August 2015
OPEN GATE MINISTRIES — YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD MISSIONARY FIELD
Christians are encouraged to: Love Thy Neighbor
Feed the Hungry Shelter the Homeless
Spread the Gospel
At Open Gate Ministries, that is our mission, and that’s exactly what we do!
Many individual Christians and churches partner with us each month to do just those missions. They help us by volunteering, sending donations, and praying for us.
As a result, we provide food for over 600 families in Dinuba, Cutler, and Orosi EACH MONTH. We maintain a shelter where those who have no roof over their heads can be warmed, fed, and sheltered; on average we have about seventeen individuals EACH NIGHT.
We provide clothing, furniture, and rental assistance to individuals as our resources permit.
In September, we are throwing ourselves an ANNIVERSARY P ARTY to cele- brate 41 years of partnering with other Christians provide these services to OUR NEIGHBORS.
Won’t you join us?
FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR—RAY ANDERSON
Matt 9:38-“Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.’
GREETINGS to all our churches, busi- nesses and supporters!
I would like to give a big THANK YOU. Your support has made a differ- ence in people’s lives. Through the Thrift Store, Shel- ter, and Food Pantry, many people have been blessed and have also been ministered unto. To see the faces and responses from those we help has been a huge
blessing.
Some probably do not realize that Open Gate Minis-
saints can be adults as well as youth to participate in our Missions endeavor.
From my own experience as a Pastor, God blesses those that get involved in Missions. If you would al- low me, I would like to share a scripture with you concerning ministering to those in our own back yard:
Deut 24:19-21- "When you gather your crops and fail to bring in some of the grain that you have cut, do not go back for it; it is to be left for the foreign- ers, orphans, and widows, so that the LORD YOUR God will bless you in everything you do. 20 When you have picked your olives once, do not go back and get those that are left; they are for the foreign- ers, orphans, and widows. 21 When you have gath- ered your grapes once, do not go back over the vines a second time; the grapes that are left are for the foreigners, orphans, and widows.” TEV
Will you help? We are always in need for financial donations as well as workers and volunteers. Please just give us a call and offer whatever services that
you can, and be a part of “YOUR” Mission, right here in Dinuba. (559) 591-1241
May the Lord Bless you abundantly Ray Anderson, Executive Director
tries is a “Mission”, a Mission to minister to those st
less fortunate. This year is our 41 . year in doing the Lord’s Mission work. As churches, businesses and individual supporters, we are asking for you to in-
clude us in your Missions budget right here in your
own back yard. There is, of course, a tremendous financial need, but we also have a need for volunteers to help in the various areas in which we serve. We are asking each of you to consider sending 3-5 members from each congregation, each business, or each fam- ily to help by serving in a Mission outreach. These
NOW AVAILABLE! CREDIT CARD DONATIONS!
We now have the ability to take donations at the shel- ter using your VISA, Mastercard, or Discover Card.
When you call (559) 591-1241 or come by the shelter, our friendly staff will fill out a form and your dona- tion will be entered on our next business day.
Donations can be one-time only or may be set up to be charged on a certain date each month.
HOW TO DONATE
It is easy to help out Open Gate, just by selling things on ebay! At the time items are listed, the seller can designate all or a portion of the net proceeds to be given to Open Gate. After the sale, the seller still sends the items to the buyer, but the system will han- dle the finances.
Other Ways To Donate:
☺ Mail or bring a donation to 511 North “K” Street in Dinuba, California 93618.
☺ Click on the “Donate” button on our website: http://www.opengate-ministries.org
☺ Use your Paypal account and donate to: donations@opengate-ministries.org.
From the Desk and Heart of our Operations Manager Gloria Gaona
Our Shelter Ministry
Ring, ring, phone; ding-dong, door bell; a pot of Hamburger Helper is cooking for the 16 individuals who are eating for lunch. Oh, there goes the phone again, another individual needing a place to stay. I tell them to call me back in half an hour (so that the Hamburger Helper doesn't scorch!) A resident needs to talk, needing words of encour- agement or words of advice. I turn off the stove. I know what is important at this point.
Finally, I am able to finish cooking....
A small child says, "I want to say grace for the food, can I please pray?" and I happily consent, knowing that God in Heaven hears all prayers. The smiles on everyone's face as they eat the meal and the homemade salsa is enough to make my day, and I remember all over again, "This is why I am at Open Gate Ministries, this is why You have called me."
