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A heartful goodbye
It is with bittersweet emotions that my family and I say goodbye to the Central Coast, a place we’ve been honored to call home for eight years. We are taking a new step in ministry as I accept the role of Executive Director at Fairhaven Rescue Mission in Covington, Kentucky. I want to extend my…
RMA SFV hosts community baptism
9 men commit their lives to Christ At RMA SFV, something extraordinary took place- nine men made a bold and beautiful declaration of faith through baptism, marking a powerful turning point in their lives. It wasn’t just an event. It was a celebration of new beginnings, a testament to healing, and a public witness of…
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…
Keno is ‘living proof’ that change is possible
Keno, 50, recalls growing up in a “broken home. Not so much drugs, but a lot of alcohol and child abuse,” he said. “If dad was having a bad day, he’d come home from work, and we’d all absorb it from him.” It was at the age of 11, shared Keno, when everything started to…
Meet Luke Johnson, Director at RMA Central Coast
He was previously the men’s program manager In 2020, Luke Johnson joined the RMA Central Coast team as the Men’s Program Manager, a role that aligns perfectly with both his calling and his deep roots in the community. Born and raised on the Central Coast, Luke carries a genuine passion for serving the very community…
‘God took me from a cell to this rec room to worship Him’
Richard, 34, is no stranger to recovery programs. By the time he arrived at Renewed Hope, it was his fourth or fifth attempt at getting clean. “I’ve known since I was 19 that I wanted to get off drugs,” he said, “but I never could.” Raised without a consistent father figure, Richard looked up to…
Gina spent her life helping others, until she needed help herself
“I’m so grateful to the Mission; you literally rescued my life,” Gina said quietly. For over 20 years, Gina worked as a certified nursing assistant. Helping others was something she always wanted to do, and it brought her immense joy. “I’ve loved taking care of people, helping people. I got my CNA license when I…
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…
Program teaches Jasson it’s ‘okay to be vulnerable’
Jasson, born in El Salvador, was 2 years old when his mother moved to the United States to better support her son. “When she left, the first couple years I was bounced around with her friends or family,” he said. “They didn’t really want me there though. There was a lot of physical abuse. I…
From the heart of Home Again and Renewed Hope
One meal can change everything At Home Again and Renewed Hope, we’ve learned something powerful: sometimes, all it takes to begin a new chapter is a warm meal. For a parent arriving with their children after days of uncertainty, a hot dinner reminds them they’re no longer alone. For a man coming off the streets…
The ‘gift of desperation’ changed Jose’s life
Before coming to the Mission, Jose recalls being “completely lost and broken,” he shared. “I was submerged with no hope, no vision. I was wandering around with no future. I was drowning in my own misery. It got really bad.” Growing up, Jose felt alone. With parents who were always working, he often returned to…
