OUR STORY
Meet Pastor Jesus Ruiz and his wife Wanda Ruiz, co-founders of Leaving the Streets Ministry.
Their passion and motivation stems from their own experiences and desire to change young peoples’ lives. Jesus and Wanda have been in the shoes of the people they’re devoted to helping - and through hard work and God’s Grace they changed their paths to see a brighter future.
Pastor Jesus Ruiz followed a familiar path of gang leadership and drug trafficking that led him to a total of 16 years behind bars. It was there that he accepted the Gospel and realized his calling to help anyone facing the same struggles and choices that he had. Now a pastor and mentor, Jesus leads by example to offer hope, motivation, and immense compassion.
During Jesus’s years of incarceration, Wanda faced great hardships of her own, including losing custody of her six children to the Department of Social Services. When times got hopeless and she wanted to give up, Wanda found strength and perseverance through Jesus Christ.
Over the years, their struggles and accomplishments have resulted in an even deeper commitment to God, each other, and their community. Wanda and Jesus live their mission every day through their devotion to Leaving the Streets Ministry.