April 2017

FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR—RAY ANDERSON

We were shocked and deeply saddened on March 19 when our dear friend and co-worker, Gloria Gaona, suddenly passed away. She had been with Open Gate for twenty-two years, and, in her position as Opera- tions Manager, she interacted with every employee, every donor, and every volunteer.

Open Gate Ministries has been here for 43 years and will continue, but we will always have an empty spot in our hearts that Gloria filled. This newsletter, ex- cept for a few announcements, is dedicated to her memory and to our memories of the time the Lord allowed her to be with us.

Gloria —

I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you.

(Phil. 1:3, HCSB) —- Ken

My Dear Friend, Gloria,

Why did you leave us so soon? How can we carry on, except by following your example of a faithful, Godly servant? You called me “Wonder Woman,” but to me you were truly a super hero, doing the work of five people cheerfully, even joyfully, “as unto the Lord.”

Thousands of people have been blessed by your kindness and your generosity.

How I will miss your encouragement, your emails, your calls. How I will miss si*ng in your office cha*ng and giggling and dreaming with you.

God rewarded you with the rest you would never have given yourself. We will try, Gloria, we will try to make you proud. We must carry on with the im- portant work of Open Gate Ministries that was so close to your heart. May God strengthen and guide us.

Hugs to you, girl, we will meet again “up yonder.”

Your friend and sister in the Lord-- Marian Cli/on

My dear friend Gloria,I am already missing you dearly.

You gave me a job as an evangelist for the Food Distribution
when I was
with a local

church, and, with your guid- ance, now I have a deeper understanding of evangelism.

Anytime I had questions, con- cerns, or com- plaints, you were always there to listen and you took care of it.

If I did some- thing wrong, you talked to me calmly without raising your voice in anger.

You were there whenever I had a need, just like you were always availa- ble for every- one else.

Thanks to you, lots of people now know me as a friend and they stop me on the street with ques- tions about the pantry hours, pantry rules, and

especially with questions about the Bible.

And the children of those who know me from the food pantry call me “Bible Guy,” “Bible Man,” or “The nice man who gives out stuff.”

I thank you, Gloria, for giv- ing me a second

chance when no one else would, a chance to evangelize and carry on the mission which you worked so hard for, and an opportunity to show Dinuba the love of our Christ.

-Calvin Grover

Below is a scan of an article that appeared in our newsletter in November, 1995, right after Gloria and Victor started as our House Directors. (Apologies for the quality of the photos!)

Open Gate Ministries All-You-Can-Eat Salad Lunch

Wednesday, May 3, 2017 11:00 AM—1:00 PM Dinuba First Assembly of God (corner South “L” and Mono Streets)

Salad $5.00 Cake Slice $1.00 Free Roll and Beverage
Take-Out Available

Open Gate Ministries Newsletter

Volume 17 April, 2017

Editor: Calvin Grover

If you would prefer to receive future news- letters as an email attachment, please send your preferred email address to: ken@opengate- ministries.org

The mission of Open Gate Ministries is to minister to the physical and spiritual needs of persons according to the life and teachings of Jesus Christ through the provi- sion of shelter, sustenance and companionship.

Open Gate is a Christian organization, but it is interde- nominational. Among our regular donors are twenty local Christian congregations of various denominations. The twelve members of our Board of Directors are affili- ated with nine different congregations. We serve eve- ryone, without regard to their race, creed, age, sex, or religious affiliation.

Open Gate Ministries, Inc.

511 North ‘K’ Street

Dinuba, California 93618

SHELTER YARD SALE MAY 12—13, 2017

Bring your donations to the Shelter the week prior. We need everything we can get
in order to make this sale a success!

And we need volunteers to help out a few days before the sale and the days of the sale, too, if only for a few hours!

DO YOUR PART TO HELP OUR HOMETOWN MISSION!