Stories that Inspire.
Victories to Celebrate.
Stay connected with all the good work the Mission is doing!
April vows to hold onto God’s promise ‘every step of the way’
For most of her life, April carried burdens that weren’t hers to bear. Growing up in a dysfunctional home, she became the caretaker of her family long before adulthood. “My dad was abusive to my mom, and I was the one who had to stop the fights and make sure my brothers were okay,” she…
“My Life Was a Literal Nightmare.” Now Nikki Finally Feels Safe
Nikki has never been in the same place for long. She was on the run for years, making her way from California to Canada to Mexico to escape those who wanted to do her harm. “I was the victim of human trafficking, of domestic violence, of sexual assault, of all of it,” Nikki shared. Nikki…
After facing her fears, Jovia rebuilds her life
Jovia was just 6 years old when her world changed forever. Born in Africa, she lost both of her parents during the Rwandan genocide. After the tragedy, Jovia was raised by her aunt until she moved to the United States as a teenager. She took adult education classes to learn English and worked multiple jobs.…
Thank you Mission Church for filling our trucks!
The folks at Mission Church in Ventura raided their closets and garages and brought in hundreds of bags of clothing and shoes in an effort to fill our truck! And in fact, they filled three! These items will be given to participants of our Life Recovery programs, as well as our unhoused community members in…
‘The shelter didn’t just save my life, it helped me rebuild it’
Candice never imagined herself in a shelter. “I was in a relationship, living with my partner, and everything seemed okay-until it wasn’t,” she said. “Things got toxic. I was thrown out. Suddenly, I had nowhere to go, and I was pregnant.” Candice found herself living in her car during her pregnancy, each day more uncertain…
Rodolfo is reborn, renewed, and ready to live
In May 2024, Rodolfo walked into RMA SFV’s Men’s Life Recovery Program broken, tired, and fully aware that he needed help. “I was an alcoholic. I was a man who had lost patience, lost perspective, and lost hope. Addiction had robbed me not just of years, but of the ability to see life in a…
Director’s Note: What will you do next?
Freedom is hard to come by for the unhoused What is the thing we will do next? In most of our lives we have great autonomy to choose what is next in our day, week, and years. Maybe we have a lot on our to-do lists today or we have a vacation coming up for…
Jeremy reconnects with God, reclaims his future
Chaos in his younger years left its mark Jeremy grew up in West Covina where his earliest memories were shaped by dysfunction and survival. “My mom had me when she was 15,” Jeremy shared. “It wasn’t her fault. She was a kid herself, raised in the foster system.” Born into a home surrounded by drugs…
From drugs to discipleship, Kevin transforms his life
This is the fifth story in a series chronicling this year’s theme of “Access and Opening Doors.” This month, we look into Kevin’s story, recounting his journey to a new life. Kevin begins each day of his Vocational Construction Program with Bible study and prayer. “We start the day with the right focus,” he explained,…
Finding purpose in sacrifice: a journey to the Mission
David is the men’s program case manager For David Chang, faith was something he grew up with. Raised in the Bay Area after immigrating from Taiwan at the age of 6, he spent his youth immersed in church life-attending services, playing piano for worship, and checking all the “right boxes.” Yet, he now reflects on…
Yesenia isn’t just surviving—she’s thriving
She no longer feels alone Yesenia’s life is a testament to resilience. Born into a large family in Cambria, she was the second youngest of 13 children. Her early years were marked by chaos, neglect, and abuse. By age 6, she had already experienced trauma no child should ever have to endure-molested by her father…
For Luis, Mission’s support continues even after graduation
Luis couldn’t bear to bring his mother anymore pain. “I was really hooked on drugs. My family saw me in the backyard, strung out, and my mom was crying. When I saw my mom crying, I wanted to use drugs more (because) I felt terrible. I wanted to overdose a couple of times, but I…
