Our Mission
Environmental support through services like housing assistance, vocational training, budgeting and life skills education to promote a sense of fulfillment, safety and security as well as becoming balanced, productive and impactful citizens.
Emotional support through services like personal and group counseling, mentoring and education that bring understanding and healthy expression of feelings connected with the internal and external challenges of life.
Social support through services like education and planned activities that encourage the establishment and growth of healthy relationships with family, friends, co-workers and neighbors, both local and abroad. Qualifying Students will have opportunities to serve alongside Lion’s Gate Ministries, Inc. partners within the United States as well as in nations such as Nicaragua, Liberia and Israel who assist needy youth and families. These cross-cultural experiences will promote a broader sense of community and empathy for others.
Intellectual support through services like educational opportunities that encourage the exploration of past, present and future ideas that can be applied to personal decisions, group interaction and community betterment; as well as the desire to learn new concepts, improve skills and seek challenges in pursuit of lifelong learning.
Physical support through personalized services which encourage participants to adopt life-long healthy habits and behaviors that will develop strong bodies and minds through self-discipline in diet, exercise and other areas of physical wellness.
Spiritual support through Christian discipleship to establish personal value, purpose and meaning as well as a sense of responsibility for the world in which we live.—
Debra Cruver
President, Mentor
Our Reasons
Because God compels us:
“‘For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’ Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’” Matthew 25:35-40
“But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.” James 1:22
Because there is great need:
Every year, thousands of young adults are homeless, jobless and hopeless. They may be aging out of Foster Care and, at 18, dropped at the nearest homeless shelter or park to fend for themselves. Or, they’ve made unwise choices that have landed them in detention – which is often better than home, if they have one – and, when released, have the choice to return to an unsafe home environment or take to the streets for whatever “opportunities” they can find. Sometimes, it’s just a young person in the neighborhood who is simply struggling for any number of reasons. On the streets, these young people are desperate and easy prey to gangs, pimps and other traffickers, drug dealers and anyone else who might use them for personal gain.
Many of these young people could lead incredibly successful lives and contribute to stronger communities if only they were given the opportunity. We have witnessed what love and hope can do to transform a person who longs for it. We believe Lion’s Gate Ministries can – and will – be a place of transformation, healing and victory!
Our Name
There are many great reasons we chose “Lion’s Gate” to represent our ministries. We’ve long considered the lion as the “king of beasts.” It represents strength, courage, leadership and nobility. And for years, we’ve read The Chronicles of Narnia (C.S. Lewis) to our children and have been drawn to Aslan – the good-but-not-safe lion representing Jesus in the books. In Jerusalem’s Old City, The Lions Gate is located in the east wall and is also known as St. Stephen’s Gate or the Sheep’s Gate. This is where the apostle Paul (Saul) witnessed the stoning of Stephen, recorded in Acts chapter 7.
More significantly, The Lions Gate is part of the path Jesus walked on the way to His crucifixion and ultimate resurrection. Beyond that, Jesus is considered the Lion of Judah of Revelation 5. Choosing a name to represent the heart of what we hope to offer wasn’t easy. But our desire is that all those who join with us – Residents, Staff, Instructors, Volunteers, Mentors, etc. – will be impacted and infused with the qualities of Christ that allow each of us to face the challenges of life courageously and victoriously.