Who We Are:
For over 40 years, Mercy’s Gate has served the working poor in El Paso County through a variety of direct services including rent/mortgage assistance, utility assistance, bus tokens/gas vouchers, medical assistance, and a food pantry. It originated in 1982 as a network of a handful of local churches in Colorado Springs, called Northern Churches Care, and Pulpit Rock Church was one of the original founding churches.
Exciting News:
We are on the verge of launching a redesigned website, are working to grow our alliance of local church partners, and serving hundreds of people in crisis each week.
Why We Love Mercy Gate:
Serving with Mercy’s Gate is incredibly moving because people who come to us for help are in the midst of a life crisis. They are often on the verge of homelessness and don’t have another alternative. Being able to meet them in the middle of the crisis, offer a caring, compassionate person to listen to their story and share with them resources to help them through the crisis … it doesn’t really get more Jesus-like than that!
Support Needed:
Mercy’s Gate relies on the generosity of our community and the support of our alliance of churches to stock our pantry and provide financial support and prayer. Because of the recent changes in the economy following the pandemic, the number of people accessing our services continues to grow. It’s becoming harder to keep our pantry shelves stocked week to week and we are having to buy some items to supplement donations. Some churches have a donation bin and regularly encourage their attendees to bring food items to fill it – it would be great if Pulpit Rock would do something similar! We also have churches that come in to provide a meal to those who come to Mercy’s Gate for services. This could be either breakfast, lunch or dinner, depending on the date/time. We would love for more churches to sign up for meals if that’s something your church would be interested in.
Please pray for our neighbors who come to Mercy’s Gate for help that they would experience the tangible love of Christ through our services, our volunteers who meet with them that they would be filled with the Holy Spirit and be a channel for God’s love, our supporters and partner churches that they would experience God’s abundant blessing, and for our small but mighty staff that we would be in tune with how God is moving through Mercy’s Gate and allow His Spirit to guide us in our day-to-day work.
Highlight Ministry Moments:
“What are we gonna have for dinner tonight? We have too much food!” His eyes were shining as 12-year-old Brandon looked over the overflowing grocery cart.
“I don’t know baby,” his mom said softly, “It’s been a while since we had any food in the fridge.”
Sarah has been going through a hard time. A few years before, Brandon’s father had died of a drug overdose. Nine-year-old Brandon was the one who found him.
After the death, the hard times continued. She was homeless for a while, living in her car, but eventually, she and Brandon were able to move in with her parents.
She worked hard and got her degree as a vet tech and found a steady job. But a short time later her mom was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer and after a short battle, died last April. In deep grief, Sarah took a leave of absence from her job. Eventually, her grief became overwhelming, and she was let go from her job.
Despite the ongoing struggles of this season, it was also during this time that she met the love of her life, Chris. Chris was the anchor she had been looking for, her calm amidst the storm. Against all odds, their relationship blossomed. When Covid hit, although it wasn’t something she believed was right, she and Brandon moved in with Chris before they were married to save money. They didn’t have another option. Two rents were too expensive. They made sure to stay in separate bedrooms, though.
When they married, they became a blended family of five. Chris had two daughters, and she one son.
Still struggling with grief and on the hunt for another job to supplement Chris’ income, and with the economy changing the way it had recently, things are very tight. Chris’ girls were going to be coming tonight and her fridge was empty. She had no food to feed them. She came to Mercy’s Gate on a friend’s recommendation, simply hoping she could get something for tonight’s dinner.
So when she left Mercy’s Gate with a shopping cart full of food that would fill their fridge, she was a little stunned. As she was walking out she said “I can’t wait to show my husband. I had no idea I’d get this much.”
As she was filling the back of her car with groceries, Sarah expressed her gratefulness. “I want to give back. I used to volunteer at a soup kitchen. When I can, I want to give back. I’d love to volunteer here sometime.”
And this is what we mean by community. Asking for help when you need it and doing what you can to help others in need. Mercy’s Gate works because those who have give to those who don’t. And those who receive eventually become those who give.
To Learn more or volunteer Click Here!
