The history of Citykidz began with a short term missionary trip in 2003-2004. A team of us went out to Mexico City with a ministry called “Christian Advance International”. This missionary’s focus was to go into the poorest neighborhoods to reach boys and girls to share the good news of Jesus. Our team learned by watching them play music with kids, games, give food, and a message of hope. Our team was inspired and our calling to help kids in the inner cities began. 

We searched for different organizations around the U.S. in order to be trained, learn, and build relationships. The few organizations we found were Belize, New York which has the largest Sunday school in the world called Metro World Child, and The Dream Center Los Angeles. Belize taught us more about sidewalk Sunday School, The DreamCenter in Los Angeles taught us about helping all cultures and people.

After many meetings and prayers, Pauline Rivera, Tom and Linda Miller, alongside a team of volunteers started Citykidz in Ventura. Teen Challenge partnered up with us to let us borrow their truck with a built in stage where we went to Ventura Ave at the Cedar St Apartments. Kids came where we duplicated everything we learned in Mexico City, Belize, New York Metro Ministries, DreamCenter Los Angeles, and we haven’t stopped since. This was back in 2007.

Today we continue to “take it to the streets”. CityKidz targets kids who lives in high risk neighborhoods. We call kids to come out and hear some good news, learn a new song, play a game, hear a bible story, and enjoy some treats. There is always a season for CityKidz, today we have locations in Ventura, Saticoy, Oxnard(Nazarene Church), Santa Barbara, Colorado, and Spain (Atrevete). Join us today in building a better beginning for the kids.