John loves playing music, reading, and spending time with his wife and kids.

John Schmidt has worked for RMA Victor Valley for over 15 years. After being saved at 21, and completing a recovery program himself, John was a pastor for 17 ½ years before he came to the Mission. Now, he uses his experience and his heart for people and relationships as the men’s program manager.

When he’s not at the Mission, you can find John spending time with his wife, Alyse, and their six children ages 4 to 26, while they read, play music, or volunteer at their church. But you’re also likely to find him at Disneyland, enjoying Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway – it’s his favorite ride.

Tell us about your role at RMA.

I oversee and manage the men’s programs, intake, and recovery process during their time here with us. Daily, I oversee the schedules, counseling, training, and agendas across the different ministry sites. And now, on top of that, we have the women’s program as well. We’ve been working with the team to help build and support the program.

Speaking of the women’s program, they just had their first graduation. That’s got to be exciting.

It just goes by so fast. Amalia, and the team there, have done such an amazing job. We had the first two women graduate. It’s such a major milestone for us. This is a brand-new pioneering ministry out here. There’s such a need for women’s recovery ministries here. It’s just been fantastic.

I’m sure your position isn’t without its challenges. What’s the biggest one?

There’s so much work that needs to be done in 10 months to a year. There’s a lot of work on the spiritual and clinical sides to be done in order to see men and women have a new life. I always tell clients, ‘Success leaves clues and failure leaves clues.’ If they take advantage of it, they have an undistracted period of time to gain something that will serve them well for the rest of their life and eternity.

So, I think that’s the biggest challenge, having them come in from whatever background they’re coming in from and beginning to understand that and grow in that. Every day is a new day. Each day we learn. But I always tell them I’m going to be here every morning, every day with them.

John with his family.

What’s the best part or your favorite part of what you do?

Sometimes, people see men and women in program only as failures, menaces or drunks. And I think that’s the greatest mistake you can make. The people here are highly skilled, highly intelligent, and highly talented individuals.

But somewhere in their life, their relationships were destroyed. We’re always trying to teach them… this program is about love. God is love.

The transformation of seeing men who had no hope before, get restored, and their families get restored, that’s the beauty of watching what the Lord Jesus does in their life. It’s the greatest thrill of my life, doing this and watching Jesus do this with people.

Those relationships are so important. The relational aspect of RMA’s programs is so pivotal in continued recovery.

Oh, absolutely! The guys build relationships with each other and keep in contact, and I always tell the guys these relationships are not temporary but eternal.

I still talk to men who were in the program 15 years ago. They have become part of our family.