By Movieguide® Contributor
Sonny Sandoval of the Christian nu metal band P.O.D. isn’t afraid to share his faith from the stage.
“I’m grateful to be living out my faith. I don’t want the world not to know who my Jesus is because it’s not what the world says. You’ve been lied to, you’ve been deceived. My Jesus, He was a rebel. He’s a punk rocker. He loved the people. He healed them, and He made a way for us to have communication with God Almighty,” he told fans from the stage decades ago.
He stands by those words today and most recently shared his story through his new book Son of Southtown.
“Sonny’s life has been one lived on the edge between two worlds, a line he has attempted to walk with integrity,” a synopsis of the book reads. “Raw and uncut, this memoir tells his true story of growing up in the gritty beauty south of San Diego, his early musical influences and big breaks, his rise to fame and many hardships and struggles along the way.”
When asked by CCM Magazine how he maintained his faith while in the spotlight, he said, “I had an encounter with God that was real, so I don’t live my life always asking God for proof if God’s real you know?…I know God is real, I know he exists, and I love him, and I know that he loves me, and my relationship is with him is real. No one’s going to tell me anything different.”
Sandoval also knows that life’s troubles do not determine God’s goodness.
“Whatever I go through, it might hurt, it might be sad, it might be tragic, but I still look back and I’m like ‘oh God, you’ve been good to me, and you are good, and even though today is rough, like that’s not going to make me waver, or that’s not going to make me question who you are. And I think sometimes that’s what people in their faith, they want a genie and a bottle, you know? It’s not it’s not like that man.”
Sandoval continues to stand up for the truth of the Gospel, even if it offends people.
“The truth and love of God is not offensive to me. It shows me who I am,” he said in a recent Instagram post. “We don’t have to agree on everything to be friends, to love one another, and to walk in kindness. Love is bigger than the both of us and it is greater than the things that divide us. Telling my story in Son of Southtown is my way of opening up that conversation on love, hope, and truth for anyone who reads it. God bless you.”
Related: Rock Star Brothers Cling to Faith After Family Tragedy: ‘Proud to Love Jesus’
Fans in the comment section shared their appreciation and support. “Brother in Christ!!! I’m with you. Christ be praised!! Bold in faith. No worldly praise is needed. Only his love,” one user said. Another person said, “You are inspiring and represent love to everyone around you. We are all lucky to have you around sharing your light ✨✨✨”
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