Making A Difference That Matters
Stories that Inspire.
Victories to Celebrate.
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Easter renewal: Men made whole in God’s love
This is the third installment in a series chronicling this year’s theme of “Rescue.” This month, we look into the stories of six men, recounting their journey to a new life. As Christians, Easter is a time of profound meaning as we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. We acknowledge the price that was paid…
‘I’m in a very, very good place in my life right now’
Christy describes her childhood in one word: chaos. Growing up in the projects of Bakersfield with three siblings, she remembers constant screaming from her parents-especially her mother-and a deep sense of neglect. “My parents ate first and we ate last,” she recalled. “I remember the hunger. I remember it made me feel like they didn’t care…
Like many at the Mission, Felipe’s rescue began with a hot meal
This is the first story in a series chronicling this year’s theme of “Rescue.” This month, we look into Felipe’s story, recounting his journey to a new life. What does it mean to rescue someone? With some variation, dictionaries define rescue as to save someone from a dangerous or difficult situation. This implies a one-time…
Pathways of rescue for women and children
From safety to healing, stability, and hope When a woman comes into the shelter with her children, the first thing we do is let her know she is safe. She and her children have a place to rest their heads and feel secure. From there, we take time to talk with her and assess her…
Rebecca hit rock bottom, now she leads program women
In 2020, Rebecca joined the Lighthouse as Guest Service Associate and was promoted to Case Manager in 2022. Recently, she proudly celebrated five years of dedicated service at the Mission. Rebecca’s journey with the Lighthouse began long before her employment- she is a graduate of our Life Recovery Program, completing the program in 2016 before…
Rescued from the river bottom, Tony is ‘overwhelmed with gratitude’
Tony remembers vividly the moment God rescued him. “I had originally gone to the river bottom thinking I was going to help others that were living there, but soon I was fully back into my addictions. I ended up living there as well.”Tony lived in the river bottom for years, never seeming to see a…
Director’s note
This year, our theme is “Rescue.” Each month, we’ll share stories from our guests, celebrating the many ways God has worked through the Mission to rescue their lives. I was 5 years old. I couldn’t swim. There was no life jacket in my size. Naturally, I was undeterred. This was going to be an epic…
Here’s what you made possible in 2025
As we look back on this past year, our hearts are full of gratitude for the hope you have made possible. Your generosity has continued to uplift the men and women whose stories we’ve shared-residents who took their first courageous steps toward healing with your support behind them. This year, many of them have reached…
Rescue and restore: helping trafficking survivors heal
This month, we acknowledge this crisis in our community Every January, we pause to recognize Human Trafficking Prevention Month – a time to confront one of the most devastating injustices in our communities. Human trafficking is not just a global issue; it is happening in our own neighborhood. Traffickers prey on vulnerability, and those struggling…
Desiree knows ‘God isn’t done with me yet’
Desiree was raised in Oxnard, where she grew up as the oldest of two children in a single-parent household. Her mother worked constantly, leaving Desiree to care for herself and her younger brother. With her mother rarely home and caught up in street life, Desiree learned to look to the streets for belonging. “The street…
This Christmas, Luis has “a real peace” in his heart
This is the final story in a series chronicling this year’s theme of “Access and Opening Doors.” This month, we look into Luis’ story, recounting his journey to a new life. Luis smiled when he recalled December of 2023. “It was my first Christmas with my three boys in years,” he said, “and we all…
RMA VC is breaking bread, building futures
The holidays are upon us and for most of us it is a time of gifts, gatherings, and sharing our good fortune over generous and sometimes extravagant meals. Many of us take all of this for granted, not giving much thought, if any, to what it means to always have enough to eat. Never thinking…
