, and be strong in community together, father God. So I thank you for what you're doing and what you're going to start inside there. Father God and Lord, we just thank you for the huge amount of faith Pastor Abel and Pastor Elise have God, where they step out in faith saying, hey, god, we're going to start this new thing here called Misplaced Surfer Studio, god, and we're going to put our resources in there. Believe in you, god, to take this and make it grow. So I thank you, god, to take this and make it grow. So I thank you, lord, for more opportunities.
Speaker 3:God, I thank you for people who are going to come and find space there God, to rent, to do photo shoots, to do makeup. God, to do podcasts. God, to do Bible studies, to do baking. God, whatever it is. God, you are going to be speaking to people and say there's a place here I have for you. It's going to be a good place, run by good people who love me and serve me, where you can go and do your thing and be safe and comfortable. God, thank you. So I just thank you right now for Miss Place Surfer Studios. God, I thank you for your anointing on it.
Speaker 3:I thank you for your favor upon it. God, Over there, on Gilbert and Southern, there's going to be this lighthouse, Father God, that people are going to be drawn to and they don't know why. They're just going to feel this calling, this pull, this tug to go this direction, Father God, and I thank you that in the fashion world this lighthouse is going to be there, God, where people can know and young models can come and know that they're safe, that they found a place where they can have pictures taken, where they know that they'll be respected, will they be treated with kindness and dignity, father God.
Speaker 3:So I thank you, lord, for what you're doing there. Lord, lord, I just pray favor and blessings over his daughters, god, I pray this protection over Hadassah and Hannah. God, that there's nothing that will come against them. Father, god, that they are wonderfully and uniquely made. God, that they are yours and that you will be with them, just like you were able, god, his entire life. That you'll be with them their entire life, god, that they will feel your presence. That they will have aha moments, god, where they know that you are truly God, the same way that you revealed yourself to Abel, god, I pray that you reveal yourself to these young girls, god, so they know and they know who you are. So I just thank you again for our friend, for our brother, for our rabbi, god, for our pastor. Bless them, god, just like you always have. Take care of them and protect them, like you always have. God, your favor will always go before them and I pray this in the mighty name of Jesus, amen.
Speaker 1:Amen. Thank you guys, Thank you so much.
Speaker 2:Do me a favor, friend. Pray for Speak Life. Pray for me and dad.
Speaker 3:Okay.
Speaker 2:Yeah, man, Thank you God.
Speaker 1:Lord, we thank you for this ministry. We thank you for this extension of life. Lord, you use them to put out these messages, these stories, and people are blessed and touched by them. Lord, I pray whatever I said tonight would somehow touch someone and lead them closer to you. Thank you, Lord. I pray God. All these podcasts, everything, I pray that people would be able to find them and that, as they listen, Lord, they're just touched and they again, they're led to you, Thank you, god, and thank you, god, that nothing holds you back.
Speaker 1:There's nothing that you can't work through. How normal or how unordinary it seems, lord, it can be anything. You can move through it, you can minister to it, you can minister through people's looks, as you look at someone and and, uh, they see kindness.
Speaker 2:They see you.
Speaker 1:So, god, thank you so much for what we're doing through these men, through Rowdy and Eddie. I pray, god, your blessing increase. Let let their platform just grow and grow and grow. And, lord, just their heart is for you and their heart is for other people to be drawn to. So that's the goal for all of us.
Speaker 1:Lord, we want people to be saved. We want people to come to know you and experience the joy and the relationship and the freedoms and everything that go on with our relationship with you. Lord, you are a living act of God and so many people don't know it, don't understand it, but we want them to experience it. Lord, you're not just a word, You're not just a scripture in a book. You are a living being who has fellowship with your creation, and we love that about you. Yes, so, uh, thank you, lord, for everything and and bless them greatly. And, uh, thank you for my opportunity to be here and share. Uh, lord, hopefully you can, you could, you could use that for your glory and we just praise you for everything. Lord, in your name, we pray, amen.
Speaker 2:Amen. Thanks again, brother. Really appreciate you, man. Thank you, hey, everybody. I don't know where you're out there listening from or watching from, but if you could please subscribe to the channel, follow us, you'll get all the notifications for all the future upcoming podcast episodes. Maybe you yourself have a really gnarly testimony or maybe you know somebody who has a good testimony. You can reach out to us through Facebook, instagram, youtube, speak Life AZ. All one word. I'll get back to you. If you're on Spotify or Apple, you can actually support the show. We could use all the monthly support we can get. If you could please comment. Whatever platform you're on, man, just type one word Jesus. It does a lot for the algorithms in the backend to help us get seen like pastor was just talking about. But until next time, we're going to continue to speak life AZ. God bless you, jesus.
Speaker 3:We're going to continue to speak. Life AZ. God bless you, jesus, jesus.