City Gate opens in New Holland

"We don't pursue places to go," said Kim Zimmerman, who founded City Gate in 2007 with her husband, Brian. "We told God wherever He provides the building we will go." That modus operandi first led the Zimmermans to rent a basement in a former Lancaster hotel where they began meeting with the homeless community each Friday night. Following God's lead, City Gate has since opened additional locations in Lititz, Columbia, and Ephrata.

Opening the New Holland location happened quickly, according to Kim. After the owner of 117 E. Main St., New Holland, contacted her on a Tuesday in late February, Zimmeran reached out via Facebook asking if anybody would be interested in partnering with the organization. "By Friday, we had a team," Kim recalled. "We had financing committed, and we signed a lease that weekend." By March, the ministry was paying rent on the property, and by April 1, City Gate - New Holland had opened. As the New Holland location was preparing to open, Kim heard from leaders in local churches and ministries who said they had been praying for a City Gate to come to the area.

Originally, the Zimmermans focused on prayer and service for the Lancaster City Gate location, and Janelle Weaver, who will provide leadership at the New Holland outreach, plans to do the same. She is starting with a Thursday evening praise and worship event called Fill My Cup Cafe, which will be open from 6 to 8 p.m. "There's a light meal with it," said Weaver, who noted that for the summer, that will probably be pizza. "Come down. Have a slice of pizza and listen to a song," she invited. "If you need prayer, we'll do that." Weaver added that services may include a short devotional. "It feels like equal parts worship, prayer, and community," she said, adding, "People are hungry for community."

Weaver had visited the Ephrata City Gate in the past, and when she heard a New Holland location would open, she dove in. "This is an opportunity in my backyard with my neighbors," she said. "We (already) minister to a lot of people who live close by."

The organization is looking to work with local individuals, businesses, churches, and ministries. "We don't try to reinvent (what another group in the community is already doing)," Kim explained. "We do what we are called to do, and we partner." So far, City Gate is building relationships with CrossNet Ministries and working with a church that only rents space for Sunday services and is looking for a place to meet during the week. "A group with a knitting and crocheting ministry offered some knitted things, and we offered for them to meet here," Kim said. A confidential Bible study for victims of abuse will meet there, as will some other local groups.

Kim pointed out that City Gate is 100% volunteer-based and funded only by donations from individuals and businesses in the local area. "We are always looking for people who want to be involved," she said, noting that places where people can hear the Gospel without ever setting foot in a church are needed. "There's relationship there," she said. "People know we will tell them about Jesus and offer them a chance to make things right in their lives."

More information about the new location may be found at https://citygatelancaster.com/new-holland or by searching for "City Gate - New Holland" on Facebook.