If you didn’t get to be there heres a little idea of what this wonderful night looked like!

The experience  at the Yost Theater was so amazing. It was so great to see volunteers from different churches come along side each other and make this event special  for our Teen Moms and Dads  from the Santa Ana and Costa Mesa Area. This Christmas event was our Kick off for Santa Ana Club.  We  were blessed by the  volunteers  that attended the event and helped out.

The event  begun by greeting the Teen moms, dad and their children.   As they walked in the theater doors I noticed their faces just in awe of how beautiful everything all looked.  You could  truly feel God’s presence as you entered the event.    The Teen families  and  were invited to a Buffet style Italian  dinner. The event proceeded with Christmas Music and a play.  The play was lead and played out by Nathan &  Cody from Mike Rigdon’s  life group. They  entertained the event  as they played out their version of the 12 days of Christmas. Throughout the event the young families were also invited to a Christmas photo booth, which was really fun!

After the  Beautiful Christmas Caroling we had a special speaker come up and share the Christmas  story.  Pastor Lamont from Emmaus Church  shared  on his personal life on a day where he was given a gift.   Lamont also shared on his personal life  and  shared on memories being brought up by a single mother in a lower income community.   Lamont also shared verses of the Bible from the book of Luke.  He shared on  the ‘Gift” of Christmas.  I noticed  the teen moms and dads eyes glued  to the stage and listening to Lamont as the  story unfolded.  For some people attending it  was the first time they had heard the Christmas story.

The event ended by inviting the Teen  moms and dads to receive Christmas Gifts. It was such a blessing to see so many of the young families come up and receive their gifts.   For some of the families this will be their only gift under their Christmas Tree. Many  volunteers helped  in wrapping their Christmas  gifts.  Towards the end of the  program Kylie  called out raffle tickets and handed out prizes which included gift cards and tee shirts.

It  was heart warming  seeing the many volunteers serving  and  sharing  the  love of  Jesus this Christmas. I am looking forward to seeing  many of the teen families and the volunteers in January for our next Santa Ana Club event.

-Maria Randall

Hi my name is Zenia Tejeda.

I am 19 years old now but when I started going to YoungLives I was 16 years old and pregnant with my first child, Jeancarlo. When one of the girls from school, Aylin, first invited me I didnt want to go because I was not feeling very happy. I was feeling alone because my parents and I were not talking. They were very upset with the news that I was pregnant. I ended up going to YoungLives because Aylin convinced me and I am so glad that I did. When I went there I liked it because I didn’t feel different. Everyone there went through the same thing and when I was there I felt loved. I started reading the Bible and praying more because I really wanted to have a relationship with God. While I was praying the Lord talked to my heart and I realized that I was wrong and that my parents were hurt by what I did because they had trusted me. I realized that I needed to ask for forgiveness. Everything changed and I started going to church with my family. The Lord has done many miracles in my life and when I was 18 I married my son’s father, Marvin.

With my second pregnancy the doctors told me that I had a high risk of losing my baby because I had the IUD. When I was 24 weeks along I started getting contractions and my water broke. The doctor told me that there was nothing they could do to keep him from coming and that there was only a 25% chance of him living. I was very sad and I told Myrna and asked her to ask the YoungLives mentors and moms for prayer. I didn’t want to lose him. I told the Lord, “please I don’t want to lose him but Lord if you want to take him I promise I won’t lose my faith.” It was hard but there was nothing I could do besides pray. A couple of days passed and the doctor called me to tell me that Baby Alexis needed heart surgery. He was just 1 pound 9 ounces. How could he survive a heart surgery when he was so tiny? I started to lose my faith but all of the YoungLives people were praying for me and my son. My faith came back and I told the Lord, “I know you are not going to take him because he is here and I know prayers work and there are a lot of people with faith praying for my baby. I know the enemy wants me to lose my faith but he is not going to because I trust in the you Lord.”

My baby Alexis is now 5 months old and he is here with me. He is an example for all of those people that don’t believe in God and in miracles. He is one miracle baby. I am so thankful for Myrna and my mentor Milie becuase they have been there for me and my family. Thank you Millie for buying my wedding dress when I didn’t have the money to afford it. Thanks to her one of my best days became true. Thanks to Myrna and YoungLives I had have gotten to know the word of God more and have been able to know Him. Thanks also to the group that brought my family Thanksgiving dinner last week. It was delicious and we got to spend a very good family dinner last week. Thank you for having a very good club like YoungLives.

