Wow.  It's such a difficult life to grow up looking for your tribe and accepting violence in exchange for belonging.  How deeply we all need love and acceptance. ❤

Your films help remind me that there is no death but only of the body. Lost my 22 year old son, 6 years ago. These help my hurting heart.

So many adults are wounded children. This man speaks truth and is living his divine purpose.
Love & all blessings

The thought of that beautiful little boy all alone in his life - in the midst of a family - absolutely breaks my heart.

The poor little boy that needed love from his parents and had no help to grow up.  How many others like him are in prison, lost and alone and needing to find the God that is within us all.  Bless you John Paul.  May God give you peace.

I lost my only child, my 23 old old son and my entire life. These help remind me that my son is alive . It’s just this body that died. It’s still hard for me but there’s hope that I’ll be with him one day.

John, I grew up about the same time as you - in West Long Beach, Ca. Gangs were a way of life and so easy to be a part of. They made us feel wanted, a home away from home. My closest childhood friend, Henry Castillo, was shot and killed at 14 when he opened his front door. (Gangs were after his older brother). We hung out at Silverado Park day and night. For some reason, a police officer named Leslie (who used to drive his car right up onto the grass to make us scatter) took an interest in me and my running buddy, Mark. What he did was just show some interest in us. It was the beginning of us turning toward a brighter life. Soon, both of us were going to activities at the boys' club and meeting new "family" members. I am forever grateful. Thank you for sharing your experiences and your heart. I am so moved by your blessed awakening and can only imagine the countless lives you have positively touched. Blessings brother 🙏

I cried at this story realizing what fragile wounded creatures we are, how much suffering there is, how our wounds form us and we are invited to out grown them. How we all crave connection, understanding and love.

Jesus is the man.....in this crazy world only his unconditional love and presence in my life keeps me strong and keeps me grounded.  Amazing testimony,  thank you.

These videos have been such a crucial part of my grief journey. I’m 23 and my father passed in May. It’s felt like the wind was knocked out of me and my whole world has been rewritten. In the quiet times where my heart becomes anxious and my spirit is heavy and unsure, I remind myself of these stories. Not only do they bring comfort, but it gives me permission to hope. I welcome all grief advice from anyone who sees this! Thank you🩷.

He didn’t physically die and have an experience but rather died to his old ways. Great inspiration and story!

Just lost another brother.These interviews always give me hope we’ll see each other again someday. Thank you

Every morning, when I’m doing my make up, I watch one of these videos to start my day off on a positive note. This one made me cry so I had to fix my makeup and do it over again 🙂

When you said you arrived at the men’s home and the guys there hugged you and told you they loved you, I lost it. So beautiful… 🙏🏼♥️🙏🏼

John Paul's personal journey and bravery to give himself in service to God, Jesus, and other men who are suffering, in order to help them---is very heart-warming.  May his Service continue to be a light for others.

This started as a little boy who just wanted to be loved and belong to a family. Fathers love, support, embrace your kids.

This made me cry, especially the moment when he comes into the mens home and gets a hug ❤ I was never in a gang, never hurt people, never went to prison, and never did drugs - but my family treated me like dirt, just like your family did it with you. I know how alone you feel in the world. I am 45 now and I still have no place I can call "home", no "family", no "friends", no job... but I have Jesus. And I hope that God brings me home soon.

I'm an old woman of 64 and I don't believe I have ever in my life related more to anyone as I have with this man. Thank you for sharing his story on your channel.

What a sad history but also incredible redemption. Thank you for telling your story and so glad you are in a much happier place. ❤

Anthony Chene is my favorite channel to hear stories, from each unique perspective. I happened to run across John Paul Martin’s interview on Lyfted yesterday. Then here he is today, on my favorite channel. God Bless all who are watching 🙏❤️

What happened to him happened to me but thought AA fellowship.

Been sober 21 years now & helped a lot of people as well 🙏