The Way Out Ministries was born from a God-given burden placed on the hearts of Barry Bruce and his then girlfriend, Terryl Horton, to lead the children of Hawaiian Gardens, California toward the right path (Proverbs 22:6). One Sunday, standing behind the locked fence of their church and looking out over the struggling barrio, they felt convicted to reach beyond the walls and bring the hope and peace found in Jesus to the community.
Along with youth pastor Ken Derek and church member Rich Guthrie, Barry and Terryl organized a week-long Vacation Bible School during spring break called “Resurrection Celebration.” Nearly sixty children attended, and many gave their lives to Christ. Among them were a brother and sister, Michael and Rachael, who, at the end of the week, asked a simple but life-changing question: “Where do we go now?”
When Michael and Rachael invited Barry and Terryl into their neighborhood and home, their eyes were opened to a community marked by drug addiction, alcoholism, and gang activity. Though their desire to serve the city was strong, support was limited, and the vision seemed overwhelming. While plans for ministry faded for a time, the calling did not.
Barry and Terryl later married and served overseas as short-term missionaries with Youth With A Mission (Y.W.A.M.)aboard the M/V Anastasis. It was there that God clearly called them back home—to serve as missionaries to the people of Hawaiian Gardens. With the support of a few faithful members of El Dorado Park Community Church, later joined by church leadership and the Reformed Church in America (R.C.A.), The Way Out Ministries was officially incorporated on May 7, 1984, with less than $100 in the bank.
From humble beginnings in the Bruce’s home, the ministry has grown into a facility of over 14,000 square feet, with current plans underway to build a facility in the Philippines. Nearly four decades later, lives continue to be transformed daily through the faithfulness of staff and volunteers. While adapting to the ever-changing needs of the community, The Way Out Ministries remains unwavering in its commitment to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.