Hello everyone!
Just finished up our November club! With Thanksgiving around the corner, the decor put us right in the mood for the holidays. The tables were adorned with beautiful flowers, that the girls would win in the raffle. The dessert table had  bottles with the letters
G-I-V-E  T-H-A-N-K-S written upon them, which was a good reminder to all who walked by & grabbed a yummy treat.
It was exciting to see some new faces & some of those who returned after a little break. It’s such a blessing for me to be part of these girls lives & to make ourselves available to them. With our usual routine in play, they feasted on what looked like a beautiful spread of Thanksgiving favorites (thanks to First Christian Church for providing the meal and our food team for preparing it!), then they played a game lead by Yousef, so you know that was a hit! Which was followed by the music portion of the night. Ok, so this part is always a little exciting for me, you just never know what your going to get! You might hear anything from Back Street Boys to Metallica & this week took it to a new level with Creed! The youth are really enjoying it either way…I think they’re still trying to figure out if this band is serious or not;) Then Laurie Bradley shared a very simple but compelling message from Matthew 16:13, where in He says to His disciples, “Who do you say that I am?” Pointing to how in culture we often look to people, judging them by what we see on the outside. Her point was that many people say Jesus is one thing or another based on the worlds judgment of Him. But who do we say He is? It was a good reminder to the group that we ourselves have to get to know God as He is & not how the world presents Him.
After each message I am blessed & honored to lead the girls in a craft! This time is not only for them to relax & get creative but it’s a very sweet bonding time for them. I love seeing them crafting away & sharing in deep conversations! They walked away with joy in there hearts & an amazing tote that we made from just a simple men’s t-shirt! This craft was my favorite so far.
It was another amazing third Thursday filled with laughter, fun & excitement!

With love in Christ!
Tracy Sumner

Almost three years ago I remember a morning, as my wife Myrna and I were driving to Lake Park for our first pancake breakfast fundraiser to help take the first group of teen moms to summer camp. As we were driving there, the song “One Thing Remains” started playing on the radio and as it went on Myrna and I started crying, we cried out of joy that God shows up and is at work all the time for His people. I remember the part in the song, “your love never fails, never gives up,” and that is the one thing that will forever remain, HIS LOVE.

As we were dreaming of reaching out to more teen moms and their families and sharing God’s love with them, we had a dream of starting YoungLives in Santa Ana. In the last year, God has opened doors for YoungLives to enter into Santa Ana. We have heard many stories and have seen the need for YoungLives in Santa Ana where God could show his unfailing love to His kids. We started seeing more girls from Santa Ana attend our monthly YoungLives club in Huntington Beach and they even started coming to church with us. As we continued to pray, I remember telling my wife that God would bring forward the right people to help us start YoungLives in Santa Ana. We knew that God doesn’t need us but wants us to cry out a little bit more to Him. It is like He wants to see your true cry for these girls and their babies before He entrust them into your hands. So as we continued praying and bringing it to God, it finally came true.

Last Sunday 11/15/2015, Myrna and I had the privilege of witnessing our mighty God’s work in Santa Ana. We attended Emmaus Church, which meets in the heart of downtown Santa Ana in the Yost Theater. It brought me to tears again seeing God at work in the unexpected way and place. As you walk in to the Yost Theater on a Sunday morning, you can still smell the alcohol from the party on the night before. It made me so happy to claim that place and witness a church meeting in a building that God is claiming His. 

On December 3^rd, YoungLives Santa Ana will have their first event ever in the form of a Christmas Celebration held a the Yost Theater, a place that everyone in Santa Ana knows and has seen over and over as they pass by it on their daily commute. It is amazing how God works and seeing His work being done is the most beautiful thing ever. After the Christmas party, YoungLives Santa Ana will start doing monthly clubs at Newsong Church located by Santa Ana College. All this was made possible first because of God’s work— God brought a group of people from multiple churches in Santa Ana to pour their love into these kids’ lives.

Once again, I still tear up when I listen to that same song 3 years late, “Your love never fails, It never gives up, It never runs out on me…” It is true, His love never gives up!

Yousef Bittar

We are partnering with trees for a cause this year and we are super excited about it! Support YoungLives this Christmas season by pre-ordering your Christmas tree online here by Nov.22nd. You will be able to come pick up your tree on December 5th at the common ground ware house. Proceeds go to supporting, mentoring, and loving teen moms, dads and their children. Watch this video to hear a little bit more about the heart behind our ministry and the need for this fundraiser. 

