Stories that Inspire.
Victories to Celebrate.
Stay connected with all the good work the Mission is doing!
Sean is being ‘patient with the process’ as he anticipates reuniting with family
When Sean entered the Life Recovery Program, he was in the midst of continuing his family’s legacy of alcoholism. He was exposed to drinking at a very young age, and had seen his dad die from cirrhosis of the liver due to alcohol abuse. “I had hit rock bottom-I lost my job, my family,” Sean…
STEPHEN SHARES STORY TO HELP OTHERS IN NEED, INSPIRE SUPPORTERS
When Stephen looks back at his childhood, growing up with his parents and three older brothers in Covina, there are a lot of foggy memories. Stephen had a heart attack in 2016 and it’s affected his memory. “I died on the table (for a while),” he said. “So I don’t remember some things well. I…
Director’s Note
When we opened the Women’s Emergency Shelter in November 2021, we celebrated and had immediate success stories of healing and restoration. However, we quickly realized one of the major gaps of service in Victor Valley. The women who were calling our office for assistance, and many of the ladies entering the shelter, had things to…
TRACY GIVES HERSELF TIME TO HEAL AND TO GROW
Tracy knows what it’s like to truly be on her own. At age 13, she began cleaning houses to help the family. “I didn’t have a good childhood, and it was a lot for me to carry,” she said. “We grew up on welfare and my mom was not mentally stable.” Tracy remembers cigarettes and…
MISSION, CHURCH OF THE VALLEY PARTNERSHIP CONTINUES TO FLOURISH
Restoring lives and creating a place of refuge and healing in the greater Victorville area could be an impossible task, but with partners like Church of the Valley, lives are being changed. The church’s pastor, Joel Brantner, said he appreciates teaming up with the Mission to share the Gospel. “We are all part of the…
KIMBERLY FINDS A JOB, AND STABILITY IN WOMEN’S SHELTER AFTER GETTING CLEAN
Frequently moving from one rental to another and jumping from state to state, Kimberly recalls her childhood being “fine, but unstable.” In her late teens, Kimberly’s mom left the family, leaving her and her two siblings to be cared for by her stepfather. “He was a dad to us. He took care of us.” In…
VOLUNTEER PROVIDES PERSPECTIVE AND ENCOURAGEMENT TO THOSE IN NEED
When Al Barnett volunteers at the Mission, he officially is a driver. He drives the mobile shower unit over to its Wednesday spot by the Mission, and sets up shop for the many who will visit that day for a hot shower, a meal, and other services. But what he’s really doing is making a…
RODNEY REALIZES THE VOID HE WAS FILLING WITH DRUGS WAS MEANT TO BE FILLED WITH GOD
Born and raised in the Bronx, New York, Rodney’s family was “close knit,” he said. “They had a lot of love, but there were also a lot of secrets.” When Rodney was 14 years old, he started using drugs to deal with the death of his mother. Being the youngest of 11 children, Rodney was…
JOSEPH REFLECTS UPON POST-DIVORCE DEPRESSION AND ADDICTION
He’s now focused on God’s love and forgiveness “I was raised right!” If someone were to ask Joseph about his childhood and his family values, this is the answer they would get. Joseph was born in Torrance and has “great memories” of his childhood. After his dad tragically died in a motorcycle accident when he…
CURTIS FINDS THE BELONGING HE WAS ALWAYS SEARCHING FOR IN GOD
The early years of Curtis’ life were filled with uncertainty and many changes within his home. Curtis and his mom were very close, especially after his dad left when he was only 6 months old. Curtis’ mom got remarried to an abusive man and he carried the weight of protecting her. “My mom was the…
SHALET FINDS STABILITY, RESTORATION OF FAITH, WHILE STAYING AT SHELTER
She’s hoping to be reunited with her children Childhood was not easy for Shalet. She was the oldest of four and in the early years, her family moved several times between Chico and Pomona. “I helped my mom a lot with my brothers and sister,” Shalet said, “but then she died and it was really…
MICHELLE VOLUNTEERS TO MAKE PEOPLE FEEL SEEN, SAFE, AND LOVED
Michelle Downs has dedicated the last 20-plus years of her life to her family as a stay-at-home mother to her three daughters. “After they all graduated, I felt like I was fired,” she said. Michelle found herself with more time on her hands than she liked. She knew she still had so much to offer…
