Operation: Rebuild Ventura Teen Challenge
Rebuild, Repair, Revive…Restore
In the aftermath of the Thomas Fire, we are faced with a set of hurdles to get Ventura Teen Challenge back in operational order:
| COMPLETE | Phase 1: Provide for immediate needs and short-term housing |
| IN PROGRESS | Phase 2: Set-up temporary housing and staff offices to get the ladies back in their own space |
| PENDING | Phase 3: Rebuild permanent dorms and offices |
“To all who mourn in Israel, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the Lord has planted for his own glory. They will rebuild the ancient ruins, repairing cities destroyed long ago. They will revive them, though they have been deserted for many generations.”
Isaiah 61:3-4 NLT
The home of Ventura Teen Challenge is called Miracle Mountain—and with good reason. We have seen miracles happen there every day as women break free from addiction and find healing in their lives. Then last week, we saw yet another miracle.
Although the Thomas Fire raced through and burned much of our campus—including a 30-woman dorm and our staff offices—two other buildings with additional dorms and classroom space, as well as our kitchen and dining hall were untouched by the fire.
To get Ventura Teen Challenge back in operational order, we are faced with a three-step process:
COMPLETED—Phase 1: Provide for immediate needs and short-term housing
Community support for the ladies of Ventura Teen Challenge has been amazing. Many have donated personal funds and physical goods—enough to provide for the ladies’ immediate needs and to replace their personal items lost in the fire.
IN PROGRESS—Phase 2: Set-up temporary housing and staff offices
Kern County Teen Challenge has opened up their hearts and their facility to provide emergency housing for the Ventura ladies. We are now faced with:
- Getting the ladies out of emergency housing and back into their own space.
- Getting Ventura Teen Challenge business offices back in operational order while the insurance adjustors are working through the details.
While we expect our insurance to cover virtually all of our losses, we also anticipate that there will be extraordinary unreimbursed expenses that we will incur. We also know that the relocation of the ladies will have a negative impact on our ability to share our story in church services in the Ventura area, as well as reduce student fundraising activities.
PENDING—Phase 3: Rebuild permanent dorms and offices
We are taking the necessary first steps toward rebuilding the damage on campus, including preliminary meetings with insurance representatives, contractors, and government agencies. Just as the mission of Ventura Teen Challenge is to restore lives and make them whole again, our goal now is to restore what has been lost so our ladies can return to a campus that has been made whole—one that is ready to continue our mission.
We are so grateful for those who have come alongside us in this tragedy. As Isaiah 61 says, we will rebuild, repair, and revive Miracle Mountain. And restoration will continue at Ventura Teen Challenge. God bless you for your prayers and the gifts you make to Ventura Teen Challenge.