It’s a story of ex-cons, who are now giving back to their community.
They're part of a home-grown church.
It started prayer in a garage.
It's grown into a team of believers, who set out into crime-ridden neighborhoods, and do-good.
CBS47’s Lemor Abrams followed them as they went door to door and has their story.
This is one side of Sanger where criminals run the streets. But there's also this side...ex-criminals intervening to make a difference. “We were wondering if we can mow your lawn? Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Doing the dirty work for the less-able. Mowing lawns…and filling up gas tanks. Moving a woman by the name of Claire to tears. “These people are beautiful, how could there be so many here? At the right time,” she said. They're do-gooders...who put their troubled pasts behind them and set out into crime-ridden neighborhoods. When I do it, I know what it does for them, because I've been there,” said Church Member Liz Ramirez. Their source of inspiration: a local church group... that doesn't discriminate. “Recently, a rival gang member started attending the church as well and he actually was someone who stabbed my husband and they both get along now,” said Church Member Veronica Benitez. The former rival gang members distribute food, gifts, even "home makeovers"...yes like that show. But for men like Juan Ramos, it doesn't get more real than this.
“Now I can walk as a free man. My chains are broken,” said Church Member Juan Ramos.
Ramos has been in and out of a few state prisons, for drug and other crimes.
Until someone showed him another side of life.
"My pastor instills this into our hearts, don't be satisfied where you're at. Keep pushing,” said Ramos.
His pastor is the leader of the church “Life and Destiny.
He too is rooted in the mean streets of Sanger.
“I had a gambling addiction, drug addiction, alcohol. Because of that, I lost everything,” said Paul Zavala.
Paul Zavala and his wife and kids struggled to eat.
“Just thinking that he was killed...not coming home...so I know what it's like to be on the other side,” said Roxanne.
Paul was locked up for years. But when he got out, he and his wife formed the church.
I decided…I tried everything else, why not give God a shot,” he said.
Looking back Zavala says he missed out on a lot while he was up to no good, and paying it forward was always in his heart.
Sanger Mayor Joshua Mitchell shows up to a lot of their gatherings. He believes in the group, and hopes they encourage others to give up criminal life altogether.