updated 10/23/23
Prayer podcasts: for the city; for the officials
Helendale or Silver Lakes, which is a subdivision of Helendale and is an unincorporated community with est. population at 5,432 [2023]; settled in Victor Valley of the Mojave Desert, located near Route 66, west of the I-15, between Barstow and Victorville. The name Helendale is used by the USPS, while Silver Lakes is used by the US Census.
Demographics: overall crime grade is D- [see more details below]; M:F 1:1; median age is 46; 31% households with children; average household income $78K; 77% own; 23% rent; high school grad 29%; some college 37%; 31% college degrees; never married 19%; married 62%; 9% widowed; 10% divorced; 80% white including Hispanic; 5% African American; Asian 3%; other 12%.
History
In 1881 the Southern Pacific and the A&P Railroads came near what would later be Helendale. In the early 1900s, cars began to be used more and more so better roads became necessary. The National Old Trails planned a road from Los Angeles to New York, and they aligned it next to the AT & Santa Fe railroad tracks from Cajon Pass to Needles. The road passed through Helendale.
In 1926, the N.O.T. highway became part of the US highway which later was known as US 66. In spite of this, Route 66 was known as the "National Old Trails Road" for many years in California. After WW II, traffic grew and the road had over 1 million travellers in 1960 that passed through Helendale, the need to form a new highway arose. Interstate system created in 1956 bypassed both US 66 and US 91 making travellers use I-15 and I-40, bypassing Helendale for good.
Two artificial lakes were built at Helendale in 1969 covering 277 acres and a resort community named "Silver Lakes" was developed along their shores. They are located just west of the Mojave River and Route 66.
“Silver Lakes or Helendale; best kept secret in Southern California; the gem of the Mojave"
Location of Hellendale in SBC
Specific Prayer Points | Video about Silver Lakes
Environmental issues: water theft likely due to illegal marijuana farms
Governed by: Community Service District board members & District 1 SBC Board Supervisor
Poverty rate: 14%; the poorest groups are children under 6 at 33%; 6-11 yrs. 26%; 12-17 yrs. at 16%.
Crime issues: [2022] A crime occurs every 21 hours 3minutes (on average); overall crime is D+; violent crime is C+; property crime D-; other crime is B+; top crime issues are theft at 38% [very high]; drug crimes & vandalism 5%
Schools & District: School board members; Independence Charter Academy
Spiritual issues: Only 3 churches for a city of 6K; pray for more to arise or for them to visit nearby city churches; intercessors to rise up and boldly pray for this suburb, laborers for the harvest, hearts softened to receive the Lord, lives transformed by the Gospel, enthusiasm and boldness among believers to share their faith, acts of kindness that leads people to repentance, conviction/repentance; awakening to the call of the Lord to be "active" not sitting
Churches & Ministries [not exhaustive]
Grace Bible church [Pastor Dave Zierenberg, Evangelical Free Church of America
Silver Lakes Community Church [Southern Baptist Convention, Pastor Mark Wood]
Hellendale Community Church [non-denominational]
Rehab Center: Victory Outreach San Bernardino - The Ranch in Helendale - to reach out to hurting people & prepare them as “Treasures Out of Darkness” for the work of the ministry through discipleship, leadership development, and academic training.