In Ep. 26 of What the Spirit is Saying to the Church, you will hear from notorious gang leader and drug dealer, Dr. Sonny Lara, and his amazing wife Linda about how the unconditional, incarnational love of God reaches the most unreachable.

They founded a program for troubled youths called Firehouse. No teenager can even get into the program unless they have three 'F's' on their report card. Sonny says "we want the failures, the castaways, and we want to turn them around with tough love." Hear the thrilling account of how the lives of thousands of teenagers are being turned around.

You will also hear how Linda finds the adult "failures" of society and, through a post-secondary training program called The Future Elite Academy, she  empowers them to become change leaders in their own communities.

Lastly, the bow that ties every part of their ministries together is their local church community - the Star of David Ministries. From this local base, congregants reach out into the highways and the byways of society. Through this roving Ekklesia the entire church community goes door to door every Sunday morning to bring Christ to those who would never meet Him.

Listen with joy to What the Spirit is Saying to the Church with Dr. Sonny and Linda Lara.

Bios of Dr. Sonny and Linda Lara

Drs. Sonny & Linda Lara are the Founders & Executive Directors of The Firehouse Community Development Corporation. Sonny & Linda Lara lead The Firehouse, which is a part of the City of San Jose Mayor's Gang Task Force. Providing gang intervention, crisis response and leadership to at risk youth. Firehouse provides many benefits to the community including decreased crime, homicide, and even decreased graffiti and vandalism. Providing everything from life skills to tatoo removal to community service, the Firehouse equips gang members to leave the gang lifestyle and become a functioning part of society. For the past 25 years, Sonny has been recognized as a Gang Expert by city and state officials and has received a host of awards and letters of support. He has also received media coverage for his endeavors in the community.

His wife, Dr. Linda A. Lara, has a passion to empower and train leaders who will change lives and transform nations.  She earned an AA Degree in Practical Ministry at IMPACT School of Ministry, as well as an AA Degree in Theology from Sierra Pacific Bible College, and ultimately earned her PhD in Christian Leadership from United Graduate College and Seminary International. Linda is the Founder and Director of School of Equipping Apostolic/Prophetic Lions and Lionesses (SEAPLL). She is also a talk show host on her on-line and mobile TV Show Kingdom Global Innovators, where she empowers others to Make it Happen #MIH.

Apostles Sonny and Linda Lara live in Morgan Hill, CA and have 4 children, all whom are in ministry and help them lead the San Jose church.