About

IT ALL STARTED WHEN…

Victor Maldonado came to New York City from Puerto Rico at the young age of 13. While in New York he was involved with a notorious gang called the Mau Maus and began using and dealing in heroin. In 1966 Victor met Jesus through Teen Challenge and was mentored by David Wilkerson - “The Cross and the Switchblade” and Nicky Cruz - “Run Baby Run”. He then gave up 17 years of crime and rebellion to work with young people mentoring and counseling them.

Eventually moving to Ohio, Victor met Margie Lake at the 1968 Ohio State Fair while sharing the gospel at one of the fair booths. Margie and Victor married in 1970, the same year that Outreach for Youth Ministry began.

Outreach was established to give hope to young men and women in the clutches of drug addiction. Currently working with men Outreach’s goal is to help them to live soberly, be productive members of society, strong fathers, and faithful husbands.

Outreach originally operated out of two houses in the Columbus area and in 1975 moved to a 20-acre farm in Pataskala where it resides today.

Victor and Margie directed the ministry until 1997 when Victor handed over the reins to his son Stephen. Steve faithfully led the organization to new heights, establishing a 90% success rate of men who have completed the program and graduated.

Last August 2021 Steve passed away as a result of contracting COVID. Josh Clatty, who Steve had trained to work with him as co-director, now oversees the ministry. Under his leadership Outreach has come through this transition well.

When entering Outreach an individual commits to a 9-month program that can be extended longer if needed. There is no charge. The residents are delegated tasks and responsibilities that instill faithfulness and integrity and are well grounded in Christian faith and principles. They are taught new life skills while being mentored by a caring staff.

Josh and his staff share the responsibilities of giving Bible studies, one-on-one counseling, and coming alongside the men as they work on and off the property.

The heart and purpose of Outreach transcends upbringings, ethnicity, and background to extend hope and restore souls out of the darkness of addiction.