Michael Darden is director of RMA VC.

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 adventure, and I was not about to miss it.

My mom was unconvinced. Itdidn’t seem safe—or prudent. ButI pleaded my case with the energyand excitement that only a 5-yearoldcan muster. My uncle, the everconfidentoutdoorsman, came to mydefense, assuring her of his boatingexpertise. Besides, it was just a quicktrip across the lake. We’d be back inno time.

Against her better judgment, my mom relented, though not before threatening my uncle with the serious consequences that would follow if anything happened to her child. He laughed, promised my safe return, and off we went.

I was thrilled and completely unafraid. I was with my uncle. He was strong, capable, and, at least in my mind, invincible.

As you may have guessed, things did not go as planned. A large boat, moving far too quickly, cut in front of our small aluminum boat. The wake swamped us, and suddenly we were airborne—then in the very cold waters of a Colorado lake. My uncle couldn’t have anticipated the recklessness of the other boat, but he knew exactly what to do next.

Whether motivated by love for me or fear of my mother, he caught me midair, kept my head above water, flipped our boat, and soon had me safely perched on top. Despite the cold, the fear, and a great deal of sobbing, I was safe.

I had been rescued.

I never blamed my uncle. To me, he was a hero—the one who lifted me out of danger and eventually set my feet back on solid ground.

Every day at the Mission, we meet people who are sinking, on the verge of drowning—overwhelmed by homelessness, addiction, poverty, illness, fear, and loss. Many are struggling to stay afloat, losing hope, purpose, and a sense of who they are.

And yet, in the midst of this sea of heartbreak, we believe that there is hope. Hope in God who promises to be close to the brokenhearted, and rescue those whose spirits are crushed. And hope in the compassionate people of our community, people like you, who choose, day after day, to care for those in need. We believe every person is created in the image of God—valuable, loved, and worthy of care and rescue. We also believe that together with your help, we can make a difference and provide help for many of those in need.

Each year, we choose a theme to guide our work. This year, we return to our foundation, the very core of who we are. Our theme is rescue! The truth is, at some point, we all need to be rescued. Many of us have cried out, as the psalmist did, “Please, God, rescue me! Come quickly, Lord, and help me!” For many in our community this remains their cry. Our goal this year is to help more people than ever before. But we can’t do it alone.

Would you partner with us? Would you join with us in praying for those who are in desperate need of rescue. If you want to be a bit more hands-on, we’d love for you to use your energy, time and talents and join us as a volunteer. And finally, please consider becoming a financial partner, helping us provide hope, help, and rescue all year long.

Together, we can lift people out of dangerous waters and help place their feet back on solid ground.

Michael Darden
Director, RMA Ventura County