Transformed!
My name is Dr. Johnny Vega. I was born in the Bronx in New York but moved to Lancaster PA when I was five years old in 1980. My mother and stepfather relocated to Lancaster PA to find a better life for our family. Growing up I was a very good kid, very active into sports and got good grades. I will give a little background about my family. There were the hard workers that went to work every day like my mom and dad. And then there was the other side of my family, my uncles, who I looked up to and idolized. They were what you called street guys, hustlers and drug dealers. Even though I got good grades and played sports I was always fascinated by the street life with its fast money, women, power and respect. I began following in my uncles footsteps and began a life of crime. In my teens I lead a double life, I got great grades, was an excellent athlete but also sold drugs full time. During this time period my family got saved one by one, accepting Jesus as their Lord and Savior. I would go to church sometimes to please my mother and every time it never failed, I would cry like a baby. Looking back I realize it was the Holy Spirit convicting me. I made it all the way through high school still knee deep in the street life and even obtained a full scholarship to Millersville university. Unfortunately, all college was to me was new clientele for the drugs I sold. In 1999 I decided to take a semester off and open up a club and at that time I also joined a gang. Life as I new it drastically changed. By the time 2000 came around I owned 2 clubs, was a leader of a gang and making thousands of dollars a week selling drugs. One night as we partied the night away in my club all the doors where kicked in and federal agents came rushing in yelling where is Johnny Vega!!!! They came in the front door and my security escorted me out of the back door. I was thrown in the back of a car and we sped away. Now I was on the run from the federal government. I ran for 6 months and eventually was caught in a high speed chase in York, PA. After spending 11 months in York County prison I received a letter in the mail. When I opened it the letter read "United States government verses Johnny Vega". I knew I was in trouble. When my lawyer came to see me he expressed that this was not a joke and that I was being charged with conspiracy to distribute 10000 ecstasy pills. I was facing 20 years in federal prison. My lawyer said my only other option was to plead out to 98 months causing me to do almost 8 years in jail. After taking the 8 years I went back to my cell and cried and pleaded with God. I told God if he got me through the next 8 year I would serve him for the rest of my life. That day I offered myself as a living sacrifice to God. I was in 9 different jails and 4 different states but praise God I was released in December 2008. I hit the ground running and made a vow that I would have a profound affect on the today's generation. My goal was to make sure they don't make the same choices I made. I became boys program director for Teen Haven, ministering to inner city youth. Soon after that I started J-Arts which is my own non profit organization mentoring inner city youth. I also joined forces with Dr. Nashon Walker and the Hoodrise organization. This past year I have traveled all over the country speaking to youth and, praise God, I received an Honorary doctorate degree. I'm truly excited and blessed to have the privilege of giving my testimony and change the course of so many young lives and this is only the beginning
