He glows : Javier Mondragon

he glows

JAVIER MONDRAGON

By Jennie Renner | Photo by Rachael Smith

Javier Mondragon was born in Mexico and was raised by a single mother. He got involved in a gang at a young age and began drinking and using drugs. His family struggled financially, and he grew up not having much hope that things would ever get better.

“I remember growing up in that community,” said Mondragon. “The streets were not paved, there was a lot of graffiti everywhere, trash everywhere, and I remember one day, I was probably like 14 years old, looking around and thinking ‘this is me’. This is who I am. And there is no way out.” Mondragon’s brother showed him there was a way out by introducing him to the idea that God had a purpose for his life. He began reading the Bible and felt called to help other people see how God could change their lives, too. After graduating from seminary, where he met his wife Annette, they were both called to Fort Wayne to serve in a local ministry. In 2008, when Mondragon was just 27 years old, he founded Bridge of Grace Compassionate Ministries Center — “a faith-based community development organization building thriving and sustainable neighborhoods in southeast Fort Wayne.” Mondragon explained that Bridge of Grace focuses on neighborhood revitalization because he knows from firsthand experience how a person’s environment can affect their outlook on life. “There’s a way you can change your future and it’s all about choices,” said Mondragon. “The future can be different even if you had struggles and difficulties when you grew up…I’m passionate about that.” Walking around his neighborhood, Mondragon makes a point of taking the time to get to know his neighbors. He said it is so important to really get to know people so you can understand what they are going through, and he encourages others to do the same. “First, try to learn more about why people are in poverty,” said Mondragon. “Second, try to build relationships with somebody who’s going through it.” In 2013, in the early days of his ministry, Mondragon had access to community leader Ian Rolland once a quarter. He said he tried to learn as much as he could from him. One time Rolland received an award from Young Leaders of Northeast Indiana (YLNI), and at the program, he was asked, “What would you tell a roomful of young people…What’s your advice to them?” Mondragon said he will never forget Rolland’s response: “I would tell them to open the door.” And then Rolland went on to explain: “When I worked at Lincoln Financial, I would get out of the office at five and my house was on the north side. And so, what I did for many years, instead of going to the north, I would drive my car south. And then I would drive into a neighborhood and when I saw a family in the neighborhood or children playing, I would stop my car. I would open the door and I would get out of my car. And I would go talk to the child; talk to the family on the porch. And I would introduce myself and get to know them. And I would know their story. I would ask for their story.’” What Mr. Rolland said that day had a profound impact on Mondragon. He said that if others are not called into ministry like he was, there are other ways they can help. “I would say that if you’re not called to do this, at least build a relationship, a bridge with people… so that you can understand their story,” he said. a