Last Saturday, Eddie Mejia completed the journey he began over a year and a half ago. As he crossed the stage and accepted his diploma as a symbol of his graduation from the Rescue Mission program, he reflected on the long road that had led him to this moment. A rough and difficult journey, […]
Lindsay’s Story: Finding Fulfillment in Christ
It is an experience we are all familiar with: looking for love in the wrong place. So often, we search for a satisfaction in people or things that only God can give. We look for affection and approval from others that can only truly be satisfied in Christ. This is how Lindsay’s story begins. Denied […]
Lakeisha’s Story: A Chance to Stand on Her Own
We have all had moments where it seems the world is crumbling around us. Something we trusted in or relied on gives way, and suddenly we are faced with impossible circumstances. For many, an eviction notice or loss of a job can lead to devastation, homelessness, and hopelessness. Every day at Orange County Rescue Mission, […]
Nowhere to live and four kids to feed
My heart aches when I hear stories of families like the Hernandez’s. Yolie and Humberto Hernandez were in a desperate position, unsure of how to provide for their family and faced with the real possibility of living on the streets with their four children. But they, along with many other families like them, have found […]
Aja’s Story: No Longer Running
Everyone, on some level, experiences the temptation to “run away” from their problems. Many of us have tried, only to learn the hard way that our problems cannot be outrun. This is an important concept to the Rescue Mission philosophy. I have always made it a priority not to offer band-aid solutions in the form […]
Young Mom Finds Stability and Becomes Self-Sufficient
Community is a vital aspect of life change and restoration. This is evident in the Rescue Mission’s approach to care and support at all of our facilities. The Rescue Mission’s House of Hope campus in Orange was designed to be a transitional and supportive community to single women and their children. As these families journey […]
A New Hope: Heather’s Story
I am always encouraged and refreshed by the stories of redemption that come out of the Rescue Mission. I would like to share Heather’s story with you, and it is my hope that you would feel the same encouragement after reading it. This is Heather’s story. Heather’s life was in shambles. Her past was a […]
The Biggest Blessing: Candace’s Story
In January of 2015, Candace walked through our gates. I remember when I first met her, as a scared and pregnant young girl. Two years later, Candace is now a changed woman: confident and hopeful, ready to face her future and able to provide for her children. Watching Candace’s journey over the past two years […]
A Woman that Inspires Others
Two years ago, Joyce knew she needed to change her life. She was trapped in an endless cycle of prison sentences, probation, and drug addiction. From a young age, this was all she knew. But two years ago, after her last release from prison, she knew it had to end. This is the story of […]
What is the value of one life?
I know that these days, the answer will vary greatly among us. But at Orange County Rescue Mission, the answer is not subjective, and it is not dependent on the condition of the life. All life, every person, is valued because we are all created by God. Joe and Michelle have found their personal value […]