God graffiti: Chicago man mentors troubled youth

By Asaiah Logan –

Aric Diaz used to get arrested for spraying graffiti on city walls. Today he is encouraged everywhere he goes doing his street art.

That’s because Aric Diaz, known on the streets as simply AD, now does Christian art.

“People come by saying, I love your work,” AD says. “They smile from ear to ear. UPS drivers, neighbors, everybody.”

In addition to beautifying walls in poor neighborhoods with an uplifting message, Aric Diaz leadsseveral outreaches and mentoring programs for trouble youth.

When he got saved, Aric Diaz quit the cans. Repenting of his sins meant he would leave the spray cans and graffiti behind. He didn’t want to get busted by the cops anymore.

 “I was getting arrested,” he said. “The police officers took my spray tips and threw them.”

But a counselor at a Christian youth camp saw his ability as a gift and challenged him to take up the cans for the cause of Christ.

“They told me, we want to put spray cans back in your hands,” AD recalls. “And they gave me 1 Corinthians 10:31: So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. That verse changed everything. I put the spray paint back in my trunk, and now I do it for the Lord.”

Soon he was being commissioned to dazzle drab walls and bring joy to Chicago southside.

“You see browns and grays everywhere, and then suddenly, life,” he says.

Gospel Graffiti Crew is a group that unites Christian artists for the cause of spreading the gospel instead of spreading gang culture.

AD now manages volunteers for Chicago’s Grit Outreach for Youth, leading art projects and mentoring students in schools across the city. 

One of his students said, “I wouldn’t be getting my associate’s degree straight out of high school if it wasn’t for my mentor teaching me to see life differently. Having AD as a mentor is one of the most grateful things ever. He’s a great mentor.”

For AD, what used to be self-serving is now about community, painting positive messages and sharing hope with the next generation. “With the social media generation, there’s no room for weakness,” he said. “There are a lot of fronts, a lot of facades. Those don’t come down until they know you care. Then we can meet that need and show them the love of Christ.”

A passerby praised his work. “I hope he does more of these,” he said. “It brings a positive message of hope, of light, sharing the gospel.”

Reporting CBN.