Agape Development

Location: 3000 Trulley St. Ste 201
Houston , TX 77004
(713) 658-1001

Website: www.agapedevelopment.org

Mission: Bringing Hope and Transformation to the Third Ward through economic, emotional, and spiritual empowerment

Kirk and Amanda Craig founded Agape Development Ministries in the summer of 2005 in response to the needs of the Third Ward Community. While many great youth programs serve the area, young adults in their early 20’s still need help transitioning to healthy adulthood. Agape provides counseling, spiritual guidance, college guidance, job readiness/placement, mentorship, fellowship, and a family of support. Agape’s staff and volunteers are committed to long term, lasting transformation of the whole community, so each participant receives individual attention. In the fall of 2008, several young adults moved into the Gateway Residential Program for a year of intense discipleship and training. Agape will equip graduates of Gateway with all the skills to live as healthy, independent, God-honoring adults. Agape appreciates the support of its donors and volunteers in a variety of capacities.
 

Aldine Y.O.U.T.H.

Location:  4700 Aldine Mail Rte., near Intercontinental Airport

Website:  www.aldineyouth.org

Aldine Y.O.U.T.H. was founded in 1990 as a non-profit, grassroots organization to offer support to area youth.  Aldine Y.O.U.T.H.’s mission is “to empower positive change in the lives of our youth and their families through partnerships with businesses, agencies, schools, churches and talented volunteers.”  For 15 years, Aldine Y.O.U.T.H. has strived to address the gaps in needed programs and services by operating under a “one-stop shop” model.  Through this collaborative model, Aldine Y.O.U.T.H. makes available a number of services to the community. These include GED/ESL classes, WIC program, after school and summer programs, Scouts, defensive driving, computer lab, food pantry, Seniors Club and an array of various other programs.

Aldine Y.O.U.T.H. operates the Renewed Blessings Resale Shop and the Taking Care of Business Youth School of Business for teens age 14-16.

Baptist Mission Centers

Website:         www.bmchouston.org

Baptist Mission Centers has three locations that serve impoverished areas of Houston’s inner city.  Gano Mission Center and Fletcher Mission Center are located in the Near Northside community and Joy Fellowship Center is located in the Magnolia Park community.  The Mission Centers serve people in these neighborhoods through various crisis, outreach, discipleship and educational programs.  Ministries include:  After-school tutoring, kids’ club programs for ages 4-10, preteen clubs for youth 11- 12 years old, teen clubs for youth 13-17 years old, young adult ministry for adults 18-25 years old, Christian Women’s Job Corps, senior adult ministry, English as a Second Language classes, food ministry, clothing ministry, special holiday events and block parties, and missionary training.  In 2005, nearly 40,000 volunteer hours were recorded, over 35,000 people received food and 165 people accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior.

The Forge for Families, Inc.

Location: 3150 Yellowstone Blvd Houston, TX 77054

Website:  www.forgeforfamilies.org

The Forge for Families Inc., a new entity formed by the merger between urban ministries Refuge Community Development Center and Inner City Youth, provides holistic, comprehensive services to single-parent families struggling to overcome poverty, crime and hopelessness in Houston's under-resourced Third Ward.  The Forge offers programs including sports, Bible studies, mentoring and leadership training to youth, as well as recovery groups, adult life skills, an ex-offender program and more to their parents. 

Gracewood

Location:  7511 Wanda Lane, Houston, 77074; Near U.S. 59 and Fondren

Website:  www.gracewood.org

Gracewood is a nonprofit residential program serving single mothers and their children. The moms are temporarily unable to meet the needs of their children, and yet separation would not be in the best interest of the family. Since 2001, Gracewood has been providing a safe haven to these families in times of crisis.  In addition to providing the basic needs of shelter, food and clothing.  Gracewood provides employment resources, money management programs, family and individual counseling, referral to beneficial community resources and post-residential assistance.  Case managers and residential staff tailor a plan of service to fit each family’s individual needs and goals.  Focus is placed on discovering and correcting the challenges that led clients to their current situation so that these challenges are not repeated in the future. The services provided at Gracewood help the motivated single mother preserve her family while locating the resources needed to survive independently. 

