Stories that Inspire.
Victories to Celebrate.
Stay connected with all the good work the Mission is doing!
Putting The Past Behind Him
Despite having only just turned 22 last month, Zachary has had a lot of life experience. His father was in the Air Force, so Zach was born in Germany and then lived in Idaho, Texas and Montana before settling in Santa Maria when he was in junior high. He excelled at school, earning a 4.0…
When a Sentence Turns Into a Blessing
It isn’t always by choice that people end up at the mission. Sometimes, as a result of a crime, part of sentencing will involve time in a recovery program. That’s how Steve ended up here. “It was court ordered that I come here for six months,” he said. Steve doesn’t have a scandalous story. He…
“Same Kind of Different as Me”
A major feature film hitting the box office this month will shed some light on what you already know—supporting rescue missions, helping the homeless, getting involved— can save peoples’ lives. “Same Kind of Different as Me” is based on the inspiring true story of Ron and Debbie Hall and their unlikely and life-changing friendship with…
Breaking the Cycle
Speaking from experience, Greg states, “You gotta get sober. You gotta find a good support group. You gotta surround yourself with good people. Don’t get caught out there. It sucks you in and soon you are on the streets and it becomes a cycle that is hard to break.” For Greg, that cycle broke. In…
Blame Game Tamed
“By age 12, I blamed God for my problems. I blamed God for my brothers’ illnesses. I blamed God for the way our home operated as a broken home. I blamed God…up until recently.” Until recently Rafael’s life was disappointing. He notes, “My childhood was pretty horrible. I was born to an alcoholic father. My…
Friday Night Food Truck
In early 2017, the Rescue Mission Alliance Central Coast “rolled” out an exciting new outreach that has a lot of people excited. Johnny Torres, the mission’s cook, came up with the idea to use our SOS Truck and serve a made-to-order menu to anyone who needs a hot meal. Every Friday night you can hear…
Raised in Love
Seeing the love in Brendon’s eyes as he recalls how his mother and grandmother raised him, you know that he had an amazing childhood. “With no dad around, my mom and grandma did so much for me. They cooked and cleaned and kept us happy. They did so much, they did everything. I am so…
Living and Leaving a Legacy
Brock states, “I had a good life growing up here locally. The root of my problem is that I like to party too much, it started in high school. Partying became an everyday thing and just took over my life. We thought we were cool if we partied every day, but the truth is we…
Rebuilding a Good Foundation
Brandon shares, “I had been sober about five and a half years, but I started getting depressed, so I started drinking again. I got three DUI’s within 13 months and everything just fell apart. My son’s mother said I couldn’t see him unless I stopped drinking. I was warned that, if I didn’t stop drinking,…
Real Life
Having grown up on the Central Coast, Casey attended local schools, graduated high school, and began a successful career. He states, “But then I had a really hard time. I had problems with my girlfriend and for whatever reason, I went down another road and got into addiction. It was a train wreck for about…
Lessons Learned, Looking Forward
Reflecting on lessons learned at the mission, Will says, “Transparency is a big one. Knowing that I’m not alone and that I’m able to help others through being transparent is a big lesson learned. Being able to identify with others and being honest brings camaraderie. Camaraderie is a huge part of the program here. It…
Intercessory Player
An intercessor is defined as, “a person who intervenes on behalf of another.” That is Ivan. Through diligence at the thrift store, in the place of transitioning leadership, Ivan has stepped in and provided useful service to the mission. Ivan states, “At first I thought this was just a thrift store; this is just work,…
