Julian Santos stands in the entryway of Balance Life Ministries church in Park City, a congregation that began in his home two years ago. Growth required more room and the church moved to Huntsville Highway. Santos serves as the minister and is a licensed counselor
Julian Santos stands in the entryway of Balance Life Ministries church in Park City, a congregation that began in his home two years ago. Growth required more room and the church moved to Huntsville Highway. Santos serves as the minister and is a licensed counselor
Courtesy photo
The acrylic semi-transparent floral and is one of three different flowers in a collection. For highlight details he used a stencil.
Courtesy photo
Julian Santos found therapy through art while living in San Juan, Puerto Rico, using various mediums, including plaster.
"You cannot hope to build a better world without improving the individuals. To that end, each of us must work for his own improvement ...” said Marie Curie, a Polish-French physicist and chemist and Nobel Prize recipient who lived from 1867-1934.
Julian Santos never met Marie Curie, but he shares the philosophy of her words in that he has worked for his own improvement and has the desire to help others. The journey of his life and recognition of the need for personal improvement began in San Juan, Puerto Rico and has since brought him to Fayetteville, which he said is God’s doing.
His childhood was spent in fear of an abusive father and an intuition to protect his mother, going so far as keeping knives hidden in his bedroom. At a young age, he witnessed his dad fire six rounds at his mom in a small room. Thankfully she wasn’t harmed. “That was the first time I realized God was protecting me,” Santos shared.
At times, Santos said he ran with the wrong crowd, and at one point realized he was becoming like his dad by overindulging in alcohol. Scrapes with the law and mental health issues became a way of life for him. “I was often reminded of God’s presence, in spite of my actions,” Santos said.
After marrying, he witnessed the birth of twin babies who tragically didn’t survive, which led in part to him and his wife divorcing. Life for Santos hit rock bottom. He said a judge saw potential in him that no one else could see. He earned a college degree and found therapy through art incorporating various mediums, including food art.
His work is on display in government offices and homes in San Juan. Santos restored wood benches that looked as though they were beyond repair. The caption showing the before and after photograph reads: “Thus ministered the Lord to me while restoring my courtyard benches: your glory at the end shall be greater than the first.”
Later, he remarried. His wife Michelle had a son and daughter, who Santos helped raise as his own. Life seemed to improve. However, they realized time had come to leave San Juan and start a new life in America. Both acknowledge they have faced challenges. Michelle said when she was a young girl, a minister told her, “Your future is outside of Puerto Rico.”
Santos brought his artistic talent, his desire to mentor young people and his love for God with him to the United States. Today he owns Artifex LLC, a licensed and insured contractor, specializing in older home restoration, including professional painting, drywall and Venetian plaster work.
Almost two years ago, Santos established a bilingual church in their home that has grown. Balance Life Ministries is now located in Park City at 2900 Huntsville Highway, between John Deere and Honda. Sunday services begin at 11:30 a.m.
He has remodeled the building that includes a large meeting room for services, an office, kitchen, added restrooms, and a classroom. In addition to serving as minister, Santos is a licensed counselor, who truly understands life’s challenges.
Future plans are to provide a recreation room for young people and offer classes on home improvements. Santos said young people need to learn such things as how to hang drywall, make plumbing repairs, all aspects of home maintenance. He said this will enable them to provide help to their families and to learn a trade. Other classes are planned. Likewise, he mentors young people and shares God’s love with them, as well as the Fayetteville community.
His business card includes Proverbs 23:18. The verse reads: “There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.” He truly has worked to improve his life and is helping build a better world by offering hope to others.
