Pastor: Jeff Craig
jeffcraig@newlifechurchyl.com
In 1995, I met the woman that would become my wife in Yorba Linda, California. Several years later in 2004, my wife and I along with our two young boys moved to Yorba Linda, California for full-time ministry. For 15 years, my wife worked as a registered nurse at Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC), and I served as a pastor for all age groups in this city. My boys grew up in this amazing city and we have some of our most cherished memories living here.
Over the years, I have had the opportunity to work with multiple generations of people living in Yorba Linda. I have been involved with over 12 graduating classes of students, led several outreaches in the community, prayed thousands of prayers with people, organized events for the family, encouraged marriages to work out their differences, counseled hundreds of students, and young adults, assisted people with addictions to find hope and healing, and taught people to love others, serve others, and live in a way that inspires others to leave this place better for the next generation.
I have spent thousands of hours in prayer walks on the horse trails of Yorba Linda. I have prayed over the houses, city, and county. I have asked God to use me to truly help people and love them like He does. I have dedicated my life to serve God and serve others in this area.
I believe the church should be like one big diverse family. A place where people of diverse cultures, backgrounds, ethnicities, and ages come together and become family. It is a place where people can find hope and purpose. To serve and encourage others. It is a community of people that remind one another, they are not alone, they do not have to live in isolation or despair. There is hope!
I have a desire to reach our next generation. Over the last 20 years, I have seen so many changes in our children growing up in Orange County. Anxiety, depression, cyber bullying, and addictions are impacting our children dramatically. I pray I can help encourage our children to live healthier life's spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically.
We have been extremely grateful to raise our children in Yorba Linda. However, my boys did not understand how blessed they truly were. So, I have taken them to places in other communities and Countries to serve the poor. To help serve children who do not have clean drinking water or food to eat. And I have led hundreds of students from our city on mission's trips around the world to appreciate all we have living here in Yorba Linda, California. Parents have been incredibly supportive of us showing their students how fortunate they are to live here. These have been life changing trips for our students.
I look forward to the opportunity to continue helping many more people in our community find hope, healing, purpose and live to their fullest potential.
Worship Minister: Tim Craig
timcraig@newlifechurchyl.com
Although I was born in Ventura California, my family and I moved to Yorba Linda when I was only four which is where I grew up. For as long as I can remember, I was going to church with my family each and every Sunday. Both my mom and dad’s sides are Christian which I consider a blessing because I was introduced to the hope of Christ and saved at a very young age. While growing up in church taught me the Bible and surrounded me with great people, I eventually felt as if I were just going through the motions each Sunday and doing nothing more than that. I was able to appear receptive each Sunday to the message and appear as if I were a perfect Christian, but I never really lived what I heard outwardly. This all changed for me when I began to serve on the worship team. Serving helped me find faith that was my own, not just my family’s.
Musicianship runs in my family so music has always been a passion of mine. When I was around 12 years old, I began receiving opportunities to serve on the worship team at my church. From there on out, I was serving each week on Sundays, Wednesdays, and even Thursdays sometimes. Still though, I felt as if there was something more that I wasn’t grasping. After about 4 years of serving is when something really clicked for me. I was helping lead worship for a Celebrate Recovery ministry when the Spirit began to move in my heart. That night, I began to understand the true purpose and meaning of what I was doing. I realized the significance of using my gifts for the glory of God and leading both others and myself in a time of worship to encounter God. My whole perspective on the reality of the Gospel was flipped upside down and I knew that I needed to take it more seriously. It is such a blessing and honor that God would use me to play a minuscule part in doing His work here on earth.
Campus Administrator: Brittani Rodriguez
brittani@journeytohopeministries.com
In December of 2022, Brittani Rodriguez founded Journey to Hope Ministries with a heart full of prayer and a vision to impact God’s Kingdom. While she expected to fulfill her calling in a different manner, the dream to start this ministry was born during a season of significant change for her and her family. Throughout her career, Brittani has been deeply passionate about serving and uplifting at-risk teens. Her desire to change the world, one teen at a time, led her to create a relational and practical program that provides the hope of Jesus to those who need it most. With Journey to Hope Ministries, Brittani hopes to continue empowering youth and making a positive impact on their lives.
Find out more about Journey to Hope Ministries at Journey to Hope