Stones of Remembrance
Celebrating 40 Years of HIStory!

I have seen God at work in countless ways through Door of Hope, but I always think back to the COVID era as the season that taught me the most about His goodness, provision, and faithfulness in the midst of fear. 

In March 2020, we activated our pandemic plan when Pasadena schools closed. To protect families and staff, we reduced the number of staff physically present in our shelters and shifted case management and therapy services to virtual platforms. At the same time, we wrestled with difficult questions: Should we stop accepting new families? Should we scale back until the crisis passed? Like most people, we assumed the shutdown would last only a few months. 

But as calls poured in from families facing job loss and imminent eviction, it became clear that families needed us more than ever. One day, overwhelmed by uncertainty and exhaustion, Ephesians 3:20 came to mind: “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine…” In that moment, I felt God calling us not to retreat, but to step forward in faith. 

We expanded our homelessness prevention program, trained additional staff, brought on interns, and trusted God to provide. By the end of 2020, we had tripled the size of our homelessness prevention program from what we had originally planned in January, all while maintaining full occupancy in our shelters and continuing to serve families experiencing homelessness. We even opened a new shelter in December, in the middle of a global pandemic. 

God made a way where there seemed to be no way. He taught me that resources follow vision, and Spirit-led vision is always bold because we serve a big God. To Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, be glory forever and ever. Amen. 

This is a story of a stone of remembrance—a marker in time, representing resilience, hidden stories, and the power of being truly seen. It is the story of how a chance encounter, born from a desire to shatter stereotypes, evolved into a lasting document of a single, homeless mother’s fight for her three youngest children.

It began on an ordinary day with a tour. Jeff Hobbs, an acclaimed author known for his immersive, deeply empathetic nonfiction, visited a Door of Hope. While there, he met with the Executive Director, Megan, and presented a profound idea: he did not just want to write about homelessness; he wanted to explore the human beings behind the statistics and dismantle the harsh stereotypes attached to the unhoused.

He wanted to tell a real story.

In the beginning, there was a group of four participants—Alumni of Door of Hope—who began the process of being interviewed. Life was, as it always had been, incredibly challenging, and navigating the nuances of personal history while trying to secure a future was difficult. Over time, as life continued to pull the participants in different directions, the initial group dwindled. Yet, one person remained, consistently telling their story and engaging with Jeff over a long, arduous process.

That person was me.

I, a single mother of three, lasted the whole three-year journey of interviews, storytelling, and reflection. What started as an exploration of four perspectives focused entirely on the endurance of my journey. As a result, my life, my children, and our fight to navigate the world while sleeping in my family’s converted garage while holding onto the dream of stability became the center of this incredible book.

Now, the world can read the story of my struggle to secure housing, all while working and keeping my children in school—proving that homelessness is not a failure of character, but a systemic crisis navigated with immense courage. This book is that stone—a permanent memory of surviving the “urban wilderness” and a testament to the fact that I was here, I fought, and I was seen.

Find the book here.

I’ve seen God at work through Door of Hope in both the people and the outcomes, often in ways that are quiet but deeply transformative. In my role, I have the opportunity to look at the data behind our programs such as housing retention, financial stability, and socioemotional growth, and what stands out to me is that every number represents a real family whose life is changing, or has changed, for the better through the work God is doing at Door of Hope.

What is most meaningful to me is seeing how that change happens over time. Families come in facing overwhelming circumstances and, through consistent support, community, and care, begin to rebuild stability and hope. It is not usually one defining moment, but a series of small, faithful steps that lead to lasting transformation, reflecting God’s presence in both the process and the people walking alongside them. Just as important, families are not only supported in a moment of crisis but are invited into a community of belonging that continues long after they leave the program.

I have also seen God at work through the staff at Door of Hope. My coworkers’ love for the Lord is evident in how they serve: with compassion, humility, and persistence. Their faith shows up in the way they walk alongside families day after day, believing in their potential even when the path forward is difficult.

