Ricky Gonzalez
Growing up, I was raised by a youth minister & a worship leader for a Dad, so you can probably imagine how my story unfolded. I had the cradle Catholic background - went to Catholic school from K-12 & attended Mass with my family every week. Something I came to realize though, was that there’s a huge difference between knowing things about someone & TRULY knowing them.
So in the midst of the first of many mental health struggles, I met Jesus for myself when I was 14 years old through a profound Eucharistic encounter at a Steubenville Youth Conference. I was in a place of deep anger, turmoil, resentment, & depression, not wanting to be there in the slightest. And yet, when Jesus drew near & passed me by in that cold auditorium that day, I remember my entire body becoming warm from the top of my head to the bottom of my feet & hearing the voice of the Lord for the first time in my life saying “Everything’s okay. I’m here. And I’ve got you.” That day changed everything for me.
A few years of wrestling later, I fully gave in & devoted my life to serve my King. Since the age of 16 I began leading worship in youth group & retreat settings, & I started song writing for the Church a few years later.
After many years of serving (& frankly cruising & growing distant with the Lord), 4 years ago I had a season of divine re-encounter with Him through the Exodus 90 fast during the Covid-19 lockdown. It was during that time that I began to see Him with fresh eyes as He started to lead me on a deep healing journey: convicting me of sin, healing past wounds, growing in deeper intimacy with Him than ever before, & freeing me from depression & anxiety (I haven't had an anxiety attack since that time, to God be the glory!). I like to say I gave my life to Jesus at the age of 14, but it wasn't until 10 years later at the age of 24 that He became the true Lord of my life; & I can confidently say I'm more in love with Him today than I've ever been.
The Lord has opened countless doors & I've had the honor to travel & minister in many different spaces & places throughout the world including leading worship at World Youth Day 2019 in Panamá with Catholic worship group EPIC the Band. I’ve also had many profound experiences serving in missions in Guatemala the last several years which have truly marked my life.
Throughout the past several years the Lord has placed a deep burden on my heart for unity amongst all Christians in His Body inspired by His prayer in John 17:20-23. I've experienced firsthand the power that worshipping as one with our brothers & sisters has had on my own life & that of many others in the Body of Christ & I believe one of the calls of my life is to build bridges across denominational lines through communal worship. The desire of my heart is that through the songs I lift & my laid down life for Jesus, sons & daughters would come to know Him in deeper intimacy & live lives of pure worship.