About us
Open Door Ministries is a non-profit organization with a faith-based approached dedicated to helping people
regain their lives through supportive services and emergency assistance. Our programs and services are solution-oriented, and ministry minded, including the operation of a homeless shelter, serving daily meals, distributing non-perishable and fresh food, obtaining permanent housing, providing transitional housing for our nation's veterans, providing emergency assistance and acquiring and maintaining permanent jobs.
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Our mission is "to serve, empower, and minister guests in order to prevent and end hunger and homelessness through advocacy, education, housing, and coordination of services."
Our vision is "to alleviate the pain of homelessness and hunger by offering our neighbors hope and healing."
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Timeline
1968: Urban Ministries Foundation.
This faith-based ministry was created in High Point, to begin the process of alleviating homelessness in High Point. Urban Ministries was one of the first created to address this problem. Through Christian leadership and ministry Urban Ministries and now Open Door Ministries was born.
Pictured: First page of the 1968 Urban Ministry of High Point Annual Report
Sept. 1968: Urban Ministry Creation of Contact High Point.
In a partnership with the General Board of Evangelism and the United Methodist Church, Urban Ministries created the nations first accredited 24-hour telephone service for those in need. Contact Telephone Ministry was Urban Ministries second program to assist those in need.
1970: Contact High Point Expansion
After a successful two years of operation, Contact High Point expanded its programs to more than just crisis intervention but more specific areas of concern. Some of these programs are still reflected in ODM's current operating structure. Drug Information and Rehabilitation, Suicide, Alcoholism, Family Life, Youth Problems, Emergency Care Teams, and Recovery Inc.
Pictured: 1971 Contact Telephone End of Feb. 1971 Report for Calls and Call Types
1982: National Recognition, Continued Work.
Following close to 12 years in operation Contact High Point, sponsored by Urban Ministries, was among the 90 Contact Centers nationwide to receive the Presidential Award for Volunteerism.
1987: Open Door Shelter Opened.
This operation, separate from Urban Ministries was a shelter in High Point that housed Men, Women, and Children. Beginning shortly thereafter, the Father's Table opened providing guests of the shelter and the less fortunate in the community with a hot meal three time a day, seven days a week.
1995: Open Door Shelter and Urban Ministries Merger.
After many years of operating separately, but with a similar interest, the two organizations merged and joined their new home together at 400 N. Centennial Street, High Point. Operating the Father's Table Soup Kitchen, Men's Shelter and numerous other programs Open Door Ministries has remained a steadfast member of the High Point Community.
2023: Relocation Efforts
33 years after Open Door Ministries began, we have discovered our need to grow. With plans to expand our program size, our need for more bed space and a closer location to the population we serve, ODM is in the process of coordinating efforts with the City of High Point, Guilford County, and our supporters to give ODM a new, better equipped home.
2024: ODM Reaches Record Service
Open Door Ministries continues to serve, with a record year of service in the Food Pantry and Father's Table. Serving over 300,000 meals to the community!