Though he has a successful construction business and his own TV show today, the future did not always look so bright for Israel “Izzy” Battres. The star of HGTV’s new series “Izzy Does It” revealed in an Instagram post on March 10, 2025, that if it weren’t for pastor Sonny Arguinzoni Sr., he and his brother Rudy “wouldn’t be here today.”
Arguinzoni Sr., an evangelical minister who planted hundreds of churches around the world with his organization, Victory Outreach, died on March 3 at age 85, according to The Christian Post. In his heartfelt tribute, Battres wrote that “Pastor Sonny Sr. wasn’t just a pastor—he was a warrior for the broken, a lifeline for the lost, and a father to those who had none.”
“He pulled drug addicts off the streets, gave them hope, and showed them a new way to live,” Battres continued,” adding, “Rudy and I were two of those lost souls.”
Izzy Battres Says He’ll ‘Forever Be Grateful’ for Pastor’s Influence on Him
Captioning a throwback photo of himself in a group surrounding Arguinzoni Sr., Battres — whose company, Battres Construction, builds and renovates homes in California’s Orange County and L.A. County — wrote, “If it weren’t for Pastor Sonny’s vision, we wouldn’t be here today. Battres Construction wouldn’t exist. The lives we’ve built, the families we lead, and the work we do—it’s all because God placed a man like Pastor Sonny in our path.”
“I will forever be grateful for the second chance he helped give us,” Battres continued. “His legacy lives on in every life he touched. Rest in peace, Pastor Sonny Sr. Your impact will never fade.”
Battres, who originally appeared on HGTV as Christina Haack and Tarek El Moussa’s contractor when they starred on “Flip or Flop,” has been open about spiraling into addiction as a young person and wound up living in a recovery home.
“After a year there, I realized I could be a productive member of society and make a living in construction,” he told HGTV. “I’ve learned that second, third, fourth and fifth chances are a gift from God and that failure is not final — you can learn and grow from your mistakes and that when you’re down, you really find out who your family and friends are.”
As Battres turned his life around, he worked as a missionary for five years, partly in South America, per HGTV, and may eventually follow in his former pastor’s footsteps with his wife of 15 years, Lily, who he met at church.
“I think in our latter years, Lily and I will end up building communities in poor countries and possibly even starting a church,” he told HGTV.
Family & Community Are Now Priorities for Izzy Battres
Though he’s a success now and often praised for his work in the community, Battres has never forgotten the negative ways people described him when he was younger.
“The things people say about you stay with you — teachers, people of authority. I once had a judge tell me I was the ‘blankety-blank’ of society,” he told HGTV, adding that when he landed his new series, “hearing that news was like the Lord saying to me, ‘I got you.’ It proved all my hard work had paid off.”
Supporting his family and community have been huge priorities for Battres. The son of Mexican immigrants, he has three siblings, all of whom have been part of his family business, per HGTV. He started his company with his younger brother Sam, his older brother Rudy appears on “Izzy Does It” as the company’s project manager, and their younger sister Yvette previously worked in their HR department. Their dad, who died in December, was also instrumental in the company’s growth.
Beyond his family, Battres is eager to give back to the community where he grew up, in Santa Ana, and help those who are struggling like he once did. In 2018, he told Orange Coast Magazine that he’d recently starred in a church play about combating opiate addiction.
“I have a passion to help people,” he told the outlet. “It helps me, too. When I’m at work, I’m calling the shots. But when I go to volunteer, I’m asking for direction, I’m serving, I’m picking up trash. It keeps me grounded.”
“Izzy Does It,” which premiered on February 5, airs Wednesday nights on HGTV at 9 p.m. Eastern time.
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HGTV Star Shares His Harrowing Past in Heartfelt Tribute to Late Pastor: ‘Warrior for the Broken’