A time to die

Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 says " There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die," For Joey Sandoval his time was December 14th. As the news article read, "15-year old shot and killed. A gang related murder occurred in broad daylight".
Joey is pictured here on the far right, he was only 15. This pic was taken just a month before at the YWAM base. For the past year urban staff had been reaching out to Joey, he was a tough. He had been through alot, his life story heartbreaking. But God was at work in Joey's life. There was a reason for the season we had with Joey, he needed to hear. So he did. He heard because there were those who were willing to press in, no matter what. Joey met Jesus through the amazing staff I am blessed to have, and Jesus met Joey in an amazing personal way that day, in broad daylight, because it was time. I believe.
Ecclesiastes 3:8 says there is "a time for love and time for hate, a time for war and a time for peace." Joey was in a battle, like most of the youth we are working with. He had experienced his share of hate and that is what drove him. God spoke and said this past year, it was Joey's time. Joey's time for love. That is what we do. We bring love. In a city where there is a terrible war, a war that is causing kids to kill kids, we pray for a time for peace. For Joey, that time is now. May he rest in peace.