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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.…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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,…

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From A Hidden Life To A Happy Life

From the outside, Ray’s life did not look too bad. He had a string of jobs that provided money for a place to stay, a car, and food. He had some friends and some girlfriends, even though those relationships did not seem to last very long. Ray even considered himself happy, at least on the…

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Ryan Couldn’t Hide It Any Longer

Ryan grew up playing sports. “I played baseball in college at CSUN. I graduated with a speech and communications degree. I’ve had 16 knee surgeries since then,” recalls Ryan. “I was partying and taking pain medications for years. I grew up in the church. I kind of knew how to say the right things, do…

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Candise Finds ‘Peace And Joy’ At The Lighthouse

Candise is the oldest of seven, raised by a single mom, with her father in and out of prison. The family grew up mostly in the Colonia area of Oxnard. Candise said, “Both of my parents were drug addicts, and both were in the (Colonia) gang. “I started hanging out with the wrong crowd. I…

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Hector returns to the mission after post-graduation relapse

When Hector graduated from the Mission’s program in July 2018, he was hopeful for the future. He had spent the previous 20 years in the oil industry and, as he neared graduation, Hector reached out to his former supervisor. “He was proud of me and told me to come on back,” he said. What Hector…

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Estrella leaves jail, drugs behind for a new life

Estrella grew up in Oxnard with her younger sister and parents, who separated when she was 10. Her father was deported shortly after for being in and out of jail. “I became very rebellious because I didn’t have my dad,” Estrella said. “I started using drugs when I was 11 and alcohol when I was…

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