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Welcome to The City Gate 

The City Gate Mission Statement

  We are dedicated first to our Lord Jesus Christ and then to those He so selflessly and lovingly stretched out His arms. We are devoted to the works of reclaiming, rebuilding and restoring the lost and broken lives of the precious teens and adults living on the streets and in the inner-city of Spokane, Washington.

  We provide basic needs to the poor through meals, a food bank, clothing bank, counseling services, transitional housing, and church services.

A HEART THAT LOVES

  When you meet Andra Phelps, it doesn’t take long for you to see that she is passionate about carrying out the mission of The City Gate, “a church devoted to the work of reclaiming, rebuilding and restoring lost and broken lives of people living on the streets in the inner city of Spokane.” As I interviewed her, every question I asked turned away from talking about herself to talking about the ministry she loves so deeply.

  Growing up with her grandmother as a role model, who volunteered at Union Gospel Mission for over 30 years, Andra saw the fruit of serving the Lord. She received Jesus at age eight and felt God’s presence with her as she grew up around drugs, alcohol, and physical abuse. A single mother at age 22, she became personally aware that her decisions (good and bad) would affect more than just herself and has since then been passionately living for the Lord.
    Full Story...

From the Board of Trustees...

“Rich, Get Up From The Sofa…”

  I moved to Spokane over 18 years ago with my bride and children. Four months after arriving, the company that had recruited me and moved us to Spokane decided to close its doors. I was left without a job in a strange city where I virtually knew no one. This began a long season which is often described in the Bible as 40 years in the desert. It certainly felt like 40 years! After many months of struggling to find work, I was in a major depression. I would sit on the sofa for days in a catatonic state of hopelessness.

  Then one day my bride, who was always much healthier than me, came to me and said: “Rich, get up from the sofa. We’re going out today to find a place to serve others who are in worse shape than we are.” This wisdom led us to the doors of City Gate. My family and I have been greatly blessed to be a part of this ministry ever since. While my initial focus was to serve others, I soon came to accept that I was the one who was being changed and blessed. I have come to understand at least part of God’s plan for my life.    Full Story...

Pastor’s Teachings (from May 2010)

  As I was praying and seeking the Lord I was surprised, as if God was saying I have the answers, however, are you willing to listen? I was seeking the Lord’s wisdom in regards to how we can better help those who frequent The City Gate.

  The question is how do we know what love is? Christ demonstrated love by laying down His life for us. We too are to lay our lives down for our brothers. We sometimes think we know what others need and we provide them with that need, only to see it wasn’t really what they needed. It didn’t fill the emptiness, or despair and hopelessness they carry day by day. So I, knowing how the Lord demonstrated His love, realized that we at The City Gate need to find the balance and go to greater lengths to build relationships with those we serve. We need to listen more without trying so hard to fix them. We can pray and seek God’s wisdom concerning their need. In a nutshell, after all, God knows the heart. We can be His hands and feet and a voice to encourage and lead them to Christ.

St. Francis of Assisi said “speak the gospel as often as you can and sometimes use words”. We are to love others not by words but by demonstration and power through the Holy Spirit.

God Bless You,
Pastor John