Mission Gate Christian Center

Programs: Mission gate operates aftercare programs in facilities owned in cuba, missouri and in the st louis area for federal,state,county and city former prisoners who are on probation or parole and for men and women with drug and alcohol addictions. The fort good shepherd ranch in cuba houses 58 residents while the st louis area guest houses have 25 men and 11 women at a time. Hannah's ranch in cuba, mo houses 8 mothers with children or those who are in the process of regaining custody of children. These residents also receive employment placement assistance,transportation, initial food and clothing,instruction in spiritual and emotional health, bible studies, employment soft skills, computer training,financial stewardship and other life skills such as parenting and anger management. Residents without a high school diploma receive ged classes. Mission gate volunteers provide in-prison church services, bible studies and one-on-one counseling to an estimated 4,000 inmates per year. These are provided to inmates in the st louis county and st louis city jails and numerous prisons in the state of missouri.

equine and canine therapy for program clients utilizes dogs, cats, horses and small livestock at mission gate's fort good shepherd ranch. The program has a healing effect on program participant's mental health. Participant feeds and cares for animals which promotes responsibility, trust and worth. Horseback riding brings a new way of recreation that excludes drugs and alcohol. Participant's families visit and partake in equine and canine interaction.

christmas angel mission program providing 2,500 children of primarily prisoners'families with gifts, gospel witnessing and church referrals. Upwards of 125 area churches are involved.

start-up funds of 125,000 were raised in crawford county and the surrounding community for hannah's ranch, a ministry of mission gate in cuba, mo, that will have a potential of housing 8 to 10 women and their children in a nine month or longer program. Funds were raised to renovate 4 more bedrooms on the main floor of hannah's ranch and this project was completed. A septic system was installed. Additional funds have been raised to remodel the basement of hannah's ranch with 5 additional bedrooms, kitchen, play area, sitting area and additional bathroom to include two. Renovations of cabins have continued at fort good shepherd along with two complete renovations. Two units have been remodeled at crystal's house in stl to accommodate four more female residents. Over a one-year period only 5% of graduates of the city of st. Louis guest home aftercare program were rearrested or re-incarcerated. During a six-month tracking period only 6% of graduates of the fort good shepherd program were rearrested or re-incarcerated. Mission gate serves 250 ex-offenders yearly who maintain a 95% employment rate at fort good shepherd and 95% in the city guest homes. 525 volunteers from 125 local churches help with construction and programming in the prisons and jails, aftercare and christmas angel mission. Formal mentoring and training programs are provided to volunteers and staff.