Being part of this work has deepened my understanding of how God moves, not just in big, visible ways, but through steady presence, faithful service, and the long-term restoration of lives. It is a privilege to witness and contribute to that work.

Twelve years ago, I joined Door of Hope, what we called a “mom and pop” at the time. Things were different—ping pong breaks, stairwell races, kids wandering into offices. We did the same work of empowering families to transform their lives, and I still sometimes miss calls for emergency babysitting, getting to know families, Board members swinging by, and the one-team spirit with most staff working out of one home.

In those years, I handled donations and checks. Every week the ED would select which bills we could pay, and our December fundraising efforts were “help us survive” campaigns. Payroll was never missed, but only because God kept showing up right on time. Thanks to God’s hand in our work, 8 years ago, our financial picture transformed drastically through strategic planning and a reinvention of how we approached fundraising. This was all truly God’s miraculous provision. 

The same faithfulness has been reflected in our team. My first year, half the staff quit. I wondered why I’d left my previous job, but that very job (technical recruitment) prepared me for team rebuilding. Over the years, we’ve had up to eight open positions at once. There was another time when I was about to go on maternity leave and prayed for every role to be filled (and then watched it happen). We have witnessed candidates perfect on paper get passed over until the right person walked in.

Every single team member is a testament to God’s provision. We prayed for each person before they joined the team. God knew and called each team member into the role they’re in. Our team is God’s provision to Door of Hope, called to love and serve our families.

God is faithful! This is His work. With Him at the center, He always has and always will provide.

A moment that moved me was when I was feeling very down emotionally one Monday night at work due to various factors. A volunteer who leads bible study had words of encouragement for me without knowing my situation. I felt that was God right at that moment speaking to me and I could not stop crying after she prayed for me. It reminded me of the privilege it is to work in a faith-based organization and how the work we do is truly a ministry!

God will meet us right where we are. Work will come with its trials, with highs and lows, but it is important our faith never waivers and that we continue to allow God to use us.

I’ve seen God work in multiple ways through Door of Hope. The relationships I’ve built with co-workers have been meaningful and they gave me new joys in life. Helping families in need as my family was facing challenges helped me to empathize with the stress and urgency of each circumstance. God grew my heart of compassion and mercy through helping others and watching my co-workers and supervisors give of themselves.

Nancy is a mother of two and applied to the Door of Hope Homelessness Prevention Program, looking for assistance to help her and her family move. A friend had provided a place for her and her family to stay, but her friend needed the place back, leaving Nancy and her family with time running out and no place to go. Additionally, Nancy was looking for a job as an addiction counselor to add some income to their household.

In our first case management meeting, I quickly connected with Nancy – as she shared pieces of her story, I was moved with compassion, and I wanted to see her and her family permanently housed. Nancy got a job by our second case management meeting, and started work soon after. She continued in the apartment search, but it was a challenging process. Many places would seem like possibilities, but landlords would come back to her, unwilling to work with her credit, or accept third party payments. The search was discouraging, and I remember being on the phone with her for our case management meeting on her drive to work, and hearing some of the frustration and fear she was feeling – what if she couldn’t find a place? As with every case management session, we concluded with prayer for connection with the right option – the right home for Nancy and her family, a landlord who would work with her, and within her price range.

A few days after our 6th case management session, Nancy texted me – she and her family were approved for an apartment! Door of Hope assisted with the security deposit payment, and Nancy and her family moved in soon after. Additionally, Change Reaction was able to assist with some furniture to fill their new home. What seemed like an impossibility at times during our case management became a realized, tangible home for a family.

This is a sweet example of countless similar stories, even in seven months of work as a case manager. To be a case manager at Door of Hope is to bear witness to endless stone stories, through the resilience of the families we work with and their persevering love for one another, through the generosity of donors who allow us to do the work we do, and through the moments where, against all odds, the Lord provides a home.

When I think about experiencing God’s presence at Door of Hope, I think about the ordinary moments.

