Making A Difference That Matters
Stories that Inspire.
Victories to Celebrate.
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After facing her fears, Jovia rebuilds her life
Jovia was just 6 years old when her world changed forever. Born in Africa, she lost both of her parents during the Rwandan genocide. After the tragedy, Jovia was raised by her aunt until she moved to the United States as a teenager. She took adult education classes to learn English and worked multiple jobs.…
From drugs to discipleship, Kevin transforms his life
This is the fifth story in a series chronicling this year’s theme of “Access and Opening Doors.” This month, we look into Kevin’s story, recounting his journey to a new life. Kevin begins each day of his Vocational Construction Program with Bible study and prayer. “We start the day with the right focus,” he explained,…
Ralph relishes in ‘God’s masterplan’ for his life
This is the fourth story in a series chronicling this year’s theme of “Access and Opening Doors.” This month, we look into Ralph’s story, recounting his journey to a new life. As the on-site manager of The City Center, a transitional living center for homeless families with children in Ventura, Ralph spends a good part…
‘This is my Bible College’: How donors help women like Rosemary transform their lives
When Rosemary arrived at the Lighthouse, she brought with her decades of pain, loss, and longing for a new beginning. But what she found was more than a program. It was healing. It was restoration. And for her, it was the beginning of a whole new life. “I came in expecting,” Rosemary said, “I came…
Thank you Mission Church for filling our trucks!
The folks at Mission Church in Ventura raided their closets and garages and brought in hundreds of bags of clothing and shoes in an effort to fill our truck! And in fact, they filled three! These items will be given to participants of our Life Recovery programs, as well as our unhoused community members in…
A decade after graduating, Michelle has “never left” the Mission
She’s been working at RMA for over six years Michelle’s parents divorced when she was just 2 years old. Although her mother remarried, it was a “very abusive” relationship. “I grew up in a home surrounded by domestic violence-both verbal and physical,” Michelle shared. “It wasn’t towards me, but to my mother. Eventually, she succumbed…
Conrad leaves a lifetime of crime behind him,finds acceptance at Mission
This is the third story in a series chronicling this year’s theme of “Access and Opening Doors.” This month, we look into Conrad’s story, recounting his journey to a new life. He’s learned to listen to God’s voice “I’ve tried to be a tough guy my whole life,” Conrad said. “Whether as a rebellious kid,…
With Mission’s help, nothing is “out of reach” for Joee
This is the second story in a series chronicling this year’s theme of “Access and Opening Doors.” This month, we look into Joee’s story, recounting his journey to a new life. The way Joee sees it, doors are opening, and his future is bright. “I just got hired as a driver at our thrift store,…
Christina graduates program, puts lifetimeof drinking behind her
She’s focusing on helping others Christina, 53, struggled with alcoholism most of her life, but it wasn’t until her husband passed away from non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma that her life truly began to spiral. “I was his caretaker. He passed away right in front of me. It was a battle,” Christina said. “I watched him completely deteriorate.…
Program offers Ana the time she needs to“be still,” heal from past trauma
She’s reunited with her two youngest children Reflecting on her childhood, Ana takes a moment to collect her thoughts. “I didn’t grow up emotionally stable,” she said. “I was always depressed. I had a lot of trauma growing up.” When Ana was just 1 year old, she suffered severe acid burns on her face, resulting…
J.R. is grateful for the Mission’s open doors
After graduating, he returned to work at RMA VC On a recent morning drive to pick up donations for the Mission, J.R. was thinking about all the opportunities that have become available for him since graduating from the Life Recovery Program in January 2019. “It’s amazing how much my life has changed and how many…
Director’s Note
This year, we will share the many ways the Mission opens doors “Wait, where are my keys,” I asked myself. Then came that sinking feeling, the one you get when you realize you’ve locked yourself out. There I stood, in the middle of the parking lot, staring at my locked car door, willing it to…
