Friday, November 21, 2025, Inglewood witnessed something rare — a moment where history, healing, and humanity converged under one mission: restoration as envisioned by CCM’s founders Pastor Troy and Darlene Vaughn.
Before dawn broke over Los Angeles, Christ-Centered Ministries (CCM) was already thundering with purpose. Staff and volunteers stirred giant pots, ovens roared to life, and trays of freshly seasoned turkeys and hams lined the prep tables. By 3:00 a.m., the first of 80 turkeys and 80 hams had gone into the ovens, accompanied by thousands of pounds of mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, green peas, and 1,000 pies — all prepared from scratch by Manna Feast Catering Services, CCM’s culinary social-enterprise that trains and employs returning citizens.
From 11am to 4pm on Friday, November 21, nearly 1,000 guests—individuals experiencing homelessness, families in crisis, and neighbors simply in need of dignity, found their seat at a Thanksgiving table built on compassion, community, and second chances.
But behind the food was a deeper story: one about lives rebuilt, destinies redirected, and a movement decades in the making.
A Movement That Stepped Out of the Shadows
This was CCM’s first major public Thanksgiving celebration since Pastor Troy Vaughn, the former President of the Los Angeles Mission, stepped fully back into the organization he founded with Pastor Darlene Vaughn in 1999.
Though widely known for leading the Los Angeles Mission as a “resident-to-president” success story, Pastor Troy led CCM for over 25 years, quietly continuing its work behind the scenes — mentoring, restoring, and rebuilding lives long before cameras ever arrived.
But in 2025, CCM stepped into full visibility.
And yesterday’s Thanksgiving event spanning two large lots, powered one hundred volunteers, anchored by four strategic community partners, marked the official beginning of this next chapter.
Inglewood Mayor James Butts attended the celebration, serving meals side by side with volunteers. Pastor Charles Blake II of West Angeles Church, a longtime ally in faith and action, was also present. The collaboration of West Angeles Church of Gof in Christ, Restoration Family Worship Center, Manna Feast, and the Los Angeles Regional Reentry Partnership (LARRP) created a coalition of strength unlike anything Inglewood has seen in years.
But the real heartbeat of the day was the transformed lives running the operation — men and women who once arrived as guests, now leading with excellence.
From Incarcerated Drug Dealer to Director of Development: The Ripple Effects of Sal Williams
Twenty-four years ago, Sal Williams walked into Pastor Troy’s life as a man caught in addiction, criminal activity, and hopelessness.
“I was a drug dealer who didn’t think I had a future,” Sal shared with the Tribune during the event. “Pastor Troy didn’t just give me a program. He gave me a path. And he walked it with me.”
Today, Sal is the Worship Leader of the Restoration Family Worship Center along with his wife Chandra Williams, and the Director of Funding Development for CCM and its nonprofit partners. A multi-talent whose ripple effects reaches the expanse of business, podcasts, productions, and music recording, he DJ’d the event with some of his very own written & directed “about-to-be-released” originals.
The precision with which he coordinated food operations, guest flow, and volunteer teams showcased a truth CCM has built its foundation on:
Those who were once broken become the strongest builders.
From Skid Row to Service Leader: The Rise of Tanasa
Ten years ago, Tanasa Renee Ryles was battling homelessness, addiction, and incarceration. Today, she stands at the helm of CCM’s Pitt Stop Program, leading public-health operations across Los Angeles County, offering hygiene access, dignity, and safety to thousands.
At the Thanksgiving feast, she walked with the authority of someone who has lived the system and now leads it.
“I know what it feels like to be unseen,” she said, handing out meals with deep gratitudes beaming in her smile. “Now I get to make sure no one ever feels that way if I can help it.”
Her leadership on-site Friday was unmistakable, transforming what once was pain into power.
“The Hood Motivator” Returns to Say Thank You
Also serving at the event was Dr. JayR McIntyre, known across Los Angeles as “The Hood Motivator.”
Long before he earned his title and his upcoming doctorate completion, JayR was a young boy navigating grief and instability after losing his mother to AIDS.
“I used to see Pastor Troy on Skid Row when I was little,” he told the Tribune. “I didn’t understand everything back then, but I recognized presence. Leadership. Safety. He was someone who made you feel like a future was still possible.”
Decades later, that same boy, now a respected community leader, returned to serve under the man who unknowingly shaped his resilience.
A Symphony of Restoration at Work
Across the expanse of the event in two full lots transformed into a community campus — a remarkable pattern emerged.
Volunteers didn’t just serve. They moved like a well-oiled machine, executing tasks with military-level organization and heartfelt warmth.
The surprising part? A significant number of these volunteers were once homeless, incarcerated, addicted and lost.
Now they are restorers.
Leaders.
Organizers.
Community builders.
Before the gates opened, Pastor Troy gathered more than 100 volunteers for a private talk.
“Make every guest feel seen,” he told them. “Not served — seen. That is where restoration begins.”
Guests had begun lining up an hour before the gates opened, drawn not only by the promise of a hot meal but by the hope CCM is known for.
By the end of the day, hope had been delivered—plate by plate, handshake by handshake, prayer by prayer.
More Than a Meal, A Model for Los Angeles
For decades, discussions about homelessness in Los Angeles have centered on crisis management.
CCM offers something different:
Transformed lives leading transformation.
Pastor Troy’s life is the blueprint.
The staff’s stories are the proof.
The Thanksgiving Feast was the demonstration.
At a time when Los Angeles continues to grapple with homelessness, reentry challenges, addiction, and mental-health crises, CCM showcased a path forward rooted not in bureaucracy, but in relationship, restoration, and real human change.
For those who left the Thanksgiving celebration carrying more than a meal—those seeking hope, resources, prayer, or a path forward—CCM stands ready to walk with you.
Whether you are in need, advocating for a loved one, or looking for a meaningful way to contribute to this work, we invite you to connect with us. Restoration is possible, support is available, and together, we can continue building a community where every life has the chance to thrive. Reach out to CCM to learn more, find support, or join the mission. Learn more at: https://4ccm.org/.
MEDIA CONTACT
CCM Media Relations
Email: chandra@4ccm.org
Phone: 310-505-6981
About Christ-Centered Ministries (CCM)
Founded in 1999 by Pastors Troy and Darlene Vaughn, Christ-Centered Ministries is a Los Angeles-based movement dedicated to restoring individuals and families through reentry housing, mental health support, workforce development, peer-led recovery, and spiritual transformation.
Co-founder of CCM Pastor Darlene Vaughn shared “I believe Jesus told us, ‘whatsoever you do for the least of my brethren, you do it to me’, so when we’re out here ministering to people, we’re actually serving Christ himself. I think that’s just amazing to me.”
CCM partners with nearly 800 organizations, to date, across Southern California to build pathways from homelessness and incarceration into long-term thriving.
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