West Whittier, CA
On October 6, 2009 the remains of Staphanie Almanza were found at the bottom of a commercial garbage bin that had been set on fire in Santa Fe Springs, CA.
Stephanie was apparently the victim of a drug deal gone bad. A 21 year old young mother of two hooked on meth who life was taken from her and her dead body left to burn in a dumpster.
The death of Stephanie had a profund effect on her family's home church; My Friend's House (MFH) AOG Church in West Whittier. Her family has been members for many years. The tragic loss of this young woman was a blow to members of the MFH family and grieved the Pastors of the church.
Enter Pastor Pauline Alvarado, wife to Pastor Joey Alvarado of King's Table Ministries. It was at a 24 hour prayer vigil on Oct. 10th four days after Stephanie's remains had been found and identified that the Menin their Men's Home & Ministry had been assisting MFH Church in their weekly food distribution that they heard of the death of Stephanie. They requested prayer for her family and her church family at MFH at the prayer vigil. Pastor Pauline moved by this tragic story of Stephanie was moved by the Spirit of God to think of the dozens and hundreds of Stephanies that are still out on the streets with nowhere to turn... If only there was a place where these women could go for shelter, prayer, and restoration. Glory to God, this would be a blessing to these needy women. However, was Pastor Pauline ready to commit to such a large task? Such a huge undertaking? Had she let go of her own pain and sorrow over past hurts in dealing with women in the ministry who then turned on her and abandoned her leaving her heart broken and in a shambles? Could Pauline bring herself to take such a leap of faith to open her heart and hands to do this work? Only God could answer these questions... which he did.
It was shortly thereafter that Mrs. Pacheco and I met with Pastor Pauline and Joey Alvarado to discuss the feasibility of opening a Women's Home in the Whittier area. This was in late October, 2009. By December, 2009 the decision to open the 1st Women's Home in Uptown Whittier was made, counting the financial support and efforts of the LC Foundation, Inc.
On March, 17th FCCI Minstries called for a 24 hour prayer vigil to prayer for the new Women's Home in Whittier and also for the scheduled Evangelistic Trip planned for Kansas. On Wednesday, March 17th (St. Patrick's Day) a 24 hour prayer vigil was held at Whittier Area House of Prayer. Exactly 2 weeks to the day after this prayer vigil, on March 31st, 2010 Pastor Jim Ortiz, Senior Pastor of MFH, turns over the keys to the 2nd Women's Home under the care of Pastor Pauline Alvarado, "Stephanie's House."
The Lord God certainly moves in mysterious ways. We prayed for a blessing for the 1st Women;s Home, and God opens the door to a second Women's Home. Coincidence? Or, Divine providence? I would subscribe to the latter. God had already placed the burden for the establishment of the Womens Homes on the heart of Pastor Pauline Alvarado back on Oct. 10, 2009. And then as God would have it he began to bless what had been established in His Honor, for all Glory goes to God, and not to man.
Pray dear ones for both of these Homes... That the Lord will provide for all of the Womens Home's needs according to His riches in Glory ... Amen!
-- Dr. Ralph Pacheco
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