Each month we like to highlight an employee who exemplifies the mission, philosophy, and values of our organization.

In the month of December we would like to honor Joey Gonzales for all of his hard work in the Village of Hope’s Success Center. Joey works tirelessly to ensure that our student-residents find a vocation within their calling and according to their gifts and talents. Joey instructs and orchestrates ‘Road to Success Job Workshops,’ where in a week long, intensive seminar, he prepares men and women for the intimidating world of job search. Joey has established and maintained strong relationships with employers and potential recruiters as opportunities for the men and women of the Orange County Rescue Mission to transition into upon their jump into the work force. Joey values and considers all of our student’s needs and provides sound, Godly wisdom into each and every individual he works with. We are so grateful to have you as a part of our ministry Joey! The work that you do is critical in the empowerment of the men and women that we work with. Thank you for seeing God-given potential and worth in all of the men and women that you assist.
Family: Wife (married for 5 years in March) and 2 children Rebecca (5 months), Joseph (3)
Where do you live: Garden Grove, CA
Where did you grow up: Orange County
Hobbies: Spending time with family, sports, basketball, handball
How long have you been at the mission: 4 years in March
How did you hear about the job opportunity at the mission: I volunteered with my last job (as a Career consultant) and I never knew what it was before and I saw someone walking out with a bible and it caught my attention. Looked it up online and saw that they were hiring for a Career Counseling
What do you love most about your job: I love the fact that I can celebrate successes in our students finding employment and I also love being innovative and having the ability to create new programs that help our students.
What is the most challenging part of your job: Seeing our students leave the program prematurely and not having the opportunity to help them find a job
What keeps you motivated: The students and trying to help them be successful and self-sufficient
How have you grown since coming to the mission: I’ve been able to expand on my skills as far as multi-tasking as far as the success centers go. From reaching out to employers, career services, education and training to financial literacy.
Church: Rock Salvation Christian Center
Favorite Verse: Psalm 1:1-3 Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.