Hello!

So I wanted to fill you in about what has been happening in the last few weeks. Myrna and I have gotten the opportunity to visit several schools in Santa Ana through their FCA clubs. We have gotten to share our testimonies, some pizza, and tell the them about YoungLives. It has been absolutely incredible to see how God has used these times to impact the lives of the high school students that we have encountered. We have witnessed over 40 students make a decision to follow Christ over the last few weeks! That alone is mind-blowing!!

To see the light in these kids eyes as they walk through the doors, grab their pizza and sit down, its like all the stress, drama and craziness of High School goes away for that short time. They are highly excited (maybe because of the loud Jesus rap music & free pizza) or maybe because they know these people that come to their school every week actually love and care about them, they feed them, talk to them about their lives, and pray for them. I can’t even imagine what else God is up to in these schools.

It has been a huge privilege to be able to be apart of something so big and that is impacting so many. Please continue to pray for these kids as well as us as we continue doing this weekly at different schools.

I hope I can express to you how important YoungLives North OC is to our community and how it has impacted my own life.  I encourage you to read through the other blog posts and see how this ministry has impacted the lives of these teen parents, other volunteers and supporters.

I believe that a healthy ministry starts with its leaders and their complete dependence on Jesus. I see this in Myrna, Yousef and others who have trusted in the Lord to provide for every need with this ministry.  I am humbled each Club event seeing the Love poured out into the lives of these young families. It starts at the top and flows out through those who serve here, from the essential work of set up and tear down to the beautiful table decorations, delicious food, creative crafts, entertaining skit, enjoyable music, exciting speakers, dedicated mentors, faithful prayer warriors and amazing childcare volunteers.  I know a mouthful, but it takes a community of believers to deliver such Love…

”Therefore, be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in Love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and Sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.” Ephesians 5:1-2

When I first heard about this ministry I had been praying for a number of years with a close friendabout where God wanted us to be serving. We were both serving in church but felt that we wanted to be a part of something outside the “church walls” sharing the gospel in our own community. The amazing part of this story is that we were attending different churches at the time and yet within the same week we were both approached by different people explaining the ministry. Without each knowing it, we agreed to be involved and then told each other about it.  We were both so excited about this ministry and knew that it was an answer to our prayers, God ordained and in His perfect timing.  This is my third year serving at YoungLives, and my families second year. We love that there are opportunities in this ministry for our whole family to be involved in serving others.

During these last three years I have been so blessed by seeing many of these sweet young moms and dads grow into confident godly men and woman. This ministry not only supports these families with their physical needs, it also speaks to their spiritual need as well.  There are a number of great programs out there that help single parents. But in my opinion, none compare to the truly LIFE changing impact that YoungLives North OC brings.

My desire and prayer is to continue and grow in this ministry for as long as the Lord leads. I am honored to be a part of something so fundamental to our community and culture, truly changing lives in these last days, and thank the Lord for His provision and answered prayer.

May The Lord Bless you,

Cristen Gerum

When I first heard about YoungLives, the young mothers and their babies and having the opportunity to be a part of serving them, I knew I needed to be a part of this wonderful ministry. I knew that God can use me here because I can relate to the struggles and battles of being a pregnant teen mother at age 19, and realizing the reality of life completely changing in an instant and trying to figure out how to take care of another tiny human.Through this how God has transformed my life into a loving marriage to my high school sweetheart and three children that we raise together and go through life together, but only by God’s grace, is all of this possible. It is so important to have guidance and direction as a young mom because it really does influence you in a big way and teach you how to go through life each day that is set before you. I’m really looking forward to seeing hearts fill with love from Jesus and letting these young ladies know how much they are worth in Our Father’s eyes and how raising a child is a very important role in life

-Nichol Duenes

My name is Cheridan Coffin. I’m a mother to an amazing 7 month old, little boy named John William. I first got involved with YoungLives through my friend Amber. I was pregnant and she told me about this amazing group for moms who meet up once a month. This began my journey towards finding God. My first night meeting everyone was a bowling night. I was about 5 months pregnant trying to bowl and meet everyone. I remember being so nervous, but when Myrna picked me up she helped me feel better.

