Ministries

The Open Door - Midland, Michigan

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Ministries

	Crisis Housing
	Wholesome Meals
	Jail and Prison Visitation
	Fellowship & Bible Study
	Coffee House
	Alcoholics for Christ
	Prisoner Aftercare

Crisis Housing

We provide relief for crisis housing situations, not long-term shelter. Our guideline is that guests stay for 3 days, while working to resolve their housing situation, with any assistance we can offer. Sometimes circumstances allow for longer stays; we remain flexible and sensitive to the Lord’s leading. The men’s facility has 14 beds, while the women’s shelter has 4 beds and a crib.

We coordinate with local social agencies, Christian ministries and churches to help our guests find housing. We provide a telephone for guests, a copy of the Midland Daily News, an extensive list of resources and Dial-a-Ride tickets to help them to find employment, housing, etc. An average of 145 nights of crisis shelter are provided each month.

Wholesome Meals

Meals are provided at no cost to guests staying at our facilities and to area residents who either can’t afford the food they need or can’t prepare healthy meals for themselves. There are no qualifiers or forms to fill out. We served more than 12,000 hot, wholesome meals in the year 2002. Often, packaged food items are donated to us; they are then distributed for take out among those who come for meals.

Jail and Prison Visitation

Board members regularly visit Midland County Jail to share the good news of the gospel, minister to inmates and distribute bibles. The Open Door works with parole officers to provide temporary housing to those just released from jail and without a place to stay. We also minister at the Freeland Correctional Facility on a regular basis.

Fellowship and Bible Study

In this ministry, we provide fellowship and Bible study at our facilities for our homeless guests and nearby residents. We seek to support those who desire a changed life through Jesus Christ. This ministry includes regularly scheduled Bible studies on Tuesday and Thursday nights, and occasional special events. There is prayer time Monday nights and Wednesday mornings. There are also daily activities, such as fellowship, spirit-led prayer, positive examples of Christian living, lending a practical helping hand and a listening ear.

Coffee House

We host a coffee house on Friday and Saturday nights from 7 pm to 11 pm at our Buttles Street. facility. This is to provide a clean, wholesome environment for those who want to change their lifestyle and form new relationships.

Alcoholics for Christ

This ministry begins in 2003. Currently, the group meets at 8:00pm on Wednesday nights at 412 W. Buttles. It consists of a powerful, proven 12-step Christian approach to freedom from alcoholic and drug addictions. Alcoholics for Christ is a nation-wide organization that provides training and materials, and they describe their ministry this way:

"Alcoholics for Christ is an inter-denominational, Christian fellowship
that ministers to three groups:

Alcoholics or substance abusers,

Family members: those who relate regularly with an alcoholic or
substance abuser, and

Adult Children: individuals who were raised in alcoholic, substance
abuse, or dysfunctional families.

AC Ministries is dedicated to the propagation of the gospel of Jesus
Christ, as well as sharing His burden for lost and hurting individuals... This fellowship uses the Word of God as its primary source of direction.
Those leading the meetings are all "born again", compassionate Christians,
dedicated to the service of Jesus Christ."

For more information about group meetings, visit our contacts page.

For more information about Alcoholics for Christ, visit their web site at www.alcoholicsforchrist.com.

Prisoner Aftercare

The Aftercare ministry at The Open Door is designed to link recently released ex-offenders from prisons and jails into a small group of local Christians of the same gender who will mentor and spiritually grow the recently released person into a life of total surrender to Jesus Christ. The small group will focus on prayer, bible study, encouragement and personal growth in each person's personal walk with Jesus.

This ministry begins in the prison where Christian inmates participate in “Eagle's Nest” small groups and continues after they are released. Mature, committed Christians provide spiritual growth and consistent support.

(Click here to print or download a four-page document about Eagle's Nests. You must have the free Adobe Acrobat Reader installed to do this.)