Mission Houston

Location: Greater Houston Area (office: 2916 West T.C. Jester Blvd, Suite 101, Houston, 77018)

Website: www.missionhouston.org

Mission Houston is an inter-denominational 501(c) 3 ministry formally established in 1999. Mission Houston works with lay and clergy volunteers throughout Greater Houston on personal transformation and community transformation efforts. Mission Houston provides vision, analysis, training and connections to energize and mobilize individuals to serve as changed agents in their community. Our vision is the social and spiritual transformation and revitalization of Greater Houston: each person, each neighborhood, each community.

Whole & Healthy Children Initiative: the demonstration of collaboration & unity within the Body of Christ to transform the public school system. Over the next 10 years, at least 3 public elementary schools in each Community Service Area will achieve what we call the “4 M’s”:

• 100 Mentors serving in a one-on-one relationship with a child

• 100 intercessors engaged in Mobilized Prayer for the schoolchildren, their families and the school faculty & staff

• An annual Makeover project aimed at beautifying the school campus

• $10,000 in Money raised to supplement funding that the school needs to enhance their educational offerings to the students

Faithwalking: Faithwalking is available several times a year for both men and women and serves to equip missional leaders to live transformational lives in their families, neighborhoods and workplaces. Participants are trained and coached to increase their personal authenticity about integrating their faith in all aspects of life.


Open Door Mission

Location: 5803 Harrisburg, east of downtown

Website:  www.opendoorhouston.org

Open Door Mission is an emergency relief and rehabilitation center, which provides shelter, food, clothing and access to health care to homeless, addicted and destitute men.  The goal of Open Door Mission's innovative programming is to rehabilitate men, so they can reclaim their lives and become productive members of our community. Open Door Mission accomplishes this goal by providing structured residential programs, which focus on recovery from substance abuse, education, job training, respite care, and spiritual growth.

Victory Home
 

Victory Home is a residential home reaching the substance abuser, ex-offender and gang member with the purpose of successfully changing men into responsible, productive and contributing members of society.   The guiding principal of Victory Home is that it is only through an encounter with God through Jesus Christ that a person can experience true change.  This principal permeates every aspect of their intense program of character development, mentoring and life skills training, resulting in men who leave the home free from life-controlling habits and are able to implement good work habits, positive family relationships and service to others. 

The WorkFaith Connection

Location:  1500 North Post Oak Rd, Suite 150, Houston, TX  77055,
(Hempstead Hwy @ N. Post Oak Rd behind Northwest Mall)

Website:  www.workingconnection.org

The WorkFaithConnection is a Christ-centered nonprofit organization helping people begin new and productive lives through successful employment.  The program aims to empower people to provide for themselves and their families emotionally, spiritually, and financially.  The WorkFaith Connection provides training and assistance to adults who currently find themselves in financially disadvantaged situations; individuals who may be transitioning out of homelessness, prison, addiction, or unstable life patterns.  While offering hope and opportunities to its Members, The Working Connection also provides employers with a workforce that is positioned to bring commitment, gratitude, and a strong work ethic to the workplace.   The WorkFaith Connection has partnered with many other faith-based organizations across the city to provide ongoing support for the graduates of their programs.  TWC was founded in 2006 and began offering its program in its current location in January 2007. 

Youth-Reach Houston

Location: East Harris County

Website: www.youth-reach.org

Youth-Reach Houston operates a series of Christian foster group homes in northeast Houston designed to remold the values and turn around the lives of at-risk youth, ages 12 to 21. The program was founded in 1984 by Curt Williams, who describes Youth-Reach as “a hospital for today’s damaged and discarded youth”. Set in a structure of a balanced family and home life, Youth-Reach Houston concentrates on developing character, responsibility, and a strong work ethic. Facilitated by experienced and respected counselors, Youth-Reach Houston is a long-term program intended to heal past wounds and restore families.