Supervision meetings used to take place on the porch of the Villa house or in the small back room where two desks were humbly crammed together. It wasn’t a polished office space. The Alumni Case Manager, Wendi, sat behind me while we worked, and conversations about families and life often happened in those simple, shared spaces.

These were the early days of our Homelessness Prevention Program, during the height of COVID. In its second year, all of our case management happened over Zoom. Families were falling behind on rent, losing jobs, and facing deep uncertainty about how they would keep a roof over their heads. Inside the Villa house, our team was scattered throughout the space—on the porch, in small rooms, at desks squeezed together—each of us with laptops open, all connected to the same house Wi-Fi. We met with families over Zoom, listened to their stories, helped them navigate resources, and worked together to keep them housed.

There was nothing particularly impressive about the setting. It was simple. Yet in those ordinary spaces, meaningful and powerful moments were unfolding. Families found stability. Prayers were spoken. Tears were shed. Scripture was shared. Plans were made that helped keep roofs over children’s heads. 

In those ordinary places, God was quietly at work. 30-minute case management sessions were restoring hope, and what began with very little slowly grew into something far greater than we could have imagined. That year we met 132 families and now, in 2026, we will have the privilege of connecting with and serving 240 families. 

One God story that stands out right now is the smiles of kids when every summer they get to enjoy every Saturday of two hours of fun at a pool.

Since the summer of 2020, an amazing donor has opened his house to Door of Hope families. Every summer, kids and their families get to enjoy this time of fun. So many kids, including my own, learned to swim there.

I remember one time a mom came to me and the house host and thanked us for giving her and her family the opportunity to come to the pool. They had never been to a pool, let alone to have it for the whole summer. She was in tears when she told us this. It was a heartfelt moment.

Through working at Door of Hope, I have experienced a deep reconnection with my faith. I have many testimonies of how God has revealed Himself in what we do, and it’s difficult to choose just one. But I will begin with the first moment that confirmed to me that God is present in Door of Hope.

It happened when I was first assigned to a Spanish-speaking woman. When I called, I introduced myself, and we set a date to meet.

As I was speaking with her, I felt a strong and overwhelming urge to pray for her. It was almost as if someone was speaking directly into my mind and heart, saying, “Pray for her, pray for her.” I had grown up Catholic, and at that time, I was not used to praying out loud in my own words. I was used to structured prayers that we memorized and repeated. When I started as a case manager, I knew that praying with participants would be one of the most challenging parts of the job for me. It made me feel uncomfortable and afraid that I wouldn’t do it “right.”

But the feeling I had in that moment was so powerful that I couldn’t ignore it. I felt a deep need to pray for Estela Arias and her family. Even though I was nervous, I asked her, “Can I please pray for you?” She said, “Yes, please.”

And then, the words started pouring out of me. I couldn’t explain it, but I felt completely overwhelmed with a mix of joy and sadness. It was as if the prayer was not coming from me alone, but from something much greater. When I finished, she was crying. Over and over again, she kept saying, “God exists… my husband will survive.”

She then told me something I will never forget. At that very moment, she was at the emergency room. Her husband had been hospitalized with a severe heart condition. His body had retained five gallons of fluid, and he was in critical condition. The doctors had told her to expect the worst.

She shared that just before I called, she had dropped to her knees and prayed, asking God to reveal Himself—to give her a sign that He was listening and that her husband would survive. When her phone rang, she hesitated to answer because she did not recognize the number. But when I asked if I could pray for her, she knew that was the sign she had been asking for—that God was with them.

Her husband recovered.

In December, they came to our Door of Hope event with all of their children. Together, they celebrated not only his recovery, but also the stability and support that Door of Hope had provided for their family. This experience confirmed for me that what we do is not a coincidence. It is not by chance that people come to Door of Hope. They are brought here searching for answers to a question many of us have asked at some point: “Has God forgotten about me?”

What they find here is more than financial assistance. They find care, compassion, and a reconnection with their faith.

And I am so grateful for Door of Hope, because just like Estela, I needed that answer too.

