[ultimate_modal icon_type=”none” modal_title=”Adrian’s Story” modal_on=”button” onload_delay=”2″ btn_size=”block” btn_bg_color=”#ffb200″ btn_txt_color=”#454545″ modal_on_align=”center” txt_color=”#f60f60″ modal_size=”medium” modal_style=”overlay-fade” overlay_bg_color=”#333333″ overlay_bg_opacity=”90″ header_text_color=”#454545″ modal_border_width=”2″ modal_border_color=”#333333″ modal_border_radius=”0″ btn_text=”READ MY STORY” content_bg_color=”#ffffff”]If I had to use any one word to describe my experience growing up, that word would be ‘Lonely’. I remember all too well the feelings of hopelessness as I almost nightly questioned, “Why am I alive?” and “If I died, would anyone care or even notice?” Much of this was due to the dysfunction and brokenness within my own home, but also due to the dynamics of the city I grew up in: Azusa.

At the time, my city had the highest concentration of racially motivated hate crimes in the San Gabriel Valley; tensions between minority races made even the simplest task of walking home a dangerous one. Having made more than my fair share of poor choices, I was no stranger to pain, trouble, and disappointment. As I journeyed through my early teen years, I was determined to get out and away from this city as soon as I had the opportunity.

In my late teens God used a variety of dynamic and unusual circumstances to reveal Himself to me and highlight the value of my own life, driving me to radically commit myself to the cause of young people who walk similar paths that I’ve walked. As I began to live this out, I sensed God call me to lifelong service to these teens, and gave me the heart and passion to do so within the very city I was determined to escape: Azusa.

After nearly 10 years of working for the school district, various churches, and youth organizations in Azusa, I learned skills, developed relationships, and gained much experience that led me to my next and current assignment: MYTHIRDPLACE.

In the Summer of 2013, in collaboration with teens, families, the local church, city officials, and educational institutions, I founded MYTHIRDPLACE. This has been one of the most frightening, challenging, exciting, and rewarding decisions of my life. I daily find myself in situations that stretch and force me to be reminded of my own need for support. Through MYTHIRDPLACE, my hope is that every teen that feels alone, questions their identity, and wrestles with purpose has a safe place to find the love and support that they long for.[/ultimate_modal]

[ultimate_modal icon_type=”none” modal_title=”Christian’s Story” modal_on=”button” onload_delay=”2″ btn_size=”block” btn_bg_color=”#ffb200″ btn_txt_color=”#454545″ modal_on_align=”center” txt_color=”#f60f60″ modal_size=”medium” modal_style=”overlay-fade” overlay_bg_color=”#333333″ overlay_bg_opacity=”90″ header_text_color=”#454545″ modal_border_width=”2″ modal_border_color=”#333333″ modal_border_radius=”0″ btn_text=”READ MY STORY” content_bg_color=”#ffffff”]As many of you know I successfully graduated from Azusa Pacific University in 2013 with a degree in Christian Ministries, more specifically Sports Ministry. I had been blessed to even attend a university, so graduating was a great moment for my entire family. In this new season of life, I have been able to practice daily what I have been taught while in school, and more importantly, what was instilled in me from my amazing parents as a child. Though God has led and even dragged me to many places throughout the world, His hand has affirmed that my home is California. As a result, I am currently living in Azusa and am now the Program Director of an after school program called MYTHIRDPLACE. Each day I am able to interact with and engage both Middle and High school students. I am privilaiged to walk with them through their goals, trials, fears, and accomplishments. Discipleship was important to Jesus, and so it is important to me. And though this job has its difficulties, I absolutely love what I do. It is a true blessing.

At an early age, I understood quite well the effects of gang lifestyle, as they were evident to me through my environment and foremost through my father. As I experienced some extremely challenging circumstances within my own family, I became empathetic for others who have encountered such tragedies and was driven to eradicate the cycles of dysfunction within Los Angeles. Throughout my adult life I have found myself traveling both nationally and internationally, walking with gang members from various cultures, visiting prisons, and using sports to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ. Each of these things has prepared me for the call that I am walking in right now. Honestly, after I graduated I was on my way out of California when a couple local pastors and friends, in a sense, “hounded” me to stay and finish the work that I had started the previous year. I struggled with the option for several days when God used a young man to affirm my call and eradicate my doubts. As I continued to seek the lord for answers I received word that one of the students I walked closest with, was shot and in critical condition. At the time, his survival seemed unlikely and all the emotions from powerlessness, to anger and hopelessness, set in. It was this tragic situation that God used to confirm my calling with these youth, to help them make wise decisions and walk with them even through the valley of the shadow of death. Today, that young man is ALIVE AND WELL and I still get the opportunity to walk with him every week. His story is one of many that MYTHIRDPLACE strives to tell, and it is for students like him that this ministry exists.

