Our Story
Tina James, the Founder of OAI, was inspired by her mission work with children. Starting her work in San Antonio where she worked with children in a housing project and Waxahachie with children in foster care. Her experiences deepened during several trips with Coreluv in Haiti, where she saw the plight of children left behind.​
In April of 2016, Tina befriended a homeless man that had been in foster care and had aged out. This man had been homeless most of the 18 years since aging out of the system. Feeling called by God to do something about the increasing amount of young people that age out of foster care in the Houston area.
The final catalyst came when Tina received a recommendation to look into 'Community First! Village' a nonprofit who provided assistance for the homeless. It was what she envisioned for those that age out of foster care. Believing it was God's attempt to get her attention, she went to bed that night and prayed, asking God to scream at her if this was His desire.​
On Sunday, August 21, 2016, she received a series of text messages, pointing her to the idea that God did indeed want her to pursue helping aged out foster kids. Tina first thoughts were worry, around the tasks, research and funding it would take; it was in that moment that she saw a literal sign – that simply said, “THE LORD WILL PROVIDE……. GENESIS 22:8”.​ Tina has never doubted for one minute that this nonprofit vision is from and for God.
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" It is unacceptable to not help as many of the young adults that have aged out of the system as possible"
Tina James
Our Prayer
OAI will stay within God’s will and plan, not our own. We pray for Him to place the right people that will help with our program and that we would play an important role in training, lifting up, and edifying His chosen children into becoming adults that will make a positive influence in the world, and above all else, that OAI will bring glory to His name.
Our Strategy
Phase One
Develop and expand OAI’s Education & Career Preparation, Mentorship, and Transitional Living programs to serve individuals with a foster care history, ages 14 to 100
Phase Two
Secure a safe house for young ladies that have a desire to finish high school but are aging out of foster care before they complete high school.​
Phase Three
Secure a safe house for young men that have a desire to finish high school but are aging out of foster care before graduation.
Phase Four
Secure land on which to build toward the big vision.​The Big Vision: Long-term housing as part of secure community living​​
BIG VISION
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Long-term housing as part of secure community living​​