COUPLES / FAITH Growing in Faith Alexa PenaVega: PenaVega: & Carlos PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE PENAVEGA FAMILY 14 FOCUS ON THE FAMILY APRIL / MAY <strong>2023</strong>
FAITH / COUPLES Two Hollywood stars seek to keep Jesus at <strong>the</strong> center of <strong>the</strong>ir marriage BY MARGOT STARBUCK THIS GUY IS SUCH A WEIRDO. When Alexa Vega was introduced to Carlos Pena at a friend’s Bible study, she was not immediately smitten with <strong>the</strong> chatty guy who talked her ear off in <strong>the</strong> driveway. While both shared a similar history as child actors— Carlos in <strong>the</strong> popular Nickelode<strong>on</strong> show “Big Time Rush,” and Alexa being most well-known for <strong>the</strong> Spy Kids movies—it wasn’t a professi<strong>on</strong>al c<strong>on</strong>necti<strong>on</strong> that brought <strong>the</strong>m toge<strong>the</strong>r. It was a seas<strong>on</strong> of spiritual hunger. Carlos, in his early 20s, was living in a mansi<strong>on</strong> he and his fa<strong>the</strong>r had renovated. He had m<strong>on</strong>ey. He had success. He had adoring fans. But he knew something was missing. And while he tried to fill that void with cars, homes, girlfriends and marijuana, nothing satisfied him. Carlos had noticed something different in <strong>the</strong> life of his friend and real estate agent, Andrew, that he admired. Andrew was generous, kind and c<strong>on</strong>sistent—he seemed to be at peace. Curious, Carlos asked Andrew what it was that made him so . . . different. “Jesus,” Andrew answered, simply. So when Andrew invited him to church that same week, Carlos agreed. And hearing God’s voice through <strong>the</strong> pastor that day, speaking directly to his heart, Carlos gave his life to Jesus. Trusting God and trusting each o<strong>the</strong>r Alexa, who’d battled an eating disorder throughout her life and had recently suffered a failed marriage, was also in a chaotic seas<strong>on</strong>. She’d been dating around and partying in ways she never had before. Alexa adored her work as an actress, but she was thirsty for purpose. Her friend Andrew had invited her to a Bible study— that was <strong>the</strong> night she met Carlos. Though she’d always had a deep hunger for God, Alexa’s pers<strong>on</strong>al relati<strong>on</strong>ship with Jesus began through that Bible study. The same week, Alexa invited Andrew to a party promoting <strong>the</strong> release of her new movie. Andrew asked if he could bring Carlos, and <strong>the</strong> evening marked <strong>the</strong> beginning of a friendship between Carlos and Alexa. After <strong>the</strong>y began dating, though, Carlos faced a financial challenge that tested his new faith. While Alexa suggested that <strong>the</strong>y should pray about <strong>the</strong> situati<strong>on</strong>, Carlos wrestled with <strong>the</strong> idea that God could help. Not yet mature in his faith, he didn’t understand why he was facing this obstacle when he’d been doing everything “right.” One evening, as he was bemoaning his predicament to Alexa, Carlos complained, “I am so over this. I think I’m d<strong>on</strong>e with God.” Alexa, a bit more seas<strong>on</strong>ed, recognized that God was not <strong>the</strong> author of life’s troubles and that He actually accompanies us through <strong>the</strong>se challenges. “It’s not like God makes bad things happen to you,” she told Carlos. “That’s not who He is.” Unable to see bey<strong>on</strong>d his own predicament, Carlos dug his heels in, insisting that God had aband<strong>on</strong>ed him. “If you’re d<strong>on</strong>e with God,” Alexa eventually had to tell him, “I’m d<strong>on</strong>e with you.” When Alexa said this, Carlos’ world began to collapse, APRIL / MAY <strong>2023</strong> FOCUS ON THE FAMILY 15