It is such an honor to support our families through three distinct stages of their time here at Door of Hope: interviewing them at the beginning and accepting them into our transitional housing program, working with them to set goals during their time here, and supporting them along the way until their time of graduation, which is when they secure permanent housing.

One moment that captures the heart of this journey is a mom named Joyvonne. After completing her time in our Bravo home, she stood ready to hand over her apartment key to the next mom who would walk through those same doors. In the photo we took together, she’s smiling and throwing up the “deuces”—a simple, joyful gesture that says so much. It’s a goodbye to one chapter, a celebration of how far she’s come, and a confident step into what’s next. 

I’m an assistant facility maintenance worker, and I have great joy and thank God by working at Door of Hope and doing repairs. 

It’s a great thing that I see God doing in the employees here and reaching out to the case managers. I could sum it up in this way: Jeremiah 29 says, “For I know the plans and thoughts that I have for you, says the Lord, plans for peace and well-being, and not of disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” 

I have seen the opportunities that Door of Hope gives to every client, and how God is just reaching out and utilizing everybody. 

I haven’t been here a year yet, but I’m looking forward to the years to come and being used by God in any way I can. God is moving in this place, and he’s giving an excellent new hope for the people here. 

In November 2022, I met Aisha Figilis-Williams from First United Methodist Church Pasadena. What seemed like a simple introduction became the beginning of a relationship that would, over time, reveal God’s perfect timing.

In the years that followed, the connection grew steadily—through conversations, a meeting with Pastor Amy Aitken, and even a large gift of socks for families at a Summer Carnival. At times, it was hard to see what God was doing. The steps felt small, the purpose unclear.

Then, in July 2025, I reached out to request space for a Development retreat. Soon after, Pastor Amy connected Door of Hope with a family in need of housing. Through the Homelessness Prevention Program, that family moved into stable housing—a tangible expression of care and provision.

From there, the relationship deepened. The church’s youth supported a family affected by the Eaton Fire, and Door of Hope was invited to the Alternative Christmas Market. What once felt like isolated moments began to form a clearer picture—God was nurturing a partnership that would soon meet needs still unfolding.

Around the same time, Door of Hope was becoming increasingly aware that families in our Transitional Housing Program—especially at Casa—were struggling to have enough food to last through the month. What we could not yet see was how God would use this very partnership to meet that need.

First came oranges in February. Then rice, beans, and oil in March. Now, First United Methodist Church is helping connect Door of Hope to a reliable, ongoing food source.

Looking back, what once felt slow and uncertain was God moving faithfully all along—preparing the answer before we even knew the need.

It was a privilege and a joy to be present at graduation ceremonies when families were ready to move out on their own. The appreciation shown by the families for their experience at Door of Hope was heartwarming.

Twelve years ago, I joined Door of Hope, what we called a “mom and pop” at the time. Things were different—ping pong breaks, stairwell races, kids wandering into offices. We did the same work of empowering families to transform their lives, and I still sometimes miss calls for emergency babysitting, getting to know families, Board members swinging by, and the one-team spirit with most staff working out of one home.

In those years, I handled donations and checks. Every week the ED would select which bills we could pay, and our December fundraising efforts were “help us survive” campaigns. Payroll was never missed, but only because God kept showing up right on time. Thanks to God’s hand in our work, 8 years ago, our financial picture transformed drastically through strategic planning and a reinvention of how we approached fundraising. This was all truly God’s miraculous provision. 

The same faithfulness has been reflected in our team. My first year, half the staff quit. I wondered why I’d left my previous job, but that very job (technical recruitment) prepared me for team rebuilding. Over the years, we’ve had up to eight open positions at once. There was another time when I was about to go on maternity leave and prayed for every role to be filled (and then watched it happen). We have witnessed candidates perfect on paper get passed over until the right person walked in.

Every single team member is a testament to God’s provision. We prayed for each person before they joined the team. God knew and called each team member into the role they’re in. Our team is God’s provision to Door of Hope, called to love and serve our families.