In July I went to camp, in Arizona, with YoungLives. There was one night there that impacted me the most. It was our last night at camp. The speaker told us to go outside and pick a spot to ourselves away from everyone else. He told us to be silent on the way out and to just go and pick a spot. We were suppose to sit and it was like alone time with God. Some people went and were silent the whole time and others went out there and cried. I went out there and apologized to God for everything I’ve done and for everything I didn’t do. That night I had decided to give my life to Him. We all went back to our groups and cried.

About two weeks ago we had church service at the beach. I had no extra clothes and didn’t plan for anything, but something was calling me out to the water to get baptized. I walked out there with the same girl who introduced me to YoungLives and we got baptized together. Things have been hard for me lately and I have felt so alone, but i decided to let go and let God take control. I knew at that moment that I needed his help to guide me through the tough times and that eventually everything will get better. Before I was involved in YoungLives I felt alone and thought I could do everything on my own. Through this amazing group I have gotten the help and support I need. I have an amazing mentor who is always there when I have questions and need help. This group is full of amazing moms who have incredible stories and i’m glad to have had a chance to get to know everyone.

Cheridan

My name is Samantha B. Harris. I have an amazing boyfriend named Marvin Plascensia. Together we have a healthy, handsome son named Damian M. Plascensia. Me and Marvin are 19, Damian is 2 and he was born when we were 16 years old.

When I found out that I was pregnant it was definitely a shock.  I wasn’t on a good path in life. I was the kid parents didn’t want their children to be friends with. I was a very selfish person who didn’t care about family, school, or pretty much anything. The only care I had was having fun all of the time. And the “fun” things that I was doing were getting me in trouble and risking a lot. However, when I saw the ultrasound of the little baby growing inside of me I was immediately motivated to make some big changes in my life.

I knew that I wanted to give birth and that I would do whatever it would take to give my child a great life. At the time I was attending a high school that didn’t support teen pregnancy. When I told the nurse the news, she gave me lots of different options of schools to go to. I decided to go to Valley Vista because they had a Mother’s class and also a free daycare for the babies so that the teen moms could go to school.

I am so happy that I chose to go there because I met Myrna there. She was volunteering once a week to tutor the teen moms. She would always hand out fliers about YoungLives club. At the time I had no interest to go, but some of the girls told me it was really fun and that they were going to be there. So I finally decided to go and they were right.

I remember the first time I went I was a little shy because I had a big belly and I thought people would judge me. When I showed up it was the total opposite. There were a lot of teen moms that had babies and that were pregnant. I finally had a place to go where genuinely humble, sweet people LOVED me. They didn’t think of me as a sad story or charity, they actually accepted me and wanted to get to know me. I didn’t realize until the end of club that all of these great people were followers of God and many of them attended a church called Rock Harbor.

After a couple months of going to club I invited Marvin. I wanted him to meet all of these wonderful people and also have a place to go with other teen dads and talk to them also. When Myrna saw us both there she invited us to come to Rock Harbor with her and her husband, Yousef. I didn’t want to go because I was still pregnant and for some reason, I didn’t feel right going in a church. I was unmarried, pregnant, AND a teenager. I didn’t have the courage. Although I grew up in a Christian family and I always went to church. I loved Sunday school and donuts and community. But those were the days when I was small. I didn’t understand life yet. I didn’t have problems or struggles.

Once I gave birth to my son I felt comfortable to go to church and I am so happy that I started going again. Honestly, being a part of a community like YoungLives has really changed my life. I went to a couple different camps with Marvin and Damian and they were so amazing. I asked God for forgiveness and accepted him into my heart.

After a couple years in my journey of following the Lord I feel like I have really grown in spirit. I recently got baptized in the ocean and it was the best day of my life! My parents came and they were so proud of me. My Mother and Father have also been by my side this whole journey. I am so blessed to Have Myrna, Yousef, my Mentor Samantha, and also all the volunteers that are apart of YoungLives in my life. They have supported me since day one and never gave up on me no matter what the situation in either of our lives.

Today, I am in a very good path. So is Marvin, We both have jobs to provide for our family. We are very patient, loving parents to our son Damian. I really enjoy going to church every week to learn more about the Word of God and also to see my YoungLives family. My goal is to maybe be a leader one day, because my leaders had a very strong impact in my life. I definitely feel that I could have impact on another girl who was on the same path as me. I have come so far and changed my life around drastically.