Rick Alonzo
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SpecialtyArt In Motion - Rick Paints Biblical Images to Music. video
bioBorn in the Philippines, Rick Alonzo came to live in the United States at the age of 12. He now resides in Kingsburg, California, with his wife Michelle, daughter Faith, and sons Gideon and Jaron. God has enabled Rick to proclaim the Gospel message to a generation stimulated by sight and sound. He travels across the United States working with Christian organizations and evangelical churches of all denominations to reach the lost for Jesus Christ. He has spoken at youth pastor conventions, youth camps and conferences and for various youth groups. He has ministered through street evangelism, church services, Christian school assemblies and television programming including TBN's Leon Patillo Show and other cable programs. Rick has been privileged to perform in the secular arena as well. In public school assemblies, he shares words of hope, love and racial reconciliation. He has visited juvenile halls to counsel hurting youth. Rick has also taken part in Special Olympics ceremonies, half-time shows, various festivals and special programs at shopping malls. The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, Josh McDowell, Sandi Patti, as well as teachers, principals, pastors and Christian leaders across the nation have endorsed Rick Alonzo. He has worked alongside such Christian artists as the News Boys, Audio Adrenaline, Jaci Velasquez and others. In addition, Rick’s art is displayed in many homes and churches around the world. His passion is to share the Gospel to whomever and wherever the Lord chooses to lead him. testimonialsI came from a family of 14 and I am now residing in California. As a child, I grew up in a church atmosphere. I prayed, tithed and did all the things I thought would please God. Though I was raised with these Christian values, I was still confused and I was struggling with my life. As a child, I struggled with three questions: Who am I? When we moved to America, I continued to do what I was taught. I prayed, I gave money to the church, followed the ten commandments (at least tried to), and basically, tried to be a good person so I could go to heaven. I continued my education in the United States, where my major was Art. After college, I went back home to Fresno and joined a a non-profit organization for able and disabled children. I was hired to be an art director and a part-time martial arts and gymnastics instructor. Then on March 9th of 1992, in the middle of my art class, I started to feel depressed about the direction my life was taking. Those same questions which I had been struggling with when I was a child kept haunting me: Who am I? Here, I had finished my education, I had a good job, great friends and awesome kids to teach, yet I felt that something was missing in my life. That night, I dismissed my class early and I went home. On my way home from work, I saw three kids tagging (spray painting on a wall). I wanted to stop and tell them that God loves them and He has a wonderful plan for their life, but I couldn't stop. I was scared and confused, and not really sure what to say to them. I knew what they were going through, because I was going through the same thing. I felt like there was no hope, and I didn't have peace. As I thought about my life and those kids, I began to cry. All of a sudden my life seemed hopeless and empty. When I got home that night, I went straight to my room. I locked my door, picked up my Bible and wept before God. While praying, I asked God if He was real, and if He was real, where was He? I asked Him to give me something to share to those who don't know Him, and what He wanted me to do with these natural gifts that He had given me. God answered me very quickly that night and He took me through every step of my life to show me the plan that He had for me. I began to weep as He took me back to the time when I was four years old and sketching my favorite heroes; the Lone Ranger and Jesus (symbolically, the Lone Ranger represents the secular world and Jesus being the truth). He then revealed to me why I had come to America, completed school, and why I had taken jobs that required me to work with others and overcome my shyness. He showed me that He has given me a gift in art, martial arts, gymnastics and drama to show how one can glorify God through their natural gifts. I realize now that every hardship I had overcome was in preparation for Gods work. God also told me to use my fingers to illustrate the Gospel through music and to incorporate these natural gifts with it. That night my view of life and God became clearer and my life changed dramatically. Finally, I knew that God loved me and that He had a plan for my life. As I grew in the Lord, those three questions which I had been struggling with were answered: Who am I?-The Bible says I am a child of God created in His image. What is my purpose in life?-My purpose in life is to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. To no longer say, 'My will be done,' but, 'God, your will be done.' Make me the kind of person you want me to be, not the kind of person I want to be. Where am I going after I die?-After this life, I am going to be with my Lord Jesus in heaven, where He will embrace me and where He will wipe all of my tears away. I realize that what I had been missing in my life was Jesus, and I recognized that a person is not saved by works but by Gods grace through faith in Christ Jesus. Its not what I can do, but what Christ has already done for me on the cross. |