God is faithful! This is His work. With Him at the center, He always has and always will provide.

When I arrived at Door of Hope in 2021, I came without a Christian community and, despite twenty years of following Christ, I had never experienced deep spiritual fellowship. I knew Door of Hope was a Christ-centered organization, but what I did not know was that I would find brothers and sisters in Christ who would companion with me in ways that would change my life.

I often hear our families share stories of spiritual renewal—of growing in faith, discovering hope and, for the first time, experiencing what family looks and feels like after going so long without one. This resonates with me as I had never known or seen what it meant to have a spiritual family until I came to Door of Hope. The relationships I’ve formed—among staff and even donors—have become my first true spiritual family. These connections have shaped me, encouraged me, and held me in ways that words can hardly capture.

God’s hand is woven through every part of this story. I’m convinced now more than ever that He is far more concerned with who we are becoming than with what we are doing. And in the same way I’ve seen Him transform the lives of our families, I’ve seen Him gently and powerfully transform me through the community He placed around me at Door of Hope.

One of the ways I’ve seen God at work at Door of Hope is through a family in our program. They have five beautiful children, and although they are Muslim, their presence has brought such a deep sense of community into the home. The mom expresses her love so tangibly through her cooking—she consistently shares meals with other children, families, and staff. She often makes me a plate as a way of saying thank you for caring for her children, and it always deeply touches me.

The dad brings a quiet, steady presence. Even while caring for five kids, he remains incredibly calm and is always expressing gratitude. Together, their peaceful spirit fills the home in a way that impacts everyone around them.

Their generosity, humility, and care for others have made a lasting difference—not only for their own family, but for the entire house. The mom has also been a source of support for other families, helping create a space where people feel connected and cared for. Through this family, I’ve seen how love, hospitality, and peace can reflect God’s presence in such a powerful way.

Fourteen years ago, two homes on Villa Street in Pasadena sat quietly unused. They belonged to Lake Avenue Church and had remained vacant for more than five years. As both a board member at Door of Hope and an elder at Lake Avenue Church, I often found myself thinking about the contrast: empty homes on one hand and families experiencing homelessness on the other.

Door of Hope had already demonstrated that something powerful could happen when families were given the stability of a safe place to live alongside compassionate support. Through its transitional housing program, families were rebuilding their lives—and the outcomes were remarkable. Around 85 percent of graduates were maintaining stable housing one to five years after leaving the program.

Still, the idea of using the Villa Street homes for this purpose had struggled to gain momentum. Conversations had stalled, and it seemed possible the homes might remain empty indefinitely.

So I decided to invite Lake Avenue’s senior pastor, Greg Waybright, to visit Door of Hope’s original site. I hoped that seeing the ministry firsthand might change the conversation.

During the visit, Executive Director Tim Peters walked us through the program, sharing stories of families who had moved from crisis to stability. As we toured the property, the impact became tangible: children playing safely, parents rebuilding confidence, and families discovering a path forward.

Something shifted that day.

Pastor Greg returned to Lake Avenue convinced that the church had an opportunity to be part of something transformative. He advocated for a bold step: offering the Villa Street home to Door of Hope through a long-term, zero-cost lease.

The church board agreed.

Since then, this once-vacant house has become a place of refuge and renewal. For the past fourteen years, five families at a time have found stability, support, and hope within those walls.

What once stood empty now stands as a testimony to partnership, vision, and the simple but powerful belief that when the church shares what it has, lives can be restored.

And for dozens of families over the years, the Door of Hope Villa site has become a place where hope begins again.

Stan Lazarian, grandson of Door of Hope co-founders Iris and Steve Lazarian, and his 16-year-old granddaughter Sophie came and donated a meal to one of our shelters. 

Stan asked if I knew the story of Iris’s Home, and I said “no.” So, he shared that his parents had been in discussion with a large rescue mission in Downtown LA to open a family shelter in Pasadena. At a certain point, the folks at the mission came to them and said they just didn’t have the funding to move forward.

