Current Youth Nights

November marked another one of our monthly Current Youth Nights at Coast Church in Ventura, CA.  We had some first time guests, some friends from other local churches, food, fun, and an inspiring word from our friend Dave Ceja from Angeles Church in Glendale, CA.  

God is moving in the lives of young people and a movement is being born in Ventura County that wants to put Jesus first in their lives.  We love seeing young people excited about Christ, actively engaging in their communities and schools.  If you know any middle or high school students in Ventura County that are looking for a great place to gather for monthly youth services, we know a place...Current Youth Nights.  

Next Current Youth Night is Friday night, December 2nd at 7:00pm at our Ventura church location: 2734 Johnson Dr. Suite A.  805-215-3558 for more information.  This upcoming Youth Night will be a movie night where we will view the film, "Woodlawn" and have a special discussion on racism, prejudice, and how we can overcome it in our generation.  You don't want to miss it!  

Let's Make a Difference

Last night a 24 year old young man was stabbed to death in North Oxnard, in a neighborhood that Coast Church Ventura has established a Community Group Bible study geared towards young people.  Our hearts are absolutely burdened by the loss and we mourn the loss.  Yet there is a holy angst that is rising within us to DO MORE, to make a DIFFERENCE in this community.  

It may sound crazy, that a new church in Ventura (which is just getting started) would be reaching out to a community in Oxnard, but we believe that usually the crazy ideas are the ones which God is right in the middle of (think: David and Goliath).  

We know there are mega-churches around but NOBODY has reached the kids we are reaching in this neighborhood and we see a great need to shine the light of the Gospel to them.  Our prayer is that God would continue to use us to reach this dark world and shine brighter than ever before.  The bad news is that this junk is happening...THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT YOU CAN HELP!  LET'S MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN VENTURA AND OXNARD!

How can you help? 

-Join the Coast Church team!

-Host a Coast Community group or volunteer to help with one that is going. 

-Donate to our fundraiser to purchase a van to pick-up kids in this area for youth events, church gatherings, camps, etc.   

-Donate snacks, drinks, school items, etc. to be used in our Coast Community group in N. Oxnard.

NO DREAMS - The Coast Church Van Project

The blank looks and the silence in the room was my first indication that we were in the right place.  The question was asked, "what are your dreams in life" and the silence was deafening.  One of the older boys stepped up and said, "to get a job and pay the bills."  I'll never forget the first night of our Youth Bible Study in North Oxnard at that apartment complex.  I can never put that visceral silence of "youth without dreams" away from my thoughts as we endeavor to reach out to a community that needs the light of the Gospel.  

It started with a group of 13 young people hanging out at our BBQ and now we're seeing a group form that is hungry for something real in their lives.  We're in need of a church van to transport the group to our Sunday gatherings, to community outings, to events, and also to provide others with a ride who do not have transportation.  In the near future we will begin a program called "LIFE - Life in Focus Education" that teaches life skills, gang intervention, drug/alcohol rehab, parenting, anger management, etc.  We want to be able to offer transportation to these classes as well.  

When I read the headlines on KVTA's Facebook page this morning about a homicide in a public park in Oxnard (less than one mile from the apartment complex we have our group at) my heart hurt but I also felt a glimmer of hope for the future.  Knowing that we're shining light into the darkness is the solace we have when facing the daunting task of reaching an area where this kind of tragedy is the norm.  

A safe, reliable, used 15 passenger van will cost between $20-30,000 if we were to purchase from a dealer.  We have a contact who is a wholesale broker and can get us a $20-30k van at roughly $15k and is agreeing to do so at no charge to our church.  

Christmas is a tough time on the pocketbooks of most people but it is also a time when miracles happen and when great causes see great support.  We realize that this idea represents more than a van, it represents hope for a community, it represents future leaders...it represents DREAMS in hearts of children who have NO DREAMS.  Would you partner with us today?  We appreciate your prayers and support!        -Pastor Scott

P.S.  We have room for several business/corporate sponsors to have their company logo on the back of our van.  Do good and advertise all around Ventura, Oxnard, etc.!