CENTRAL COAST — More than 100 guests attended the Ventura Family YMCA’s annual Prayer Breakfast held Nov. 16. It was an uplifting morning of prayer and encouragement with music led by Pastor Troy Jones of The River Community Church. Breakfast was provided by The Palms at Bonaventure.
Attendees listened to the amazing story of keynote speaker, Chrissie Chapman, a woman who has dedicated her life to helping orphans and widows in Burundi. Trained as a midwife, she traveled to Burundi to open a maternity clinic. During her stay, a brutal civil war broke out and the people of Burundi suffered massive tragedy for fifteen years.
Chapman now spends her time traveling to share the message of the Lord. She often draws from her experiences of miracles and provision when caring for abandoned children in Burundi’s warzone.
Local faith leaders who participated include:
- Pastor Larry Reichardt
- Father Tom Elewaut
- Pastor Margaret Rosenberger
- Pastor Jim Ayers
- Pastor Dave Schulze
- Pastor Ashton Fish
- Pastor Jesse Giglio
- Rabbi Lisa Hochberg-Miller
About the Channel Islands YMCA: Established in 1887, the Channel Islands YMCA is a charitable organization of seven YMCA branches serving Santa Barbara and Ventura counties including: Camarillo Family YMCA, Lompoc Family YMCA, Montecito Family YMCA, Santa Barbara Family YMCA, Stuart C. Gildred Family YMCA in Santa Ynez, Ventura Family YMCA, and Youth and Family Services YMCA which operates Noah’s Anchorage Youth Crisis Shelter, the St. George Family Youth Center and My Home.
The Y is the nation’s leading nonprofit committed to strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. The Channel Islands YMCA serves over 46,000 individuals and provides over $1.3 million in financial assistance to families in need for child care, YMCA memberships, away and day camps, youth sports, and teen after-school programs. For more information about the Ventura Family YMCA, visit http://www.ciymca.org/ventura/ or call (805) 642.2131.