Iris told Steve that they still needed to make it happen. So, one day, they were driving down Los Robles, and drove past what is now “Iris’s Home.” There was a for sale sign in the yard and she made Steve stop so she could write down the realtor’s phone number.  She told Steve, “we HAVE to buy this house.” Steve asked, “what about the beach house?” Iris had been asking for a beach house for some time because she loved the beach. They had been saving for a beach house. Iris said, “This IS my beach house.”  And so they bought the house.

After that, when the family would drive past Iris’s home, they would point and say “There’s mom’s beach house!”

As Door of Hope approached its 40th anniversary, we began asking a simple but weighty question: How do we remember where we’ve been? We wanted to honor the past, but the truth was—we didn’t have much of it in our hands. Very little written history. 

We wondered how we could tell the story of what God had done when so much of that story seemed lost to time.

Then, unexpectedly, a package arrived.

Inside was a gift from Denise Zuniga Spayd, whose mother, Terry Zuniga, had been Door of Hope’s volunteer photographer at the very beginning. She had faithfully kept the first two years of newsletters—documents we didn’t know existed—along with years’ worth of photographs capturing the earliest days of the ministry. 

Almost immediately after, we discovered another box—filled with even more photographs. Then a hard drive surfaced, containing scanned images from years past. Within the span of just a few days, what once was missing was suddenly abundant.

What we didn’t know we had, God had preserved.

In a season of intentional remembrance, as we asked how to honor the past, God placed it back into our hands at just the right moment—reminding us He has not forgotten any part of the story. As we celebrate 40 years, we remember not only what has been done, but who has been guiding us all along—the same faithful God who continues to write our own story.

Nearly a year after the Eaton Fire, life was still incredibly unstable for my client Jane. She and her 12-year-old daughter were living out of their car when we first connected. We were able to quickly secure emergency housing and began the longer work of finding something stable—along with employment that could help her rebuild.

After months of Airbnbs and hotels, it finally felt like things were coming together. Jane had been approved for an apartment and was preparing to move in when, at the very last minute, the landlord experienced a family emergency. Suddenly, she was told the security deposit needed to be paid immediately or she would lose the unit. After such a long road toward stability, it felt like everything was about to fall apart again.

It was a Friday when I got the call. I was working from home, but as soon as I heard the urgency, I went into the office to see if we could move fast enough to make it happen. When I arrived, Barbara, Carolyn, and our CEO Megan were in the office and immediately asked what was going on. The moment I explained, they didn’t hesitate—they came together right away to expedite the check process so Jane could receive the funds in time.

In a moment that could have become another setback, the response was quick, compassionate, and unified. Jane was able to move in as planned, securing the stability she and her daughter had been working toward for so long.

Today, Jane and her daughter are living stably and continuing to rebuild after the Eaton Fire. I carry this story because it is one of those moments where everything could have gone wrong—but instead, I saw Door of Hope stand in the gap in a way that was both urgent and deeply human.

Forty years is more than a milestone—it is a living testimony of quiet miracles unfolding every single day.

My story is not about one family, one moment, or one success. It is about the countless lives that pass through our doors, each carrying pain, fear, and uncertainty—and leaving with something gently restored. What moves me most is not only what happens in front of our clients, but what happens behind the scenes.

Before a family ever receives keys to a home, before a decision is finalized, before a need is met—there is prayer.

I have watched staff pause in the middle of busy days to seek wisdom, to lift up names, to ask for guidance in even the smallest details. Every housing approval is not just a process—it is covered in intention, compassion, and faith. Every decision is held with care, as if we are entrusted with something sacred—because we are.

There is something deeply powerful about knowing that love is woven into every step, even when it goes unseen. Our clients may not always witness the prayers whispered on their behalf, the hearts that carry their burdens, or the quiet hope spoken over their future—but it is there. Always there.

And that is what fills my heart with joy.

To be part of a place where faith is not just spoken but lived out in action… where care is not rushed but deeply rooted… where every family is met with dignity and grace—it is both humbling and inspiring.

