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Open Gate Reading

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.

Reading Executive Board

Blake Fox

President

Blakes Bio

My name is Blake Fox. I was born and raised in the city of Reading; I've been a city boy all my life. Urban ministry is a huge passion of mine. I am involved in a weekly kids club and men's ministry here in the city of Reading. I love seeing young people getting excited to further Gods kingdom and pure into other peoples lives. I teach 3rd grade at Fairview Christian school. It is my second year on the board and am so excited to see what God will do through Open Gate.

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Andy Reeser

Director

Andy's Bio

Andrew Reeser a.k.a. “The Hammer”.
Andy, unlike his Open Gate nickname suggests, is one of the nicest people you’ll ever meet. He & his wife Janelle have four kids (Tirzah, Israel, Hadassah, & Susanna). They reside in Pequea, PA. He is the assistant controller for Good's Store, Inc., and his home church is Rawlinsville Mennonite Church.
Andy’s friends and family love his heart for people and his passion for the kingdom of God. Andy is all we could want as a director and Open Gate is lucky to have him!
Please keep him in your prayers and make sure to thank him for all he does for this program
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Brenden Martin

Board Member

Brenden's Bio

2024 will be Brendan's fifth year on the Open Gate board! He is an active member at Fairview Mennonite Church in Reading. He lives outside the city in a town called Oley and works at September Farm in Honeybrook as Warehouse manager. Brendan loves being part of Open Gate because it focuses on urban training and plugging into communities here in a country that desperately needs Jesus.

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Caleb Yoder

Board Member

Calebs Bio

Caleb's passion is to see God's kingdom being grown, especially in the urban setting. He attends Church at Cross Keys in Gordonville, PA and works on the tax team at Gehman Accounting. A few of his side interests are sports, art, chess, and about anything with a little competition involved. He is really looking forward to Open Gate and can't wait to see what God does in and through the lives of the students.

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Doug Wenger

Board Member

Dougs Bio

Doug attends Charity Christian Fellowship in Leola pa, and works at Litiz Collision as a Body Tech. He enjoys playing any sport and anything active. Doug has a passion for bringing joy to people and showing Jesus’s love to everyone! He’s excited to join Open Gate and see how God will work through him.

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Zach Nolt

Board Member

Zach's Bio

Zach Nolt is from Lititz pa and is an active member at Lincoln Mennonite fellowship. He got married this past October and works for his family business Lloyd Z. Nolt trucking. He has a passion for young adults and helping them become all that God created them to be. He is so excited to see how God will work through Open Gate 2025.

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Bryant Eshbach

Board Member

Bryants Bio

Bryant attends Charity Christian Fellowship and works as a sales rep at Westfield Egg Farm. He enjoys playing instruments, sports, and spending time with friends. He’s excited to join the Open Gate Board and to bring his passion to see his generation pursue God with all there heart.

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Reading Advisory Board

Wendell Nolt

Board Member

Logan's Bio

Logan is entering year 6 on the board and his 5th year as President. He is extremely organized, and hardworking which is why he does a great job of overseeing and leading the board throughout the 2 weeks. He works endlessly during the year brainstorming, organizing, and preparing for Open Gate.
During the program, he really pours himself into the lives of the students. You often see him checking up on students, and is great at helping each student develop spiritually while at Open Gate.
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Manny Mercado

Board Member

Logan's Bio

Logan is entering year 6 on the board and his 5th year as President. He is extremely organized, and hardworking which is why he does a great job of overseeing and leading the board throughout the 2 weeks. He works endlessly during the year brainstorming, organizing, and preparing for Open Gate.
During the program, he really pours himself into the lives of the students. You often see him checking up on students, and is great at helping each student develop spiritually while at Open Gate.
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Tyler Fox

Board Member

Logan's Bio

Logan is entering year 6 on the board and his 5th year as President. He is extremely organized, and hardworking which is why he does a great job of overseeing and leading the board throughout the 2 weeks. He works endlessly during the year brainstorming, organizing, and preparing for Open Gate.
During the program, he really pours himself into the lives of the students. You often see him checking up on students, and is great at helping each student develop spiritually while at Open Gate.
Read Bio

Kevin Martin

Board Member

Logan's Bio

Logan is entering year 6 on the board and his 5th year as President. He is extremely organized, and hardworking which is why he does a great job of overseeing and leading the board throughout the 2 weeks. He works endlessly during the year brainstorming, organizing, and preparing for Open Gate.
During the program, he really pours himself into the lives of the students. You often see him checking up on students, and is great at helping each student develop spiritually while at Open Gate.
Read Bio

Logan Weaver

Board Member

Logan's Bio

Logan is entering year 6 on the board and his 5th year as President. He is extremely organized, and hardworking which is why he does a great job of overseeing and leading the board throughout the 2 weeks. He works endlessly during the year brainstorming, organizing, and preparing for Open Gate.
During the program, he really pours himself into the lives of the students. You often see him checking up on students, and is great at helping each student develop spiritually while at Open Gate.
Read Bio

Contact

You can find us at:

EMAIL

[email protected]

LOCATION

410 S 14th St, Reading, PA 19602

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.

Reading, Pennsylvania