The Measure of a Ministry

The measure of any ministry is the lives it has changed.

A young man attended a local ministry for youth. He found food and mentoring there. Because of the encouragement he received, he finished high school and got a job.

But when he came home one day, he found his clothes in plastic bags on the front porch. A life door had closed to him.

His success threatened the household where he’d grown up. If he stayed, the family would lose benefits.

He turned to the ministry that had fed and mentored him into success. The ministry leader Dave Taylor was frustrated to see that no program offered help to someone without addiction or mental health issues.

Dave spent the next few years working to open Lionheart, a home for young men who “age out” of their own families and find themselves with no place to go. Now they have a place.

Lionheart is an 18- to 24-month long program that provides a home, food, training, transportation, and mentoring. High school graduation is required, so kids in the youth ministry can see that they can have independence–if they work for it.

Lionheart teaches young men how to make electrical, plumbing, and carpentry repairs–so when they get their own places, they can take care of them.

Lionheart teaches wise use of money through Financial Peace University.

Lionheart teaches interview skills so these men can find work.

And Lionheart helps them save money, shop for cars, find apartments. Lionheart gives them the beds they’ve been sleeping on when they go to their new places. They can leave with a bed, a dresser, a desk, a toolbox, and up to $7,500 they’ve saved from working.

Lioness, for young women, is set to open in a few weeks.

And the young man who found his clothes on the porch in front of a closed door?

He works at Lionheart. He stands before the open door to help other young men in a bad situation move to a better place.

The measure of any ministry is the lives it has changed.

That young man is one life changed through the ministry of The Door. Dave Taylor leads that ministry. He conducted the wedding ceremony when that young man married his life’s love.

Dave Taylor. Now there’s a lionheart.

Photo Credit: Unsplash

Nancy E. Head’s Restoring the Shattered is out in paperback! Get your copy here!

Permissions: You are permitted and encouraged to reproduce and distribute this material in any format provided that you do not alter the wording in any way, do not charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction, and you credit the author.

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the entities I have mentioned. Restoring the Shattered is published through Morgan James Publishing with whom I do share a material connection. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

26 Replies to “The Measure of a Ministry”

  1. David Taylor has a kind heart and he’s “Jesus” to these young men. I am so grateful for his ministry; how it has helped many young men and women. His wife and he love these young people with their whole hearts and God is doing great things with them.

  2. Thank you, Nancy, for sharing this wonderful ministry. Practical help and encouragement make a difference.

  3. Good to hear about this young man and the work Dave Taylor is doing. I wonder what the young man can do for his family who is in a tough place depending on the so-called benefits of a low income to survive. God bless them all.

    1. It’s sad that getting benefits doesn’t provide a bridge to independence. That bridge would include being allowed to establish a savings plan and letting young people go to work. It seems some people are afraid to try because they’ll suffer for making the effort. Thanks, Stephen. God bless!

  4. What a wonderful ministry, so successful in helping those in need to get back on their feet and to change their lives. We need more of these and more lionhearted people like David Taylor. Well done, good and faithful servant, the Lord will say to him one day!

  5. What a beautiful ministry! Thankful for ministries like this that help people in need become independent, teaching them necessary life skills to make it on their own. Love this line: “The measure of any ministry is the lives it has changed.”

  6. I love this! There’s a similar ministry in downtown Denver; would love to see one open up for young women who age out of the system as well. Even among the chaos, violence, and vitriol, there are believers quietly making a difference for Christ and showing his love and compassion. Thank you for highlighting this amazing ministry!

    1. Sadly, this program wasn’t set up for people who age out of the system–although I’m sure it’s a good fit for them too. It’s for kids who are no longer welcome at home because they’re 18 years old and earning money that would be counted against the family’s income regarding benefits. Thanks, Candice. God bless!

  7. What a deeply thoughtful ministry, meeting a need that can easily be overlooked. I love the way so many details were considered, the diploma, learning to save money, learning skills to care for a home, leaving with a bed, dresser, desk and toolbox. May God bless this ministry and all who are touched by it!

  8. I love how God directs a heart for those in need. God’s love for us is unimaginable. Thanks

  9. What an awesome ministry. If we had more things like this we may just have less trouble in the world. Thanks for enlightening me to this one!

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

%d bloggers like this: