On November 12, 1939, Sonny Arguinzoni was born to Manuel and Georgina Arguinzoni in Brooklyn, New York. The youngest of two children, Sonny was raised in a God-fearing home and was a child of New York. He grew up playing “stick ball,” “kick the can,” climbing fire escapes and leaping across the rooftops of the tenement buildings of his neighborhood. He would attend church with his parents and Brooklyn Dodgers games at Ebbett’s Field with the Police Athletic League. Sonny always loved and enjoyed music.

As he entered his adolescent years, the bustling New York streets began to lure him and his friends. Sonny eventually succumbed to the toxic environment of inner-city Brooklyn and his teen years became filled with petty crime and substance abuse. By the time Sonny was 21 years old, his drug abuse spiraled out of control. His parents asked him to leave their home. He was in and out of jail numerous times. His mother was desperate to see a miracle for her son. One day, when Sonny came home to their apartment, through tough love Georgina denied him entrance and said, “Sonny I am praying for you, God told me you were going to be saved.

As Sonny dove deeper into addiction, he had an unsuccessful treatment attempt at the Federal Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky. Sometime before Teen Challenge was established, David Wilkerson reached Sonny and drove him to his house in Pennsylvania to help him kick his heroin habit. An old acquaintance recruited him to the Teen Challenge center in Brooklyn, New York, founded by David Wilkerson. His withdrawals were too strong, and Sonny leaped out of David Wilkerson’s car to return to the streets. Sonny was not ready at that time, but now God had orchestrated a God-given and life-long friendship with Nicky Cruz. Nicky took time with Sonny and trusted God for his full recovery.

Through the Teen Challenge ministry, Sonny experienced a supernatural deliverance from his addiction and was filled with the Holy Spirit. From that time forward, Sonny would never return to drugs. He reconciled with his family and entered a journey that would not only change his life but countless millions around the world.

Under the instruction of David Wilkerson, Sonny found himself in La Puente, California. He enrolled as a student in Latin American Bible College, 2,500 miles away from Brooklyn, New York. Despite dropping out of school at a young age, he was now attending Bible classes and pursuing a ministry education. Through religious periodicals and newsletters, Sonny became well known at the time because of his miraculous conversion. He brought an East Coast swagger to the LABI campus with his leather jacket and Brooklyn swagger.

It was not long before a young student with great hopes to do full time missions work in Mexico, named Julie Rivera, took notice of Sonny through a Teen Challenge newsletter. The newsletter stated: “Please pray for this boy, he needs our prayers. God has his hands on him; I believe God wants to use him mightily.”

Julie said, “I began to pray for him daily, never thinking I would meet him. When I first saw him, I could not believe it was the same young man I was praying for! After a few weeks back at school I noticed I had problems studying. I started to think about him almost constantly. I actually prayed that God would remove him from my heart. I viewed him as a distraction at the time.” God spoke in the early hours of prayer one day. “Sonny is going to be your husband. Are you willing even though it is going to be difficult?” She responded, “Of course Lord, I am willing.”

Two years later, Sonny and Julie were married. Their love was strong and together they embarked on a lifelong journey in ministry.

In the beginning, Sonny sought the Lord for direction in all that he did. He always desired to be in the perfect will of God. He deeply felt this was critical for the future. In the beginning, Sonny felt that it made sense to return to New York City to start a church. Soon after, he began to feel a sadness and realized he was in the wrong place. Upon returning to Los Angeles, he exited the plane and felt the power of God so strong, he began to tremble. God spoke to him, “Where you thought you couldn’t do it, is exactly the place where I’m going to do it through you.”

After further prayer and separation, Sonny now knew what God wanted him to do. God directed him to start a church that the world had never seen before, a church for ex-addicts and their families. Julie was surprised to know that they would no longer be pastoring in New York because God had called them to Los Angeles. This is the place where Victory Outreach International would eventually be birthed. From a humble beginning in East Los Angeles’ Aliso Village housing projects, the ministry grew to 700 churches and ministries in 35 nations of the world.

The beginning of the ministry was extremely humble. Sonny and Julie, with little to no support opened their home to people who were struggling with addiction. They spent the next 18 years living with men and women who were delivered from drugs, alcohol, prison and various other life controlling issues. Sonny and Julie referred to this unique group as “Treasures Out of Darkness,” based on a prophetic word given to Sonny.

At a time when Sonny was discouraged, he was invited to a church service. With a hungry heart, Sonny was hoping to hear from God once again for the ministry. After a long service, Sonny had not received anything specific from God. Right before the closing of the service the evangelist stopped and said “Sonny, God has a word for you before we close.” It was in that moment where Sonny received two promises from God, Isaiah 45:2-3 & Isaiah 54:2-3.

From that day on, Victory Outreach experienced rapid growth. From Aliso Village to the Gless Street Church, the St. Louis Street Buildings in East L.A., Montebello High School, and the International Club, to finally securing their own 20-acre property in La Puente, California. Sonny and Julie took bold steps of faith, and God remained faithful to His promises.

