Kim Zimmerman, who founded City Gate with her husband, Brian, gestured around the organization's Lititz location at 101 N. Broad St., and noted that the space is decorated to resemble a comfortable living room or coffee shop, with books, coffee, and water available. "We are trying to create a place where community can come together. Not everyone is going to go to a church, but this small coffee shop is less intimidating," said Zimmerman.

John Knudson, pastor of LifeSpring Fellowship in Lititz, which has partnered with City Gate, echoed Zimmerman's words. "Maybe (someone) has had a bad church experience. This (location) is unexpected and much more comfortable (than a church), so people might be quicker to open up," he offered.

The Zimmermans first envisioned a City Gate location in Lancaster city in 2006. The pair was training in a prayer ministry, and they felt a call from God to take what they were learning outside the church walls. In 2007, the Zimmermans rented a basement room in a former Lancaster hotel. "We started meeting with the homeless," said Zimmerman. "Every Friday night, we had three or four hours of just prayer and worship, and we were seeing amazing things happen," said Zimmerman. "We were connecting with the community."

The Zimmermans focused on prayer and service. Shortly after the first building in the Lancaster city was condemned, Zimmerman said she felt God calling her to take a drive on Duke Street in Lancaster. She came across a new rental property that became the ministry's next downtown location. "That's what happens," said Zimmerman. "God provides buildings and finances every time we move to a new location." God also provided Mary Nickliss to oversee the Lititz location, which opened in 2020.

Zimmerman noted that City Gate locations give local churches an opportunity to step into the community. "We love the church, but when you're in a church, you are ministering to people in the church," she said. "We felt a call from God to do that on the street."

Knudson agreed. "We are excited about the opportunity to do that," he said. "I believe in working together as the body of Christ. We have the same mission, and I believe God has commissioned us."

According to Zimmerman, each City Gate location has developed its own unique offering to the surrounding community. "The Lititz (location) has become big in the marketplace (here)," she noted. "There are several prayer times where businessmen and women are coming together to pray for Lititz businesses, and we hear many testimonies from business owners. We are a place where the church can be (Christ's) hands and feet in the public square," said Zimmerman.

More information about City Gate - Lititz may be found at https://citygatelancaster.com/lititz. Readers who have specific questions may email info@citygatelancaster.com.