Teenage Hard Rock & Head Banging
“You are what you listen to,” the saying goes. For Xavier Ramirez, that was hard rock music. The angst and edge appealed to his teenage sensibilities. (Stereotypes exist for a reason.)
Happenstance & Hanging Out
But life took an unexpected turn at 15 years old. Like many headbanging teenagers, Xavier was navigating the complexities of adolescence. And that’s when an invitation dropped in his lap to hang out at a youth event at Puembo Church in Quito, Ecuador.
He’s not entirely sure what made him go, although teenage boys rarely make plans even 5 minutes into the future.
Handed A Letter
Xavier’s decision (or indecision) to attend would forever alter the course of his life. At that event, Xavier felt something he had never experienced before—the unconditional love of the Father.
Each youth in attendance received a letter from their parents. To his surprise, Xavier's biological father, wrote him a heartfelt letter filled with encouragement. This moment, combined with the overwhelming sense of Jesus’s love poured out for him, marked the beginning of a new chapter in Xavier's life.
Headed In A New Direction
Soon after, Xavier started attending Puembo Church. Two Sunday’s a month turned to three. Then four. Even more shocking than a teenager willingly going to church—Xavier was going by himself.
His parents didn’t attend. In fact, they didn’t even take him there or pick him up. Each week, he’d walk to the bus stop and find his own way there and back.
Xavier’s newfound faith began to transform him from the inside out. He joined the worship team, where his passion for music found a new purpose. “I used to be really shy, and I didn't like to play or sing in front of people,” Xavier recalls. “But that was something the Lord changed in me. I understood that I was not playing for myself or the people—I was playing for Him.”
Hard To Ignore
Xavier’s mom was the first to notice. It wasn’t what caught her eye but what caught her ear. She heard the distinct shift in Xavier’s playlist. Heavy rock gave way to worship songs that filled their home and car.
But it wasn’t just his taste in music that changed; it was his demeanor, his joy, and his unwavering commitment to his new church family. Without Xavier ever asking, his parents began to attend Puembo Church. Xavier’s transformed life was their invitation.
A few months later, Xavier and his mother were baptized together, a powerful testament to the permeating love of Jesus transforming an entire family.
A Heart To Serve
In 2019, Xavier joined the Puembo Church student mission trip to Chicago, an experience that left an indelible mark on his life.
Now 22, Xavier continues to serve his church and community. He works as an insurance agent while studying business administration, but his heart remains deeply connected to Puembo Church. He serves in the worship team and mentors younger students, guiding them in their own faith journeys. His involvement in medical brigades and student mission trips further exemplifies his commitment to living out his faith in practical, impactful ways.
“You are what you listen to,” the saying goes. For Xavier Ramirez, that was hard rock music. The angst and edge appealed to his teenage sensibilities. (Stereotypes exist for a reason.)
Happenstance & Hanging Out
But life took an unexpected turn at 15 years old. Like many headbanging teenagers, Xavier was navigating the complexities of adolescence. And that’s when an invitation dropped in his lap to hang out at a youth event at Puembo Church in Quito, Ecuador.
He’s not entirely sure what made him go, although teenage boys rarely make plans even 5 minutes into the future.
Handed A Letter
Xavier’s decision (or indecision) to attend would forever alter the course of his life. At that event, Xavier felt something he had never experienced before—the unconditional love of the Father.
Each youth in attendance received a letter from their parents. To his surprise, Xavier's biological father, wrote him a heartfelt letter filled with encouragement. This moment, combined with the overwhelming sense of Jesus’s love poured out for him, marked the beginning of a new chapter in Xavier's life.
Headed In A New Direction
Soon after, Xavier started attending Puembo Church. Two Sunday’s a month turned to three. Then four. Even more shocking than a teenager willingly going to church—Xavier was going by himself.
His parents didn’t attend. In fact, they didn’t even take him there or pick him up. Each week, he’d walk to the bus stop and find his own way there and back.
Xavier’s newfound faith began to transform him from the inside out. He joined the worship team, where his passion for music found a new purpose. “I used to be really shy, and I didn't like to play or sing in front of people,” Xavier recalls. “But that was something the Lord changed in me. I understood that I was not playing for myself or the people—I was playing for Him.”
Hard To Ignore
Xavier’s mom was the first to notice. It wasn’t what caught her eye but what caught her ear. She heard the distinct shift in Xavier’s playlist. Heavy rock gave way to worship songs that filled their home and car.
But it wasn’t just his taste in music that changed; it was his demeanor, his joy, and his unwavering commitment to his new church family. Without Xavier ever asking, his parents began to attend Puembo Church. Xavier’s transformed life was their invitation.
A few months later, Xavier and his mother were baptized together, a powerful testament to the permeating love of Jesus transforming an entire family.
A Heart To Serve
In 2019, Xavier joined the Puembo Church student mission trip to Chicago, an experience that left an indelible mark on his life.
Now 22, Xavier continues to serve his church and community. He works as an insurance agent while studying business administration, but his heart remains deeply connected to Puembo Church. He serves in the worship team and mentors younger students, guiding them in their own faith journeys. His involvement in medical brigades and student mission trips further exemplifies his commitment to living out his faith in practical, impactful ways.