A similar scenario happens every day at the shel- ter, sometimes more families, sometimes less. Our opportunities are many at the shelter with the families as we assist them during their times of crisis. OurgoalistoalwaysshowthemtheLOVE of JESUS and present to them the saving Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, all the time while helping them recover from their homeless situation
through our case management program.
If you're willing to be a blessing by volunteering to help, whether it be answering phones, answering the doors, preparing meals at the shelter, or work- ing at our Thrift Shop, please call me (Gloria) at (559) 691-1241.
Also I heard the voice of the Lord saying... Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then I said, "Here I am, SEND ME." -- Isaiah 6:8
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In the month of July, one of our local grocery stores was sponsoring our ministry for their "Independence from Hunger" month. I had set up a small table with a "Support Open Gate Here" poster on the table and some free candy for all who came to the table.
At first, I was wondering whether my time should be better spent at the shelter helping the families rather than being in the store. But then, as I stood there greeting people as they shopped, many were donating $1, $5, and $10 at the register to help Open Gate. I quickly prayed for each as they de- posited their money. As time went on, I started to see a lot of familiar faces and many would come to talk with me. On one occasion, a lady came to leave $5 and said, "Open Gate has done so much for me. I stayed at the shelter and my life has changed for the better! Thank you, Jesus!"
Another lady came in and purchased 6 of the $10 grocery bags for the food pantry. She also was a recipient of the shelter many, many years ago and said, "I don't know where I would be if Open Gate would not have been there for me in my time of need. This is the least I can do." Even the person at the register said to me, "You know, there was a time that I was homeless and you guys helped me, and even when I needed
(Continued on next page)
From our Operations Manager, Gloria (continued)
food I was able to receive some food from the pan- try to help feed my family." I was amazed at the radiant zeal as she asked customers to donate to Open Gate - it was with such an urgency, but yet with lots of tenderness as she stressed the needs at Open Gate.
Throughout the hours I was at the store, I contin- ued to see many who were, in one way or another, either recipients of our services, donors, or volun- teers. I think the Lord had a very good reason for me being there at the store on those days instead of at the shelter - to witness to you the results of
some of the things that Open Gate Ministries has been and continues to do with your willing support.
I guess what I am trying to say to all those who read this article, THANK YOU for believing in Open Gate Ministries. Thank You for giving to the Lord's work. Thank you for being a part of your local mission to your neighbors. Your efforts and sacri- fices have made, and will continue to make, posi- tive impact in the lives of many families and indi- viduals. OPEN GATE IS YOUR LOCAL MISSION.
God Bless, Gloria
RESULTS OF OUR MISSION TO HELP THOSE IN NEED
Before coming to Open Gate, no one would have wanted our life! It was a constant daily struggle for my husband, three boys, and myself. We started going downhill, little by little, until we had nothing. We had been evicted in July, 2014, and we had no place to go. Our "home" every day for almost a year was a motel room somewhere. When we didn't have the money for a room, my husband would collect pallets to try to raise enough. I remember he could fit 8 of them in the trunk of our car. He would do anything for us, anything, just to have a roof over our heads.
It came to a point where it was harder and harder for him and all we wished for was a little help. It was on June 16 of this year that I called Open Gate and, to my surprise, there was an available room for our whole family!
Open Gate is the only shelter in Tulare County that takes in the whole family. On the way here, our car overheated and broke down, but we still made it here just before dinner.
At Open Gate we have been taught that, with God and faith in our lives, ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE. We at- tend a local church now, the Dinuba Church of the Nazarene. They have also supported us and have wel- comed us into their family.
With Open Gate's help we have been able to save money for a new place. They supported us all the way through, and we thank God for Open Gate and staff -- they are a true blessing.
The Olvera Family July 31, 2015
“Would you take less?” was the common theme on the front yard of the shelter in may when we had a huge yard sale. Many people donated their valuable possessions and Fran Stoner and her crew spent a few days turning those donations into well over a thousand dollars for the ministry. It was a fun time, albeit a little warm, and was con- sidered a great success. Fran is planning another yard sale in late October, when it is a little cooler. Plan now to donate items for this fundraiser while you are doing your fall cleaning.