Forty years of this kind of love is no small thing.

It is a legacy of light.

This is a story of a stone of remembrance—a marker in time, representing resilience, hidden stories, and the power of being truly seen. It is the story of how a chance encounter, born from a desire to shatter stereotypes, evolved into a lasting document of a single, homeless mother’s fight for her three youngest children.

It began on an ordinary day with a tour. Jeff Hobbs, an acclaimed author known for his immersive, deeply empathetic nonfiction, visited a Door of Hope. While there, he met with the Executive Director, Megan, and presented a profound idea: he did not just want to write about homelessness; he wanted to explore the human beings behind the statistics and dismantle the harsh stereotypes attached to the unhoused.

He wanted to tell a real story.

In the beginning, there was a group of four participants—Alumni of Door of Hope—who began the process of being interviewed. Life was, as it always had been, incredibly challenging, and navigating the nuances of personal history while trying to secure a future was difficult. Over time, as life continued to pull the participants in different directions, the initial group dwindled. Yet, one person remained, consistently telling their story and engaging with Jeff over a long, arduous process.

That person was me.

I, a single mother of three, lasted the whole three-year journey of interviews, storytelling, and reflection. What started as an exploration of four perspectives focused entirely on the endurance of my journey. As a result, my life, my children, and our fight to navigate the world while sleeping in my family’s converted garage while holding onto the dream of stability became the center of this incredible book.

Now, the world can read the story of my struggle to secure housing, all while working and keeping my children in school—proving that homelessness is not a failure of character, but a systemic crisis navigated with immense courage. This book is that stone—a permanent memory of surviving the “urban wilderness” and a testament to the fact that I was here, I fought, and I was seen.

Find the book here.

Shortly after the Eaton Fire, a volunteer application landed in my inbox that made me pause. Malibu.

I remember thinking—did she have the right organization? With the Pacific Palisades Fire in her backyard, why was she reaching out to Pasadena? Still, I followed up.

She was eager to help with fire relief. The challenge was that we didn’t really have fire-specific volunteer roles at the time, and the distance made our regular opportunities impractical. She even asked about attending our Stories of Hope Home Tour, but a 5:30 PM start on a weekday made that nearly impossible from Malibu.

It would have been easy for the conversation to end there. A kind inquiry, good intentions… and then nothing. But instead, we looked at opportunities that would work, and she decided to be a Birthday Angel.

A couple of weeks later, she made the drive across town, in the pouring rain, to personally deliver a birthday gift for a child living in one of our homes. We met her at Iris’s home, gave her a quick tour, talked about Door of Hope, and received the gift she had so thoughtfully prepared.

It was simple. Quiet. Generous.

And then, just as unexpectedly, we received news that took our breath away. That same woman made a substantial gift to Door of Hope.

In the uncertain, heavy weeks following the fire, when needs felt overwhelming and the road ahead unclear, her generosity was nothing short of an answer to prayer.

We never saw her again. No spotlight. No recognition. No long-term involvement.

Just a moment of saying “yes” … that turned into something extraordinary.

Her presence was brief—but her impact is lasting.

I began serving at Door of Hope in 2003. One family in particular left a lasting impact on me. They had four young children, all under the age of five. I’ll refer to the father as Juan.

Juan grew up in Pasadena in a gang-involved environment and came from a home where love was not expressed. As I got to know him and his wife, I noticed how difficult it was for them to show affection or affirm their children.

So, I began to gently encourage Juan about the importance of expressing love—not just through actions, but also through words. I also consistently told him that God loves him and knows him personally.

At first, it was hard for him to receive that. His past made it difficult to believe he was truly loved.

But one day, Juan opened up. He shared the pain he was carrying and his desire for something different. In that moment, I sensed he was ready. We prayed together, and soon after, he accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior.

The change in Juan was remarkable.

He was no longer the angry and guarded man I first met. He began to show affection to his children—hugging them and expressing love. He started attending church and participating in gatherings like Promise Keepers.

