Making A Difference That Matters
Stories that Inspire.
Victories to Celebrate.
Stay connected with all the good work the Mission is doing!
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…
Rozlyn wanted to leave, until she found community
Rozlyn, 20, dropped out of high school after her mother started disappearing. “My mom began leaving our apartment for weeks, even months at a time, and left me by myself,” Rozlyn shared. The frequent absence of her mother had lasting consequences for Rozlyn. “I didn’t feel motivated to get up. I was just very depressed.”…
RMA VC thrives thanks to new and seasoned volunteers
This month we feature two volunteers: one who has been serving with RMA VC for a short time, and one who has been serving for over a decade. Both bring a heart to serve and a love for people in need. Mike Gregory Long-time volunteer Mike Gregory happens to also be an award-winning lapidarist (someone…
J.R. is “breaking chains” as he becomes a leader to program men
His path from graduate to house manager is inspiring This is the seventh story in a series chronicling this year’s theme of “Access and Opening Doors.” For this month’s profile, we sat down with new House Manager and Life Recovery Program Graduate J.R. His life was consumed by drug abuse, broken relationships, and lost opportunities;…
After years of volunteering, Darlene joins the team
In March 2025, Darlene joined the RMA Ventura County team as the Community Engagement and Volunteer Coordinator. After 20 years as an executive in women’s footwear, Darlene was longing for something more “meaningful” and “impactful.” Initially only volunteering at the Lighthouse, Darlene ultimately learned that ministry “is where my heart beats the loudest,” she said.…
