Who We Are

The Telegraph Community Ministry Center has the goal of reaching out to those in need within our community with the love of Jesus Christ. Many individuals in the Bay area struggle to provide enough food and clothing for their family. By offering these services, we hope to follow Christ’s example of serving others.

The Center strives to be a source of hope and light to those in the midst of emotional, spiritual, and economic hardships. All of our ministries are offered at no cost to families and individuals as we seek to work toward helping individuals become self-sufficient.

Many people are lost without any direction. The Telegraph Community Ministry Center seeks to assist these in finding a relationship with Jesus Christ as the foundational element for living a productive life. Our ministries are designed to point people towards the loving, redeeming work that God desires to complete in each person.

We are continually looking for partners who have a similar desire to see our community impacted for the Glory of the Lord. Several ways you can be involved: pray for the ministry, volunteer your time and talents, or contribute financially.

Our Core Values

Character

Compassion
Humility
Edification

We aim to treat one another with the love of Christ regardless of past mistakes, lifestyle choices, heritage or cultural distinctions, and physical or mental debilities. In humility, we recognize each person as a valuable creation from God to be treated with dignity and respect. We desire to encourage and inspire one another through showing appreciation, service, and unconditional love.

Commitment

Transformation
Whole Person
Quality

We believe God wants to transform each one of us from the inside out including our mind, soul, spirit, relationships, finances, health, and heart. Our hope is found in discovering God’s purpose and plan for our lives. In order to do this we actively seek partnerships with organizations and individuals that are dedicated to bringing about a positive change in the lives of those we serve. Our commitment is to always do our best, act with consistency, follow through on our responsibilities, and use our gifts and talents to serve God and serve others.

Christ

Bible Based
Spirit Led
Church Involved

Our ultimate desire is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ in all that we do. We believe the Bible is God’s word applicable to each person’s life and we will make decisions based on our understanding of God’s truth while seeking the Lord through prayer, and acting within His grace and mercy. We would like to see discipleship take place, and seek to partner with local churches in order to connect people to a loving congregation where they may grow in their walk with Christ.

Our Leadership

Joycelyn Golden

TCMC Director
TCMC Board Officer

Joycelyn was born and raised in Berkeley, CA. As far back as she can remember, she’s always had a heart for the less fortunate. When she was only 12 years old, she started taking chickens out of her mother’s refrigerator to feed the houseless that she saw throughout her community after witnessing what she thought were people cooking a dog because they were hungry.

That calling has never left Ms.Golden. After high school, she wanted to provide a place for those in need to eat, clean and be refreshed. When people ask her why she is so compelled to serve people in this way, her answer is quite simple; it is because she simply thought “that was what we were supposed to do as Christians.”

Her work with the less fortunate sometimes brought much appreciation, praise, personal joy as well as some criticism. Once, her ministry to the poor was cancelled because of how people felt uncomfortable with the homeless hanging around the church. She then took her ministry to the streets where people were suffering and called it “Breakfast in Bed” (since this is where her fellow neighbors were sleeping). The TCMC then offered Joycelyn their kitchen to provide her services to the needy, which is now called “Manna From Heaven”. She’s remained passionate in doing the work of Jesus through the TCMC for the past 5 years and is thrilled to serve as its Director; doing the work that she’s been doing since she was a little girl. Joycelyn is a graduate of Trinity Life Bible College, an ordained minister and an active member of Oasis Christian Mission Center.”

Chris Watson

Treasurer

Chris has had the privilege of being involved with the TCMC ministry since 2010 and have frequently seen the caring, kind, and compassionate way our volunteers work hard to meet the spiritual, physical, emotional, and relational needs of the most vulnerable in Oakland and Alameda County. Prior to moving to California, Chris was involved in community ministry and outreach in Oklahoma, New Orleans, and Colorado. Mr. Watson currently serves as pastor of the Community Outreach Center in Antioch, California.

As a young person Chris came to know Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior, however it was not until he was a teenager that he fully understood the ramifications of what it meant that Jesus died for his sin. As a result of this, he made a commitment to serve Jesus with his life. Through pursuing the Lord through prayer, Scripture, and education, God revealed to Chris that his ministry was to take the Gospel to those who are disenfranchised and are on the fringes of society. The poor and oppressed need to hear of a God who loves them and desires reconciliation.

Mr. Watson is married to his highschool sweetheart who homeschools their two teenage sons.

In addition to spending time with his family he enjoys hiking and playing board games. As a member of the Advisory Board, Chris looks forward to how he can work together to help those who are struggling get back on their feet and introduce them to the love of Jesus.”

James Westbrook

TCMC Chairman of the Board

James is a self-starting, personable, passionate, strategic-connector who is committed to (and has numerous years working in) faith-based Christian ministry work. He is a highly-relational go-getter and non-profit development professional with major fundraising experience. Mr. Westbrook is a graduate of a Bay Area Seminary and has an undergraduate degree in History/Religious studies.

James has proven success in establishing and cultivating relationships with major donors, prospects, and supporters of diverse backgrounds. Mr. Westbrook’s experience largely includes nonprofit leadership, development, innovation, restorative justice work, volunteer mobilization and strategic partnership development to name a few. James enjoys overseeing teams and communications, managing projects, and revamping of organizations and branding, to increase streamlining capacity as well as the reach of an organization to help others. Additionally, James has led and raised millions of dollars on behalf of various nonprofit organizations and ventures throughout his many years of Nonprofit work.

Professionally, James has worked as a Business professional in several fields–most recently serving as the Director of Beyond Jobs, at Mission: St. Louis, in St. Louis, MO: Director of Programs and Innovation at Seed to Oaks in Louisville, KY, and, he is currently the Senior Planting Pastor of The Realm Church in Oakland, CA.

James is married to his High School Sweetheart Desiree’ who is a legal and nonprofit professional. Together, they have two darling kids who are fun-loving, and full of inventions to help to make Oakland and the World a better place. They enjoy serving in Oakland as a family, and they sincerely believe that some of the best “medicine” in the world is to serve and help others. Mr. Westbrook is thankful for the great team at the Telegraph Ministry Center and he is also thankful for the opportunity to serve alongside them in this new capacity. Teamwork makes the dream work!

Want to help out?

We have several opportunities for you to jump in and serve!

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