"For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many." Mark 10:45

Recently a young lady named Missy graduated our residential program. The following is a glimpse into her life story.

Missy's father passed away when she was five. Drugs and abuse became the reality for Missy and her two sisters, who were living with their mother and her partner. Eventually the girls went into foster care. Missy came to Gateway Woods when she was 15 years old. Everything she had was in the trunk of a car.

Drugs and abuse became the reality for Missy and her two sisters, who were living with their mother and her partner.

Missy brought with her a love for animals, so the barn was an immediate connection that helped to bring down her guarded walls. The horses were especially therapeutic, and the residential staff could count on her asking almost daily if she could go ride the horses. Missy also loved listening to Christian music because the message was consistent with what she felt at Gateway.

It was an exciting day when Missy completed the program. On her last day at Gateway, she was picked up at the school on a horse and handed the reigns! "I was so happy that I got the treatment I needed. I love to ride horses, it's a major coping skill for me and other kids" declared Missy. Gateway staff feels honored to have been a part of her journey.

If you would like to help partner with us or find out more information on how you can help us reach more people like Missy, please visit our careers page.