The truth is that many of our youth would be in the streets if not for MYTHIRDPLACE, and it is for that reason that we keep our doors open. So I ask for your support in this ministry. I ask you to support me in this ministry financially, and I charge you to hold me accountable to communicate with you the stories of these youth. I ask you to support this ministry spiritually, to intercede for us in prayer and fasting; to be on your knees day and night for these young men and women. I ask you to fill the need for MYTHIRDPLACE so that we can continue being the hands and feet of Christ to these youth. I ask you to reinforce us as we battle on the front lines of the war for these young souls.[/ultimate_modal]

[ultimate_modal icon_type=”none” modal_title=”Beka’s Story” modal_on=”button” onload_delay=”2″ btn_size=”block” btn_bg_color=”#ffb200″ btn_txt_color=”#454545″ modal_on_align=”center” txt_color=”#f60f60″ modal_size=”medium” modal_style=”overlay-fade” overlay_bg_color=”#333333″ overlay_bg_opacity=”90″ header_text_color=”#454545″ modal_border_width=”2″ modal_border_color=”#333333″ modal_border_radius=”0″ btn_text=”READ MY STORY” content_bg_color=”#ffffff”]Growing up in neighboring cities of Azusa, I saw how gang involvement, drug and alcohol abuse, and the inability to access sufficient resources could impact families and perpetuate cycles of poverty and dysfunction. In 2010, I had the privilege of going to Kenya and was challenged with a simple yet profound question: “What are you doing within your community?” This question, as well as my desire to work with marginalized communities, led me to graduate with a Bachelor of Social Work and continue with my education and pursue a Master of Social Work. As the Associate Program Director of MYTHIRDPLACE, I have the privilege of walking alongside middle and high school students daily, apply my social work skills, and empower youth in being able to utilize their experiences to make changes within their communities and “create what they wish existed” here and now.

MYTHIRDPLACE desires that the youth of Azusa learn to walk in the fullness of who God calls them to be and understand that the cycle of dysfunction within their families and communities can end with them.[/ultimate_modal]

[ultimate_modal icon_type=”none” modal_title=”Briana’s Story” modal_on=”button” onload_delay=”2″ btn_size=”block” btn_bg_color=”#ffb200″ btn_txt_color=”#454545″ modal_on_align=”center” txt_color=”#f60f60″ modal_size=”medium” modal_style=”overlay-fade” overlay_bg_color=”#333333″ overlay_bg_opacity=”90″ header_text_color=”#454545″ modal_border_width=”2″ modal_border_color=”#333333″ modal_border_radius=”0″ btn_text=”READ MY STORY” content_bg_color=”#ffffff”]I had no idea what I was going to do in the Summer of 2014, but I knew that I felt called to continue living in the city of Azusa, where I attend college. I got connected with my friends Adrian and Christian, the CEO/Founder and Program Director for MYTHIRDPLACE, to see if I could give my free time in any way, and I started helping out with random jobs. During this process, I also came along as a volunteer during events for our Summer program, and fell in love with the youth who are a part of MYTHIRDPLACE. They taught me the profound significance of simply being present in their lives day-to-day, and was blessed that they chose to show love to me as I attempted to love them.

Since that Summer, I have been hired on as the Administrative Coordinator for MYTHIRDPLACE, in charge of making sure things run smoothly behind the scenes. As I engage in the learning process of this new role, I am reminded that I am incredibly privileged to be a part of such an amazing organization. I truly believe that through a series of mundane experiences and events God has been guiding me to be a part of this community of teens and families in Azusa. As an urban missionary, I get to play a small part in creating community change through administration and mentoring,  and see God’s kingdom of love manifest in our community.[/ultimate_modal]