The heart of the Ventura County Rescue Mission and Lighthouse is Recovery and Restoration. We serve over 700 meals a day to the working poor and those experiencing homelessness. We

When Jacki, 25, found out she was pregnant, she was already three months along. Her fear was immediate—she’d been using meth, and she was worried for her unborn child. Jacki

As a 14-year-old messing around with a tagging crew, Florentino didn’t expect to get caught—or receive a steep one-year sentence. “I experienced a lot there—violence, fear,” he said. “It was

One of the most heart wrenching things to watch is children being taken from their mother because of her addictions. We know it’s the right thing to do for the

Van was called a “late bloomer.” Despite a large extended family that often drank and used drugs at get-togethers, Van managed to avoid that lifestyle until he was in his

It’s been more than 11 years since Stuart, a member of Gold Coast Christian Church in Oxnard, had the idea that he and some of his congregants start volunteering at

There is a television commercial which shows several people inside a local rescue mission at Christmastime. A song is playing in the background and the lyrics “Don’t you forget about

After 14 years serving in the Marine Corps, Robert got married, had a daughter, and worked hard for his family—but he was constantly struggling. It wasn’t until much later in

Despite the challenges he’s facing—being away from his children and working on his recovery—Fitim seems to always have a smile on his face. His positivity comes from peace, he explains,

As I sit thinking about 2018, I am both concerned and encouraged. My concern has to do with the escalating number of homeless men, women, and children on the streets