Educational Programs Reach Community

In the eight years of its existence, Saddleback’s PEACE Community Resource Center (PEACE Center) has provided basic resources and assistance to people in need. From programs and workshops to food and training, over a dozen services are offered to the community through our PEACE Centers across Orange County.

However, it’s not just about resources; it’s about the opportunity to pour into the lives of struggling families and share the hope and love of Jesus Christ.

In order to continue God’s work in this ministry, our PEACE Centers at Lake Forest, Irvine South, and San Clemente are introducing new programs and outreach opportunities to assist more people in need — the “A” goal of Daring Faith.

Slated for completion in early May, the Food Pantry at San Clemente will expand by 50% to provide more space for the nearly 75 people who are served each week. Construction began in March to widen aisles so we can serve more people and provide additional space for refrigerated and frozen food.

From feeding the body to feeding the mind, our PEACE Centers are also investing significant resources in building up educational programs. For example, on April 9, our San Clemente PEACE Center will be launching a Computer Skills Class. Students will learn keyboard techniques, Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel. The class is also available at our Lake Forest and Irvine South locations.

In February, Irvine South started a Career Coaching Ministry. “Career Coaching is perfect for anyone in career transition,” says PEACE Center Community Resources Manager, Stacey Woodhart. “They learn resume writing, interviewing skills, LinkedIn, and how to market and brand themselves in business.”

In addition to Lake Forest and Irvine South, Saddleback Anaheim also offers Career Coaching for people who are transitioning to other professions. One benefit of having various resources under one roof is the ability to guide people from one step to the next, no matter what their stage in life.

One of these “steps” is English as a Second Language (ESL), hosted at Lake Forest, Irvine South, and San Clemente. All three campuses offer instruction in speaking, listening, reading and writing with an emphasis on conversational skills. This often leads to people tapping into other PEACE Center resources including Citizenship Class, Computer Skills, and Career Coaching.

“The ESL classes allow people to better integrate into the community,” explains PEACE Center Launching and Training Director, Rana Muncy. “We’ve recently started partnering with a local hotel chain to provide full time job placement opportunities for our guests. With help from our Resource Coaches, this could potentially become an extension of our job placement ministry.”

In the past 18 months alone, more than 100 people have taken the 4-week Citizenship Class to prepare for the United States Citizenship Examination, and 12 students have become US Citizens.

In the process, many participants end up enrolling their children in on-site PEACE Center programs including Learn and Play. Available at San Clemente’s PEACE Center, this pilot program recently launched as a bridge between preschool and kindergarten reinforcing and promoting social and academic skills, and sharing about Jesus.

The demand for such an outreach is high, since nearly 50% of kids in Orange Country are not academically prepared for Kindergarten*. This is in part due to people’s inability to pay for preschool. The new children’s program is doing well, so we are expanding it to reach more children by hosting a week long Learn and Play class in the community this summer.

“We hope that Learn and Play will create a bridge leading people back to the church,” says Rana. “It’s a way to build trust and relationships throughout the community, while helping kids prepare academically and socially for school.”

Another recent PEACE Center ministry added at San Clemente and Lake Forest is Guitar Lessons for students Grades 5-12. These 30-minute beginner and intermediate lessons teach strumming patterns, cords, and worship songs. During the lessons, students have an opportunity to hear about Jesus.

“The teachers have formed sweet relationships with these kids,” says Stacey. “They pray with them and discuss the meaning of the lyrics. It’s a very intentional way of sharing faith.”

Since many schools have eliminated music programs, these free guitar lessons are a valuable outlet for students in Orange County. Plans are in place for the PEACE Center to host a musical recital before summer.

As beneficial as these lessons are, however, learning how to play guitar comes secondary. At the forefront of The PEACE Center is the goal to guide people one step closer to the Lord.

One ESL student recently wrote: “I learned so many things I didn’t know before, but above all, I learned that there is no difference between people in the eyes of God.”

Sharing that message of love and acceptance is at the core of The PEACE Center, explains Rana. “It’s about building relationships with families and assimilating them into the church,” she says.

Stacey adds, “These courses and workshops give us a platform to engage in intimate conversations about the Lord. We’re not reaching just one child, we’re reaching an entire family.”

To volunteer and help assist people in need, contact The PEACE Centers at Irvine South at peacecenteris@saddleback.com (949) 609-8210; Lake Forest peacecenter@saddleback.com (949) 609-8111; San Clemente peacecentersc@saddleback.com (949) 609-8665.

*Source: The 23rd Annual Report on the Conditions of Children in Orange County.