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Will is grateful for the Mission’s ‘open arms’
Will calls the Los Angeles home he grew up in broken. His parents were both drug addicts and they divorced when he was 12. He has a brother and sister. “I come from a family of drug addicts. I got into a lot of trouble when I was younger, just missing school, going to juvenile…
Victoria sees God moving mountains in her life
Victoria, 34, was raised by her grandparents in Oxnard. She was one of five children born into a well-known family in the community. “I wanted to get away from here as soon as I could,” she said. “I always just wanted to be with the bad crowd.” A year after she graduated high school, in…
Conrad leaves behind life of ‘lies and deceit’
Conrad’s father was a Los Angeles police officer for 30 years. “My dad was always at work, and my mom was always home. The abuse started early, physically and mentally. It led to worse rebellion by me and worse punishment by her. I’d tell my dad, ‘You leave and go out save the world with…
Jessica graduates, hopes for restoration with her family
Jessica grew up in Santa Paula, the youngest of three. Her dad was “out of the picture,” and her mom remarried when she was 2. “My stepdad was very abusive,” said Jessica, who clarified that she was molested by him. “He mistreated me and I wasn’t comfortable in the home.” Jessica started using when she…
Elizabeth finds peace, reunites with her children
Elizabeth had an uneventful childhood until she got mixed up in the wrong crowd in 12th grade. “I was doing good until then,” she said. “Then I started ditching and using drugs. When I was 18, I went to jail.” A couple years later, Elizabeth got pregnant and stopped using. She had her daughter when…
After moving from a sister mission, Gary gets new perspective
Now 50 years old, Gary has a lot to reflect on. He’s had success and joy in work and family, and he’s also had loss and trauma. He’s stumbled in the last several years in his battle with alcohol, but is now focusing on following God’s lead. “I’m working on listening to God,” Gary said.…
Matthew steps out of spiral, focuses on the Word
Matthew’s experience with church has been complicated. His parents raised him and his sister and brother as Jehovah’s Witnesses, but at 15, Matthew found himself removed from the religion. “I was excommunicated from the church for some premarital activities,” he said. “I immediately fell into drugs and alcohol, and women outside of the church. Things…
Alexia breaks the relapse cycle, chooses a new life with her children
Alexia grew up in Oxnard in what she calls a “picture-perfect home.” But after her father died when she was 16, she started experimenting with drugs: first marijuana and then methamphetamine. She had her son when she was 19, and battled her addiction on and off. Alexia’s son was taken from her care before he…
Melissa Graduates From Program, Surrenders Life To God
As a kid, Melissa grew up in two different households—one was strict but she felt loved. The other had few rules, but lacked involved parents. “I went back and forth between my parents and grandparents,” Melissa said. “I had a healthy upbringing when I was with my grandparents. But with my parents, it was very…
Tye Said The Mission Program Is God ‘Saving The Best For Last’
When Tye reflects on his childhood, he thinks of his sister. She was very sick, and was often in the hospital. The family moved around because of her care needs. “I started acting out,” he said. “I was drinking and using marijuana and inhalants. I started running away. I was just rebelling.” When his sister…
Viviana Finds Peace At Lighthouse Shelter With Her Daughter, Grandkids
Viviana, who just turned 74, grew up in a small town in Mexico. In fact, the town was so small, there was no doctor. Viviana birthed 12 children, but only five are still alive. After her husband passed away three years ago, Viviana struggled to make ends meet. She stayed in her small town for…
Esteban Looks Forward To Being A Positive Influence To Others
Esteban remembers what he calls his first experience with Jesus Christ. He was struggling with anxiety and depression, and went to the hospital. “I was having these intense panic attacks, like really, really bad,” he said. “I kept going to the hospital. And the last time I was there, the pastor at New Life Church,…
