Agape Development Ministries’ Gateway House is a residential program begun in 2008 designed to help inner city 18-25 year olds transition to healthy, independent, Christ-following adulthood. Over the course of one year, Gateway provides housing, utilities, food, transportation, and extensive counseling and career guidance in preparation for independence. Counseling includes handling conflicts appropriately and taking personal responsibility for one’s actions. Career guidance consists of resume building and interview preparation, followed by a systematic job search method that has been proven to succeed with chronically unemployed and first time workers. The Gateway House has hosted 18 residents in the past 2 years. Agape Staff live in the Third Ward in hopes of being a light to residents of Gateway House. By working, serving, witnessing, and being a good neighbor, Christ’s love will be shared in the community.
The Gateway Program is a doorway or passage that leads to another place. For the residents who complete the program, Gateway is a path to healthy, independent adulthood. Gateway House provides intentional Christian Community for young adults to challenge each other. Agape will provide training and guidance along the way, as well as access to fun trips, conferences, and relationships. We believe that the combination of young men and women from the Third Ward area alongside inspired Christians moving in from the outside can be powerful as they are equipped to deal morally, spiritually, and effectively with the issues facing the community in these times.
The Gateway House requires three major commitments:
1) A weekly discipleship group with members of the house
2) Commitment to serve weekly in one of Agape’s Community Ministries (Bible Club, coaching kids, community garden, etc.)
3) Spiritual & Personal Accountability to Agape Leadership and fellow housemates
