We invited American Baptists from across the country to share their Ministry Stories with the American Baptist Family and with the world! This is a part of the Transformed by the Spirit initiative. Want to share your story?  Written and Video submissions are invited at: americanbaptist@gmail.com. View the full list of Ministry Story Opportunity Submissions.

Ministry Story –  JOYA Scholars – Valeria Sosa & Epic Church from the ABCOFLASH and ABCUSA.
Transformed by the Spirit – Ministry Story Opportunity

Watch the video below to learn about Epic Church’s innovative program and a personal transformation story.

JOYA Scholars is a non-profit organization birthed out of Epic Church in Fullerton, CA (American Baptist Churches of Los Angeles, Southwest, and Hawaii) with the mission to inspire and prepare students from the Garnet Neighborhood in Fullerton toward higher education. When JOYA Scholars began in 2009, there were no college graduates to emerge from the Garnet Neighborhood in over a decade. Last year we celebrated our first four-year university graduate, Valeria Sosa, and currently enrolled several students at four-year universities in majors such as biology, computer and mechanical engineering, and education. JOYA Scholars provides one-on-one mentoring, tutoring, test prep, college visits, and cultural events for students and their families in this mostly low-income Latino community. Involvement from Epic Church includes members on the board of directors, advisory team, staff, mentors, tutors, and donors. In 2002, JOYA Scholars was presented with the Congressional Ambassador of Peace Award for violence prevention and more recently the You Are the Advantage Award by the Placentia-Yorba Linda School District recognizing excellence and significant contribution to students and the district.