NEEDS AT THE SHELTER
Bathroom Paper, Canned Meats, Coffee, Cooking Oil, Creamer, Deodorant, Hair Brushes, Juices, Kid's Snacks, Kleenex, Lotion, Pajamas (all sizes), Paper Towels, Shampoo, Sugar, Toothpaste and brushes
HELP! We are in need of paper grocery bags, to bag our food for our distribution programs. If you'd like to donate bags or money to purchase bags, please call the shelter.
Annual Spring Luncheon
On May 6, 2015, we had scores of diners show up to our Annual Spring Luncheon. We had a wide variety of salads with deserts, beverages, and a variety of boutique items for sale. Miss Dinuba, Maddi Tuttle, along with several other youths, assisted the luncheon committee. Open Gate ex- presses a heart-felt appreciation to the many sponsors and the luncheon committee chaired by Marian Clifton. Due to a technical malfunction, photos of the event were lost.
Fireworks Sale
This year’s fireworks sale went at a record pace. Many volunteers helped in spite of sky rocketing temperatures. Fran Stoner had the honor of selling the largest item in our inventory, a $500 box of fireworks. Many thanks go to all of the volunteers, especially Jennifer Kubar and Board President Les Felland.
Have you been in our Thrift Shop lately?
If you haven't, you may be missing out! Of course, we have clothing items, shirts, dresses, pants, shoes, back-to-school clothes, coats (yes, you might actually need one in a few months), and baby items. But did you know we also have furniture? Purses? Electronics? Lamps? Desks? We have these things, plus many other items!
Our inventory is constantly changing, so come back often - there will always be something new on the floor! We don't even know what we might have in a few days.
And all of the profits of the store go to support Open Gate Ministries, our shelter and food distribution programs. See you soon at 133 South "L" Street in Dinuba.
AREN'T YOU GLAD OPEN GATE WAS HERE FOR THIS FAMILY?
As we get ready to leave Open Gate and move in to a place of our own, I can't help but to think of our journey, of all the struggles we have had in the past, of our time here at the shelter, and how, despite eve- rything, we're finally on the right path.
Before Open Gate Ministries became our home, we were unstable and never stayed in one place longer than three months. We moved from city to city and lived paycheck to paycheck, always strug- gling to get by. As a result we were unhappy and al- ways uncertain about our future. Due to the high cost of living and the need to get away from the big cities and busy life of Southern California, we ended up living with family in nearby Lemoore. Before we knew it, it was time to move on. Our stay there had been temporary from the start and now we faced a big decision, move back to where we came from, to the familiarity and comfort of home, or to venture out into the unknown, and start fresh? We chose the lat- ter and ended up at Open Gate Ministries in Dinuba. We couldn't have made a better choice!
Upon arrival at Open Gate, we felt for the first time, in a long time, as if we were home. We were warmly received by the friendly staff and they treated us as if we had known each other for years. We met a lot of people, some good, some not so good, and we ended up making several new friends. Our outlook turned optimistic. We learned to budget and save money. We managed to bring order and schedules into our lives. We learn to be even more responsible
and to prioritize our needs. Of course, the program here isn't for everybody: it's strict and takes disci- pline. However, for us it turned out to be a blessing in disguise.
Of everything we received, learned, and gained, the most important thing that happened to us while here at Open Gate is that we were able to bring God into our lives. We were encouraged and invited to several churches, and to this day we still attend. We learned the importance of prayer, and the act of giv- ing thanks for our daily meals has become ritual. Our kids attend Sunday school and we read bible stories at bed time. We praise God and through His power and blessing, we find ourselves spiritually enlight- ened and blessed.
Our needs seemed to take care of themselves, a job came first, and housing soon followed. We are now set to move into a beautiful house and things can only get better from here. All of this would've never hap- pened had we not been here and humbly accepted God and Jesus as our Savior. We come from a rough background of struggles and strife, uncertainty and misfortunes, but though the help of Open Gate Ministries, its board members, staff, and everyone involved, we were able to see the light and better ourselves to live positively. Thank You Open Gate! And May God Bless Every One Of You.
Sincerely,
The Pantoja Family
Wisdom from a Fortune Cookie
Luke 10:30-37 ESV) Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compas- sion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, 'Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.' Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?" He said, "The one who showed him mercy." And Jesus said to him, "You go, and do likewise."
Open Gate Ministries Newsletter
Volume 15, Issue 1 August, 2015
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 nine members of our Board of Directors are affili- ated with eight 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