WHITE CENTER, Wash. -- Victory Outreach in White Center is a church where sneakers, tattoos and gang members are always welcome.
White Center is known for having gang activity. Just this week 53 drug-related arrests were made as part of King County's anti-gang initiative. Victory Outreach's youth pastor, Sam Heredia says that number makes him realize much more needs to be done.
"There are a lot of young people living in rough areas, infested with drugs and gangs," said Heredia.
Brandon Chipps knows what that's like. Once self admittedly full of hate and violence, Chipps instead spent Wednesday night setting up props at a church in White Center. If not there, he says, "I'd probably be in prison, either in prison or dead."
In this church sneakers and tattoos are welcome, as are rival gang members outfitted in their colors. The 25-year-old pastor says the reason he can get teens here is because he makes it clear, everyone is welcome.
"If my calling is to make a difference in Seattle, then that's what I'll do through love and compassion," Heredia.
Four months and counting, the former gang member struggles to stay away the life he's lived since he was 12.
"It took me 18 years of being beat down and beat down on the streets and in prison. I pretty much wasted my whole life," said Chipps.
Now Chipps has hope. That outcome is why Heredia recruits people like Chipps to Victory Outreach's weekly service on Wednesday nights.
"You bring them here, to a positive place. They're around positive people," said Heredia.
He says that changes their mentality. Instead of idolizing things from the streets, they look up to people who spend their time reaching out helping people.
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