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It is 2am. Do you know where your child is?

Hopefully tucked in bed sound asleep. Maybe your child is wide awake thinking through stressful situations. Or maybe, if it is me on a Thursday night/Friday morning, they are just getting home. One may ask, what are you doing out and about at this time of the night? Well Christ has put a burning in my heart to witness in West Hollywood at this time with a ministry team called, “Brokenhearts Ministry”. This ministry befriends, feeds, and witnesses to the homeless, the club-goers, and the prostitutes in West Hollywood. I credit much of my wisdom, knowledge and experience in evangelizing, and my courage, to my days spent at Pusch Ridge Christian Academy. Had I not participated and really payed attention in Mr. Peyton’s Junior Bible Class and Mr. Taronto’s Senior Bible Class, I would not have befriended “Alexis”.  It was from these classes I learned how true the Bible really is. It was from these classes that I observed and deeply analyzed Mormonism, Buddhism, New Ageism, and every other religion out there to find out what the truth really is which is: Faith in Christ alone. Peter calls us in 1st Peter 3:15 to be ready to give an answer for the hope we have. Thankfully, Pusch Ridge Christian taught me why I have that hope, and how I can share and defend it.


In my ministry I befriended a prostitute named Alexis. Alexis had no plans of getting off the streets, and believed she had nothing to offer the world. After months and months of befriending, deep talks, encouragement to get into her passion of fashion design, and much prayer, Alexis decided she was going to move to Oakland to start over. I lost all contact with Alexis for four months. However one Wednesday night at 3am, I was awakened with the conviction to pray for Alexis. The next night at ministry, I saw her. She had moved back. But it got better! Alexis showed me her application to a fashion school in Los Angeles, her room assignment in campus apartments, and a resume complete with real work experience. It was the work of God at hand. Alexis introduced me to all her prostitute friends, thus opening the door for more witnessing opportunities, and paraded me around as “her girl, who always believed in her and encouraged her”.


I have a reason for my hope in Christ, and Pusch Ridge taught me to be bold with it. And, to change the world with this hope.  It was all due to the amazing teachers and mentors at Pusch Ridge that I have the strength and knowledge in the truth to go out, befriend, and help a prostitute in West Hollywood. Pusch Ridge is an incredible institution that I hope is always appreciated.

Kayla Schannep

Junior, Biola University
Sociology Major
 

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