Meet MaryAnn Murrieta

We had the good fortune of connecting with MaryAnn Murrieta and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi MaryAnn, what do you attribute your success to?
My relationship with God.
For most of my life I ran on self will. I did what I wanted, when I wanted and had no regard for God. My best choices in life led me down a dark road and for 27 years I drank and used drugs. It wasn’t until the senseless murder of my daughter did I surrender to God and start to live my life differently. So there is no doubt that without God I would not be where I am now and have the 2nd chance I do at a better life.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I grew up in Los Angeles in a town named Pico Rivera. My parents Richard and Grace were married for 52 years before I lost my mom to Covid. I am married to a wonderful man. I have one sister. I have children and grandbabies that I adore, however life was not always as good as it is now.

At a young age I was intrigued by that gang lifestyle. I had a grandpa that was a pachuco, my dad that was a part of the lifestyle and by the time I reached 18 I found myself caught up with the drinking and using drugs. I loved that life and I was comfortable there and truly felt my lifestyle was harmless. I also thought it was normal to claim a neighborhood, get chased or shot at by other neighborhoods and the truth is nobody could have told me different.
I started to have my children and at the same time my addiction grew and my love for that life grew also. From 1987 to 1997 I had my kids. My apartment was always a party spot. I had active gang members around me all the time and my kids were being drug through the mud, but because I wasn’t going to jail, getting my kids taken away or sticking a needle in my arm, I thought I was ok.

In countless situations my addiction came first. As I was raising my children I often made horrible choices that affected them in a negative way. That so-called harmless lifestyle led to a full blown addiction leading me to abandon my morals, values and responsibilities. No matter what happened in my life I always went back to the drinking, using drugs and that neighborhood. I didn’t know how to not run to those things.

I have always believed in God. At a young age my Tata would take me to church on Sunday. I had two aunts one on my dads side of the family, my Aunt Maria who led me to the Lord at about 12 and my Aunt Gilda on my mom’s side of the family who I would watch as she served the Lord. She is the first person that sat with me and opened the bible with me. It was then that I knew God truly knew me and my struggles, and He loved me flaws and all. In fact He died for me!

I’d love to tell you that that was my turning point but it was not even close. I continued down a path of destruction, experienced many devastating betrayals and had my heart broken several times. And each and every time my drinking and using was my remedy.

Then on December 18, 2011 my 20 year old daughter is senselessly murdered. I had to look her 5 yr old son in the eyes and tell him his mom was not coming home, she was in heaven.

I am so sad to say that that is the only thing that brought me to my knees. It took me loosing my beautiful daughter to finally wake up and stop all the insanity in my life.

A few years before my daughters murder I had met Brian and Laura Warth. I was always in and out of church, and the same with NA, AA and CR. I would get clean but could never stay clean. There was something different when I hear Pastor Brian preach. It was like I really “heard” him.

October 2012 there is a grand opening of Pastor Brian and Laura’s church, Chapel of Change. I did everything possible to be there. There was an alter call that day and I rededicate my life!! I finally surrendered!
I have been apart of that church ever since. I am thirteen years clean. I am on the board at Chapel of Change and I have served in several ministries. The Lord has opened the doors for me to share my testimony in many places.
A huge blessing happened last year when I was offered a position as a Prison Ministry Manager for Prison Fellowship the largest Prison Ministry in the world. I accepted that position and talk about the Lord having a plan and a purpose for me. (Jeremiah 29:11) Today I am honored to go into men and women prisons bringing the hope of Jesus in the darkest places.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Shout out to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, my awesome husband Eddie, my kids Richie, Frankie, Alexis, Jayden & Will. Shout out to my besties that have stood by my side. I honestly don’t know where my life would be without my Pastors Brian and Laura Warth and my Chapel of Change family. I’d also like to shout out my new Prison Fellowship family.

Youtube: https://youtu.be/VgaiH93-8bU?si=Tvdv8QCXEKeYh6Jk