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Open Gate Detroit

Dates: July 14-25, 2025

Mission Statement

A two-week hands-on training program focused on evangelism, outreach, and spiritual growth in an urban setting.

Vision Statement

Equipping youth with vision, tools, and experience to evangelize, teach, lead, and serve in their local communities and churches, making an eternal impact.

Our Focus

people huddled together

Prayer

To provide a concentrated 2-week program that puts emphasis on the gospel, evangelism, and a passion for God and people with prayer at the center.

Growth

To provide both sound teaching and application opportunities that stretch one out of their comfort zone; to provide opportunities where one learns what it means to trust God more. 

Service

To provide the opportunity to plan, organize, and conduct vacation bible schools for city children and invest in the community in other ways.

Detroit Executive Board

Lavern Miller

President

Lavern's Bio

 

Lavern and Harmoni Miller live in Detroit, Michigan, where they attend Grace Fellowship. They desire to be a light in the city, through their jobs at Awake Cafe, and in their home, connecting with their friends and neighbors. They seek to make a positive impact on the lives of those around them with a mission-driven lifestyle.

 
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Chris Coblentz

Board Member

Chris' Bio

 

Chris Coblentz and his wife Mariah currently live in Newark OH. This is his second year as a part of Open Gate Detroit and he is very excited to see where God will take it this year and excited to get to know more young believers that are excited about the Lord and want to serve Him!

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Corban Yoder

Corban Yoder

Board Member

Corban's Bio

Corban Yoder lives in Middlebury, IN. He's a member of Living Water Mennonite Church. He enjoys playing basketball, listening to music, and working with cars.

He's excited about growing and learning from others, especially when it comes to teaching and living a life for God's kingdom. Corban wants to encourage and be a good example for others by humbly serving the Lord. He hopes to make a positive impact in his community and inspire those around him.

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Jaydon Burkholder

Board Member

Jaydon's Bio

 

Jaydon Burkholder from Living Water Mennonite in Goshen IN will be entering his second year as a board member for Open Gate Detroit and is excited to see mission outreach in the city. He has taught high school at a small Christian school in Jesup,GA for one year and is passionate about inspiring young adults to recognize what’s most important in life. Connection with people is important to him whether it be through music, sports or simply quality conversations.

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Doug Yutzy

Board Member

Doug's Bio

As a man who loves to see other young people serving the Lord, Doug is very excited to be a part of Open Gate Detroit. He is interested in mission work and hopes to serve in the mission field in his future. He enjoys detail oriented tasks and the planning that goes along with them. Doug is a member at Haven Fellowship in Plain City, Ohio.
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Triston Wagler

Board Member

Triston's Bio

I live in the small town of cross hill South Carolina. I am a member of Cross Hill Mennonite Church. I love learning and creating. My main creative outlet at the moment is rebuilding my truck. I love anything that involves mechanics and would love to sit and talk cars for hours. I’m a country boy but I do enjoy the charm of Detroit. I’m very excited to be going back to open gate the help facilitate growth in others as well as continuing growing in my own Christian life.

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Detroit Advisory Board

Scott Stauffer

Devin Hartzler

Kendalyn Martin

Ryan Grove

Contact

You can find us at:

EMAIL

[email protected]

LOCATION

4469 52nd St, Detroit, MI 48210

Let's get in touch:

Open Gate Policies and Guidelines

We recognize that those attending Open Gate come from churches with a variety of practices and
applications of Scriptural principles. Therefore, to keep a consistent witness, we ask those attending
“Open Gate” to support the following guidelines.
1. We ask that students be faithful to the guidelines of their local congregations even when they
extend beyond the minimum requirements of Open Gate.
2. We affirm the Biblical teaching (I Cor. 11) of naturally long hair for woman and that her
veiled head is the symbol of her submission to the order of headship. The hair shall be worn
up under a traditional covering or hanging veiling of sufficient size to give affirmation to the
principle of headship.
3. Men’s hair shall be cut neatly and shall not be over the ears in length or reach the shirt collar.
Clothing with gaudy or bizarre logos should be avoided. Shirts should have their second
button fastened. Men shall dress respectfully, giving expression of Christian character and
integrity.
4. Shorts, sleeveless garments, culottes or low-necked or sheer garments shall not be worn. Full
skirts are required, covering the knees both while sitting and standing. Tight and form-fitting
clothing shall be avoided. Women shall dress giving proper affirmation to the principles of
modesty and decency.
5. Both men and women shall dress appropriately for all activities of outreach and evangelism.
Instruction will be given during the week when formal or casual dress is expected.
6. Guy/Girl Relationships – Since this is a short-term mission program, dating is not to take
place while enrolled at Open Gate. We are promoting an atmosphere where interaction will
be as a group and isolated guy/girl relationships are not to be observed. Attendees are
expected to be courteous and respectful at all times and maintain Christian standards of
conduct and respect towards those in leadership.
7. Those who are responsible for this ministry may feel a need to talk with an individual about
specific applications or behavior that need improvement. Please listen respectfully and
cooperate graciously as concerns are expressed. This will make the program go much more
smoothly and avoid giving Satan an opportunity to hinder God’s work by creating
misunderstandings and divisions.
8. These guidelines are to be observed during the term of Open Gate from arrival until
departure.
9. Additional direction will be given at orientation in respect to personal conduct, automobile
use, recreational time, dorm life and overall principles of conduct for the program of Open
Gate.

Detroit, Michigan