Christian Outreach Alliance was formed in the fall of 2004 when members of several Clear Lake churches came together to form a partnership of ministry to serve its Clear Lake Community.  COA’s foremost purpose is to shine Christ’s love, expose darkness, and ask God to transform our neighborhoods into healthier communities.  Our desire is to have a community with less crime, fewer high school dropouts, lower unemployment rate, and a presence of God in every household.  The early strategy of COA was to focus efforts on serving the residents of the Bay Place Apartments, which is now The Riviera Apartments, with the goal of eventually spreading its service to other neighboring apartments and neighborhoods.

The group began by reaching out to get to know the residents of Bay Place through various outreach parties.  The first event included dinner and planting potted plants with the families.  Throughout the years many friendships have been formed between COA and the residents of Bay Place.

Some of the events held in the Bays Apartments have been:

• Spring Fling (carnival food, bouncy houses, and book give away)
• Back-to-School Bash (school backpacks and supplies give away)
• Turkey Drop (frozen turkeys, dressing mix, cranberry sauce, and green beans give away)
• Christmas Party & Giving Store (provided a “store” for parents to shop for gifts for their children as well as a party for the whole family)

In 2006 COA began an after school tutoring program in extra office space at the Bay Place apartments.  There were so many interested children that we soon outgrew the room; therefore, the next year the program moved to the Clear Lake United Methodist Church.  This was a very successful program running several years, connecting over 50 children to many mentoring adults and teens from many Bay area churches and schools.

COA was granted its official 501-C3, or Non-Profit status in 2010. COA has been blessed to be a part of a great many efforts to bring light and hope into our community, particularly through the many ministries we’ve engaged in through the apartment complexes along El Camino Real. Some of those ministries have been: Fun in the Son summer programs, after-school tutoring, Mommy and Me classes, ESL classes, sewing classes, painting classes, Bible studies, local Pastor lunches, Daisy, Juniors, and Girl Scout troops, Back-to-School Bash, Family Fun Day, Turkey Drop, Christmas parties (including a Christmas Store for many years), Christmas Celebration for COA volunteers, Spring Fling, Partnership to support and beautify Whitcomb Elementary, and an annual Community Sports Camp. These ministry opportunities have touched the lives of many of our closest neighbors from the very young to the very old.

However, one of the age groups that COA has been longing to focus on since back in 2005 is our community’s teenagers.  We feel that God has inspired and led us to our current effort to reach out to and minister to teens in a very unique way.   Please see FUTURE “DECK” PLANS page to learn more about our plans for this future ministry of Clear Lake Outreach Alliance.