VENTURA, CA - The Ventura Family YMCA is celebrating YMCA National Week of Prayer November 7th through November 10th. Everyone in the community is invited and encouraged to come and enjoy the messages and fellowship that will be shared by pastors from local churches in the community.

The week’s activities will kick off on Monday morning, with a lecture from Bill Findley focused on the theme “Prayer for Non Profits” accompanied by a musical performance by Troy Jones. Tuesday afternoon, Gary Archer from Ventura Missionary Church will have a discussion featuring the topic of “Grey Matters – Senior’s Day” with The Silvertones providing musical entertainment. Wednesday will be a special evening dedicated to our youth; activities will include a camp fire, participation from local youth groups, Bubble Rollers, a rock climbing wall and music from The River Community Worship Team and Bible Fellowship. Thursday afternoon, Teen Challenge will provide both music and lecture on the subject of Addiction. Local sponsors have generously provided refreshments that will be served at each day’s activities.

This is the fourth year that the Ventura Family YMCA will be participating in the YMCA National Week of Prayer. In addition to the activities held at the Ventura Family YMCA Monday through Thursday, the Y invites the community to participate in events held throughout the community honoring veterans.

The Week of Prayer is an annual event to celebrate the spirituality of the YMCA movement around the world. This week is a tradition that dates back to 1904 when local YMCA’s unite to consider their work in the context of the Bible. YMCA is an organization with a heritage based on Christian principals that serves individuals and families of all religions, races, and creeds. Everyone is welcome to come and participate in activities during Week of Prayer regardless of their spiritual background.

Pastor Jim Duran from the River Community Church and Chair of the Y’s Mission Emphasis Committee is been an active participant in the YMCA Week of Prayer and knows how beneficial the week can be for everyone.

“I believe this will be the best "Week of Prayer" so far because there is a lot more people involved. The partnerships between the YMCA, local churches and pastors, the business sector, and the community at large are making our week second to none. I am excited about our topics this year because we are coming together to discuss and pray about real life situations that many people deal with but nobody wants to talk about. And if that is not enough, we are inviting all Ventura's youth to unite with a Wednesday Night Youth Event. Where else can you go and get a free meal, great music, superb speakers and hope for the future through the power of prayer? This is an event that the entire community should attend,” said Duran.

If you are interested in celebrating in the YMCA National Week of Prayer please feel free to contact Margo Byrne, Executive Director of The Ventura Family YMCA at 805-642-2131 Ext 17 or email margo.byrne@ciymca.org. Or visit www.ciymca.org/ventura.

About the Ventura Family Y
The Ventura Family YMCA serves over 20,000 individuals annually through facility memberships, before & after school childcare, day & resident camps, youth sports, swim lessons, teen programs, and many more healthy lifestyles and community enriching programs throughout Ventura, Oxnard, Ojai, Santa Paula, and Saticoy. Through the Open Doors program the YMCA ensures that no one is ever turned away due to their inability to pay and facility memberships without contracts or join fees makes the Ventura Family YMCA accessible to everyone. The Ventura Family YMCA is located at 3760 Telegraph Rd., Ventura, CA 93003.