Joey Brunache

Joey grew up as the youngest of eight brothers and one sister.  Although Joey had his mom and dad in the home and a number of siblings, Joey never felt as if he belonged.

His dad was around – he provided for the family – but he wasn’t really around.  He didn’t give Joey attention or bother to teach him about being a man.  What Joey did learn from his dad was a duplicitous lifestyle.  His father was both a pastor and a drug dealer.

Joey’s mom tried her hardest to keep her family together.  She was always in church, always praying, always trying to turn things around.  His mom worked two jobs to try to provide, but there were times when the family went without food.

Lacking a deep connection with his parents and siblings, Joey was led to the street life.  The people on the street were showing him “love”.  As never before, Joey felt like he belonged and that people cared for him.  He left school during his freshman year and got deeper into life on the streets.  By age 14 he was dealing drugs. 

Shortly after turning to the streets, Joey’s mom kicked him out.  She knew he was dealing drugs and skipping school.  Beyond that, Joey was disrespectful and disobedient at home. 

After leaving his parents’ home, Joey moved in with his older brother and his family.  While he had a roof over his head, his brother made Joey pay his own way.  Joey had to contribute towards food costs and household bills.  Joey had never had responsibility like this before.  Although these responsibilities helped Joey feel like a man, it also reinforced his feeling that no one in his family cared for him. 

During this time of wandering, Joey often played basketball with others from his neighborhood.  A middle aged white guy, Steve, started showing up and playing with the boys.  As Steve kept coming around, Joey became more intrigued.  Steve wanted to take Joey out and spend time with him.  Steve showed Joey a type of love and unconditional acceptance that he hadn’t even found on the streets. 

Steve invited Joey to Urban Youth Impact.  Joey started hanging out there during what would have been his sophomore year.  Alongside Steve, Joey began volunteering at outreach events and during the afterschool program. 

Gaining a new sense of purpose, Joey tried to push aside life on the streets and again started attending school in his junior year. 

That year, as Joey was volunteering at Urban Youth Impact’s Back 2 School Blast, Pastor Chris Tress (of Bow Down Church) invited him into a particular room at the Blast and Chris asked Joey if he knew Jesus.  Joey said he knew Him but not really.  Chris prayed for Joey and with Joey.  From that moment on, Joey knew his life had changed.

Still, Joey was pulled to the streets, doing “dirt” with his younger half-brother for whom he was caring at the time.  But from that point on, anytime Joey did wrong, he was deeply convicted.

Not long after he became a Christian, two of Joey’s brothers died.  One was killed in gang violence and the other committed suicide because of the pressure of life on the streets.  During his senior year of high school, Joey’s half-brother was convicted as a minor and was locked up for two years.  Joey was left feeling alone again. 

After he lost his brothers, Joey decided to let go of the things that were weighing him down and hindering him from doing right.  He got back on track during his senior year, and was even in an accountability group with other kids from Urban Youth Impact.  Though he was good for a time, he started back down the wrong path.  Just before graduation, he was charged with carrying a concealed weapon.  Because of two prior arrests (one for drugs and another for burglary), the Judge sentenced Joey to serve one year in jail. 

Confined to jail and off the streets, Joey totally surrendered.  He didn’t want any more of the street life.  When Joey got out, he started attending more Bible studies and renewed his commitment to live right.    

Demonstrating a true change of heart, Joey was hired on as a mentor for Urban Youth Impact’s Leadership Academy.  His transformation was accelerated while around the students.  Being around the kids motivated Joey to keep on the straight and narrow.   Seeing kids pursuing their dreams made him want to pursue his own dreams.  He went back to school and started playing semi-pro football, a sport that he had been passionate about since his youth. 

Currently Joey is the 5^th grade mentor for The Leadership Academy, a sophomore at the University of Phoenix studying sports management and communications, and a faithful participant in a local arena football league.  Joey feels bad for the years of trouble his dealt mom and now helps his mom by providing assistance for her rent and groceries.