Today we’d like to introduce you to Kalyn Drinkwater.
Hi Kalyn, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
At 18, adulthood truly hit me. At the time, I wasn’t deeply rooted in my faith or close to God. But as time went on and life began to challenge me, I found myself turning to Him more and more. Everyone has a different story, and for me, the tests God placed in my life often left me broken but each time, He rebuilt me. Over and over again, I was broken down and built back up. Through it all, my faith steadily grew as I continued to seek Him amidst the struggles.
I’ve faced financial hardships and physical challenges, but the toughest battles have been with my mental and emotional health. I remember it clearly. It was during the COVID pandemic. Depression hit me hard. It wasn’t gradual; it was like a train crashing into a brick wall at full speed. I was that wall, and the impact shattered me. The pieces were everywhere. That was when I truly wanted to give up.
Then one day, I was lying in bed, aimlessly scrolling through TikTok, when I stumbled upon a video of a pastor. At first, I didn’t pay much attention, he was talking about depression, feeling lost, and wanting to give up. I was about to scroll past, but something in his voice shifted. He started talking about going through life’s storms, about hope and faith. That caught me.
I followed the link to his YouTube channel and watched the full sermon. It felt as if God had placed that video on my feed at exactly the right moment. Still, even after watching, I didn’t feel motivated to act. I had the thought of tuning into their Sunday service, but a week passed, and I sank deeper into numbness.
The following Sunday morning, I saw that same pastor again on TikTok. This time, I went straight to YouTube and joined the live service, even though it was already halfway through. As soon as I clicked in, the pastor was preaching about having faith that God can turn any situation around. That message struck a chord with me.
Since then, my faith has grown immensely. I began reading God’s word, and slowly, I started seeing life from a new perspective. My mindset began to shift. Nothing changed overnight yet there were still tough moments, and I was often hard on myself. But whenever I struggled, I returned to that first sermon. It reminded me that God is fighting my battles and that I am never alone.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No—walking by faith and not by sight was anything but smooth. Nothing challenged me more than my relationship with God and the process of building my faith. All of this happened during the height of COVID, when the world was essentially shut down. Everyone was stuck in isolation, confined to their homes or wherever they happened to be. Jobs were letting people go. Businesses were becoming careless. People were becoming careless. It felt like everything and everyone was crashing. Especially me.
COVID brought a wave of fear into people’s lives, mine included. People were dying. Getting sick. I caught COVID twice, and it was the worst feeling I’ve ever experienced. There was just so much going on.
There I was, in isolation for nearly a year, working remotely for a cable company that couldn’t have cared less about its employees. I remember being pulled into a Zoom meeting with my supervisor because of something as simple as my adherence. At that time, I was struggling deeply mentally and emotionally. When PTO was offered, of course I took it. I needed a break. But the company didn’t like that. They told me I needed to cut back on using my time off.
They didn’t offer any mental health resources. And when I finally worked up the courage to confide in my supervisor about what I was going through, he dismissed not only my struggles, but my faith as well. That moment crushed me.
Every obstacle brought me right back into depression like that train hitting a brick wall at full speed. And after each wreck, I’d be left picking up the broken pieces on my own. My faith would fade, and I’d find myself slipping back into that dark, mental hole.
Eventually, I lost my job. I was on unemployment and spent the next eight months without work. Anyone who’s tried job hunting in California during a pandemic knows it wasn’t easy. The struggle continued. Every single day I was searching, applying, hoping only to hear, “We’re not hiring,” or “You don’t qualify.” It was rejection after rejection, one disappointment after another.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I work with at-risk youth, and our mission is to help rebuild the lives of these children and their families through education, healing, restoring relationships, building character, and most importantly, instilling hope.
This may sound unbelievable, but during a season of unemployment, I found clarity about my purpose. I was applying to all kinds of jobs with no clear direction just trying to survive. At the same time, I had been growing in my faith and seeking God more intentionally. And even though I didn’t know exactly how things would unfold, I knew this: my purpose was to make a lasting impact on people’s lives. I’ve always had a heart for helping others encouraging them to see the good in themselves, in others, and even in difficult situations.
Here’s where the story gets really amazing: long before COVID hit before I ever lost my job, I had a vision. God placed it in my heart to one day open a facility dedicated to serving at-risk youth. A place that would offer them guidance, shelter, resources, and love. I didn’t know how or when it would happen, but the vision was so clear.
Fast forward to the time I was unemployed. I was submitting applications to jobs I didn’t even think I qualified for. Then one day, I came across a job posting that caught my attention. As I read through it, I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. It described exactly the kind of work I had envisioned for my future facility. Everything I dreamed of doing for youth, this job was already doing it. I was in shock.
At first, I laughed and thought, “What a coincidence.” But as the hiring process unfolded over the next month, I realized it wasn’t a coincidence at all. It was God intervening. He was reminding me that He provides, that He orders our steps, and that the vision He gave me wasn’t random, it was divine. As my pastor often says, “It’s only crazy until it happens.” And this moment was proof.
Today, I’m known for working with at-risk youth in ways that go beyond academics. I support them through educational programs, social and behavioral services, and most importantly through love, affection, attention, and empathy. These are my strengths. People often say that in this line of work, you need to have “thick skin.” But I believe it’s not thick skin that sustains you, it’s a big heart. That’s what keeps me going. And honestly, that’s what keeps the kids going too.
Every child has a unique story, but they all share the same need: someone who shows up, who listens, who believes in them, and who grows alongside them.
What I’ve learned in this work is something I never expected. The kids have helped me more than I’ve helped them. Every day brings something different. They’ve taught me patience, kindness, and how to see the world from perspectives I would have never considered. I love them deeply, and not a day goes by that I don’t thank God for blessing me with this job, these kids, and the amazing staff I get to work alongside.
What makes you happy?
Love. Love is what makes me truly happy—not just the feeling of being loved, but witnessing it, giving it, and experiencing it in everyday moments.
What brings me joy is knowing that I’m making a difference in people’s lives, regardless of their age, race, religion, or background. There’s nothing more powerful than love. God commands us to love one another, and that’s what I strive to do every day.
I’m not perfect, but if I can lay my head down at night knowing I showed love to those I encountered—whether through a kind word, a helping hand, or simply being present—then that’s more than enough for me. That’s happiness.
