Stories that Inspire.
Victories to Celebrate.
Stay connected with all the good work the Mission is doing!
Years After Graduation, Billy Keeps On Trucking
Billy was born in Ohio and moved to California when he was 6 months old, where he has lived ever since. Billy describes his upbringing as “kind of rocky. My dad was a truck driver. He was never home. He was there, but he wasn’t. It was just me, my mom and three sisters.” Billy…
Brian Will Be Home For Christmas
You might remember Brian. He spent his first Christmas at the mission last year. This Christmas, he has a job, a place to call home and a renewed purpose. Brian’s story began when he and his future wife moved up to Oregon after high school. He went to culinary school; they got married, bought a…
Bert tires of living on the streets, starts anew at the mission
Bert was born in Los Angeles and raised in the San Gabriel Valley, where he spent more than 20 years. But about 25 years ago, Bert’s mom relocated to the High Desert. “I’ve been here ever since,” he said. Bert stayed with his mom and worked in a variety of fields. “I’ve done everything across…
Nathan remains connected nearly 1 year after graduation
After graduating from the mission’s recovery program years ago, Nathan thought he was prepared to reenter the world. But instead, he isolated himself, and feelings of loneliness reemerged. “I fell into a secluded depression I guess they’d call it,” Nathan said. “I just snuggled up with a bottle and about killed myself. But then one…
Harold knew the mission was ‘a blessing’ as soon as he entered
Harold had plenty of chances to get into trouble growing up, but his tight relationship with his mother always kept him in check. “When I almost didn’t graduate from high school, she started crying, and I told her I’d do whatever I had to do to get back in school,” Harold said. “I went to…
Backpack Giveaway Event A Success Yet Again
The sky was filled with thunder clouds and intermittent patches of blue, but Impact Church, site of the 10th Annual Backpack Giveaway, was filled with sunny faces and radiant smiles. Why? Because our High Desert kids were receiving fully stocked backpacks! And that wasn’t all—they were getting haircuts and manicures, socks and shoes, and reading…
Ray Gets His Health And Relationship With God Restored
Less than a year ago, Ray was wandering around Yucca Valley, awake for days and screaming at God. Now, he is stable, sober, and looking forward to the rest of his life. “Since I’ve been here at the mission, I’ve seen that the bible is true, that God is real and he loves us,” Ray…
Bill’s Boots On The Ground – Where Does My Help Come From?
The life lived in homelessness is one of struggle—but what does that mean? Simply, it is a constant pressure, like walking upstream against the current. Every step takes determination and perseverance, and at the end you really haven’t traveled very far or you slip and end up further downstream than when you started. I hope…
Hector Abandons Life Of Crime For Relationship With God
Hector was born and raised in Texas by a single mother. “I never had a father figure in my life,” Hector said. “I chose the street and criminal enterprise as my family. My mom is my best friend. She’s my mother and my father and my best friend. She worked and went to school, so…
Gerard Enters Program After Stumbling Into Drugs Again
Gerard grew up in Orange County to a good family. They moved to Victorville when he was a kid. He finished school, started working, and all was well. “Everything was really good,” Gerard said. “It wasn’t until I was about 28 that I started partying. I started messing with meth a little bit and I…
Bill’s Boots On The Ground – How Hot Is It?
I recently attended a national conference for rescue missions; it was in Palm Springs just over the mountains from Victorville in the “low desert.” I met a lot of people from all over the country doing the same work we do, and they were shocked and amazed at the temperatures (85 degrees) even as early…
Seven Years After Graduation, Anthony Reflects On His Restoration
Anthony grew up in San Dimas, but moved to Hesperia when he got older. He met his wife, and they bought a house there, but Anthony spent most of the year working as a machinist at a cannery in Alaska. During some vacation time, Anthony came home to Hesperia where he got into trouble with…