He reconciled with his mother, learned to forgive others, and began to process his emotions in a healthy way—even expressing them through tears instead of anger.

He also began reading the Word of God and often spoke about his desire to become an evangelist.

As Juan changed, his entire family changed and accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior. There was more unity, more peace, and a real sense of hope.

And Juan’s story is just one of many.

What makes Door of Hope so special is that they are truly Christ-centered. Families don’t just receive support—they encounter the love of God. They are given the opportunity to truly experience the love and goodness of God for themselves.

And that is the heart of Door of Hope—real people, real encounters with God, and real transformation.

Holly came to Door of Hope as a resident at our Bravo site with her three children. When she moved in, she shared that she was newly sober after years of meth use and had only recently been reunited with her kids. She entered our program not just seeking housing—but fighting for restoration.

During her time with us, Holly worked tirelessly to maintain her sobriety, rebuild trust with her children after a long separation, and meet the expectations of our program. What we discovered in walking alongside her family is this: it truly takes a village to serve a family well.

Picture this. Picture staff calling her into the staff office to celebrate another month of sobriety with a simple cupcake. The first time she was asked to come in, she thought she was in trouble. Soon, those moments became milestones she cherished.

Picture the team cheering when, after months of searching, she finally secured a job.

Picture a night manager sitting with her, listening and praying, after she was assaulted by a family member.

Picture our children’s team preparing her to have “the talk” with her 12-year-old son—equipping her with both courage and language.

Picture our spiritual director and her case manager cleaning her apartment and making dinner for the kids when she injured her back and couldn’t get out of bed.

And picture this: one morning, just as Holly had decided she was going to give in to the temptation to get high, another resident showed up at her door with breakfast and words of encouragement, urging her to keep going. In that critical moment, community made the difference.

And finally, picture the team standing beside Holly as she received the keys to her own apartment.

These moments may not be glamorous. But they are sacred. They demonstrate what happens when staff and residents together form a true village—surrounding a family with consistency, dignity, accountability, and hope. That is how transformation happens—one steady act of support at a time.

I’ve seen God at work through Door of Hope in both the people and the outcomes, often in ways that are quiet but deeply transformative. In my role, I have the opportunity to look at the data behind our programs such as housing retention, financial stability, and socioemotional growth, and what stands out to me is that every number represents a real family whose life is changing, or has changed, for the better through the work God is doing at Door of Hope.

What is most meaningful to me is seeing how that change happens over time. Families come in facing overwhelming circumstances and, through consistent support, community, and care, begin to rebuild stability and hope. It is not usually one defining moment, but a series of small, faithful steps that lead to lasting transformation, reflecting God’s presence in both the process and the people walking alongside them. Just as important, families are not only supported in a moment of crisis but are invited into a community of belonging that continues long after they leave the program.

I have also seen God at work through the staff at Door of Hope. My coworkers’ love for the Lord is evident in how they serve: with compassion, humility, and persistence. Their faith shows up in the way they walk alongside families day after day, believing in their potential even when the path forward is difficult.

Being part of this work has deepened my understanding of how God moves, not just in big, visible ways, but through steady presence, faithful service, and the long-term restoration of lives. It is a privilege to witness and contribute to that work.

In my role, I don’t interact directly with families, and only occasionally with donors beyond an email or brief phone call. Even so, I get to see how much support Door of Hope has in small but meaningful ways that others might not see—through replies to our mass emails, short notes included with donations, and conversations with those interested in giving.

These moments are often small, but they’ve consistently left an impression on me. They’ve revealed how people show up to support Door of Hope not always in big or visible ways, but in quiet, often unseen ways that are just as meaningful.

I’m also continually amazed by the faithfulness of our donors. We have supporters who have been giving every month since November 2006—long before many of us were here—and that’s only what we have recorded. While it can be easy to overlook the impact of these smaller, recurring gifts, their long-term commitment is a powerful reminder of the steady community behind Door of Hope.