Lost & Found: Lost in a System, Found by the Church

This week on Lost and Found, you'll hear the inspiring story of Ajhi Drake, a former foster youth whose journey is a powerful testament to resilience, determination, and hope. Having experienced the challenges of the foster care system firsthand, Ajhi is now giving back by interning with the Los Angeles Department of Children and Family Services, helping support and advocate for children and...

ZOE works to end child trafficking in  three ways: prevention, rescue,  and restoration. Our goal is to rescue  children from human traffickers.

What happens when a young man headed down the wrong path encounters grace, redemption, and a second chance? This week on Lost and Found, hear the powerful story of David Nguyen — a journey that began in the chaos of poor choices, bad influences, and ultimately prison… but didn’t end there. Through remarkable circumstances and a life-changing encounter with faith in Christ, David’s life was transfo...

What happens when churches step into the foster care crisis with compassion, courage, and action? Lives change. Families are restored. Children find hope. ❤️ This week on Lost and Found, we sit down with Dave Darjany from Foster the City to talk about the powerful role churches can play in supporting children in foster care, encouraging foster families, and creating communities where vulnerable ki...

Healing through storytelling is powerful. Stories have the ability to restore dignity, inspire hope, and remind people they are not alone in their journey.    That’s the important work being done by The Plus Me Project here in Los Angeles—helping young people discover purpose, confidence, and healing through the power of personal stories.    This week on Lost and Found, we sit down with Morgan Chi...

Every year, young people age out of the foster care system in Los Angeles—often stepping into adulthood without the support systems many of us take for granted. But there are people working to change that story. Bishop Ed Smith from Nehemiah Project LA Ministries is helping young adults find direction, stability, and purpose by providing the resources and encouragement they need to build a new fut...

Can one church in the middle of Los Angeles truly make a difference in its community? The answer is yes. In this episode, we meet Pastor Jefferson from Delaire Baptist Church, who shares how a church can become a powerful force for hope—reaching beyond its walls to meet real needs in the neighborhood around it. When a church steps into its community with compassion and purpose, lives change. 💛 🎙...

Big changes are happening in Los Angeles around homeless support—and the impact could be significant. Nearly one-third of the people currently in long-term supportive housing could potentially be affected by these shifts, putting many at risk of returning to the streets. Behind these numbers are real people—neighbors who have worked hard to regain stability and dignity. Moments like this remind us...

Watching a child who has been sleeping on the floor receive their very first bed is a moment you never forget. 💛 Something many of us take for granted—a bed to sleep in—is not the reality for every child here in Los Angeles. But when a child finally climbs into a bed that is their own, you see more than furniture. You see dignity, comfort, and the feeling of finally being cared for. Sometimes the...

 | In a city as big and busy as Los Angeles, it might surprise you to learn that after-school Bible clubs are still thriving—and making a real impact.    Today we talk with Rosa Hsueh about Good News Club and how these after-school gatherings are helping students build character, learn strong moral lessons, and discover a sense of purpose and belonging.    Sometimes the smallest gatherings can sha...

Sometimes making a difference starts with something simple — a backpack, a holiday celebration, or a reminder that someone cares. 💛    Elaine Ray from Rays of Light is passionate about providing resources and support for kids and families who need it most. From school supplies to special events, her work is helping children feel seen, supported, and valued.    Hear her heart for this mission in a...

One week can change a life. 💛    Royal Family KIDS Camp is doing exactly that—creating a place where children in foster care are seen, valued, and deeply cared for.    In our conversation with Larry Stealey, we explore the powerful impact that happens when a church steps up to host a camp for kids who desperately need encouragement, safety, and hope.    The result? Lives transformed in just one w...

 | Feeding thousands of people every day is no small task.    Ken Craft, president of Hope the Mission, shares the passion, logistics, and heart behind serving excellent meals to people experiencing homelessness.    Because dignity can start with something as simple — and powerful — as a great meal. 🍽️    This is a conversation you won’t want to miss.    🎙 Listen now: https://lostandfound.show    ...

 | Sherrie Bradford spent much of her childhood in the foster care system.    Today, her story is one of perseverance, resilience, and what it means to rise beyond the circumstances you were given. Her journey is powerful, honest, and deeply inspiring. 💛    This is a conversation you don’t want to miss.    🎙 Listen to the podcast: https://lostandfound.show    #LostAndFound #FosterCare #Resilience...

We often hear from foster children who have lived the experience of being in foster homes, today you will hear the incredible story of Ember Ngur’s experiences of living in a home that has do not only foster children, but foster children who had experienced extreme trauma… And how that experience changed her life forever. Ember.ngur@careportal.org

For generations, the YMCA has been strengthening communities. But in 2025, the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles made an unprecedented move — providing FREE memberships to foster youth, creating spaces of safety, stability, and belonging when it matters most. Christopher Jefferson from the YMCA youth program shares why belonging isn’t just a word — it’s life-changing. This is a conversation you don...

Today we talk with Megan from Door of Hope, a ministry that has been working to move people into permanent housing for years - Since the LA fires of 2025 they were able to throttle up to support hundreds of  people who are displaced in their community. Megan@doorofhope.us

Some girls grow up feeling invisible. Trafficked.  Fostered.  Homeless.  Forgotten. But being truly seen can change everything. Today, Stacy Dewitt, Executive Director of James Storehouse, shares the heart behind “Beautiful You” — a program helping girls rediscover their worth and understand they are deeply valued and unconditionally loved through Christ.  When a girl begins to see herself as cher...

Kids aging out of foster care system in Los Angeles is a significant issue. Bishop Ed from Nehemiah Project LA Ministries are making a difference  -he will enjoy hearing about how providing these much needed resources help these young adults find focus in a new direction.esmith@nehemiahprojectla.org

Can one church in the middle of Los Angeles, have a significant impact on the needs of their community around them? The answer is yes you will enjoy meeting Pastor Jefferson from Del Baptist Church as we talk about the importance of the church, reaching out to its community. pastorjljeff@delairebc.org

With the changes happening in Los Angeles regarding homeless support. We could be looking at almost 1/3 of the people who are now receiving long-term supportive housing, potentially being affected and possibly back out on the streets.

Watching a kid who has been sleeping on the floor received their first bed is a life-changing experience. Something we all take for granted. Something so many of us take for granted, having a bed, is not the case for everyone here in Los Angeles.

How did these kids get here without parents, a question that I posed to Katherine  Hernandez from Foster All regarding Unaccompanied Minors housing program. khernandez@fosterall.org