There was a time when many doubted Sonny’s vision. What could a church whose pews were filled with ex-addicts, convicts, gang members, and their families do for God? Yet, Sonny was a man of faith and vision. God gave him the ability to see what others could not see. He often tells of a time in the early days when the Spirit of God would fall upon him. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit he would proclaim, “Some of you are going to be pastors, evangelists, prophets and teachers…and some of you are going to go into all the world and preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ!”

Between the years of 1967 to 1985, God began to rapidly move through the ministry of Victory Outreach. God was moving in the life of drug addicts and their families. Thousands of people from different walks of life made Victory Outreach La Puente their home. Our ministry served thousands of people from the greater Los Angeles area and was used as the world headquarters for Victory Outreach International. Simultaneously, God used Sonny to raise up many pastors, churches, Victory Homes, and Training Centers. Today, Sonny’s reach can be felt globally and has become one of the largest inner-city ministries around the world.

At that time, Sonny and Julie produced and developed an award-winning television show called “Treasures Out of Darkness,” which continues to air all over the world through various networks. Millions have been reached through the life changing testimonies from the people of Victory Outreach. Sonny and Julie also wrote best-selling books sharing the vision and story of Victory Outreach International.

The small seed had become a mighty oak tree through the faithfulness of God and the dedication of Sonny and Julie. Through Sonny’s commitment many more oak trees would rise in the future. Today, all five of his children are dedicated to the ministry and pastor some of the strongest churches in the Victory Outreach movement. As a ministry, we gather the entire Victory Outreach family for our World Conference with over 20,000 in attendance.

For the last decade of his life, he poured every fiber of his being into establishing strong base churches around the world. His heart burned with passion for expansion, he tirelessly came alongside the third wave generation, pioneering new territories and advancing the mission. Whether he was raising up team members, global specialists, or missionaries to break open new nations, his focus was always on the future. 

Today, because of his unwavering commitment, we see base churches firmly established across the United States, South Africa, Amsterdam, Latin America, Mexico, and beyond. This is only the beginning! 

His “mega mentality” was contagious. He carried an unshakable faith that inspired everyone around him to dream bigger, believe greater, and move forward with boldness. He didn’t just speak of vision-he lived it, breathed it, and imparted it to all who followed. His words ignited a fire, his life left a blueprint, and his faith laid a foundation for generations to come. 

Even in his final days, he remained a firm believer that we are living in a season of harvest-a time to think big, build big, and trust God for everything He has promised. Today, the promise of continuance is not just a hope but a reality. His vision lives on through his children and spiritual sons & daughters, who will carry the torch and dispossess the nations.

Growing up in a small family of four, Sonny always dreamed of having a big family. Sonny was a Godly father who always kept his five children; Deborah, Doreen, Sonny Jr., Georgina and Timothy close. They did everything as a family. Sonny coached their softball teams, took them on family trips, celebrated birthdays and holidays together. They developed core memories on their yearly trip to Yosemite National Park. Sonny not only impacted the nations of the world but he personally impacted the world of his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Sonny made it a point to be present in every season of his children’s lives. When tough times came, he always pointed them to their faith in Christ.

Sonny was most proud the moment his children made a commitment to serve God. He took the time to personally impart God’s word into his children and committed his entire life to developing their personal potential. All five of his children are involved in the ministry and now pastor thriving churches. Sonny also has 20 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Many of them have answered the call of God into the ministry. His spiritual legacy now lives on through his children and grandchildren.

Pastor Sonny and Julie’s original vision was mainly to East Los Angeles and the surrounding area. Through the voice of the Holy Spirit, God began to reveal a need that was far more reaching than just the inner city communities of Los Angeles. As people were set free from a lifestyle of sin, Sonny received a vision for the potential in people who had been marginalized by society and could not find their place in the general Body of Christ. He felt that if God could change his life and use him in the ministry, then God could do the same for countless others. A foundational scripture is found in 1 Corinthians 1:27-29, “But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty…that no flesh should glory in His presence.”

One by one, the former hopeless members of society were not only transformed but began to answer the call of God into ministry. Many followed the pattern of Sonny and Julie by pursuing theological education and became qualified as licensed pastors, evangelists, missionaries and recovery home directors.

Today Victory Outreach International consists of well over 1000 licensed pastors and ministry workers in 33 nations of the world. In the first 58 years of ministry, Victory Outreach has planted over 700 churches and recovery ministries with a brand new push to reach, train and launch a new generation of believers called “The Third Wave”.

Sonny and Julie also established the Victory Outreach Bible College, an accredited Bible College where thousands of students from around the world pursue Biblical education and ministry training. Along with the Victory Outreach Urban Training Centers, a new generation of young adults are answering the call of God in various countries around the world.

Through the years, Victory Outreach International has been recognized as the leading inner-city ministry in the Body of Christ with many acknowledgements and recognitions from United States Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama and President Donald Trump, along with special acknowledgments from US Senators, Governors and US Attorney Generals.