Our Vision and Mission
"I am not ashamed to plead for the homeless." - Reverend Thebo
Getting to the root of the problem has always been the philosophy of Reverend Thebo, who began Open Door Mission over 20 years ago. Focusing on long-term solutions rather than on "band-aids," the shelter offers both 24-hour, 7-day-a-week emergency shelter services as well as drug and alcohol programs, job and educational assistance, church services, Bible studies, transitional housing for ex-prisoners, and free counseling. It is our mission to provide immediate assistance to men, women, and families who are struggling with homelessness, while emphasizing the services that will help them stay off the streets permanently.
The Open Door Mission is a member of the Association of Gospel Rescue Missions and is one of Colorado's respected non-profit Christian charities. Assisting needy children, women, and men, we act as examples, without forcing our beliefs on others. Our duty is to the community. Through guiding those who arrive here to a new, steadfast way of life, we give people an opportunity to become productive members of the community. We are eager to share our faith with all who desire to know the Lord Jesus Christ: spiritual help is given when sought. We are Trinitarian, believing God directs us to help all in need, regardless of religion, race, color, age, sex, or disability.
Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
John 14:1-3
Whom we serve:
MEN: Men can find shelter in one wing of the Open Door Mission, separate from women and families. Men can participate in the Fresh Start program, or simply take advantage of the services in our Day Center. Open Door provides transitional housing for ex-prisoners, and we recently opened a halfway house for men who have moved beyond the shelter.
WOMEN: Women can find shelter in the Family Center wing of Open Door Mission. They are eligible for participation in the Fresh Start program, the Day Center services, and receive shelter and job assistance after incarceration. Colorado has a need for another women's transitional housing project, which we hope to build once donations are gathered for this new endeavor.
WOMEN: Women can find shelter in the Family Center wing of Open Door Mission. They are eligible for participation in the Fresh Start program, the Day Center services, and receive shelter and job assistance after incarceration. Colorado has a need for another women's transitional housing project, which we hope to build once donations are gathered for this new endeavor.
DONATE and VOLUNTEER to help us assist those in need!
Staff
REVEREND THEBO
Richard Thebo was driving along a quiet road in Iowa when he first heard the voice of God. The 35-year-old salesman had only attended Orthodox Church services in his life and those had been conducted in Latin. But that sunny day it didn't take him long to figure out whose voice he was hearing.
"At first, I reached behind my seat, thinking someone was there. There was no one. Then I reached down to see what station I was receiving, but the radio was not on. And then, like a light coming on, I realized what was happening."
The message Thebo heard was clear: "Rich, change now or it will be too late."
As a child of a poverty-stricken, single mother who never drank anything stronger than Coca-Cola, but who spent most of her life in bars, Thebo was forced to grow up fast. "I truly believe God let me see the shady side of life, so that I could learn from it," he said. "Running away, rebellion, thievery, alcohol dependence, gang fights, I can relate to all of those things. I can help others going through what I went through myself."
The young man overcame the hardships of his childhood to become a successful salesman. "I had money, a loving girlfriend, and everything people work for in my life, but I still felt emptiness inside," says Thebo.
That's when he heard the voice while driving to another sales account. "When God calls, you answer," he says. "I was amazed that God could care about someone like me."
At age 40, he graduated and was ordained a minister. He had already been ordained as an evangelist. In 1987, Thebo founded the Open Door Mission. The Mission began by providing food and then shelter for the homeless and destitute. Today the mission serves an average of 120 meals per day and sleeps an average of 25 clients per night in the summer, 45 per night in the winter.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Full Spirit Ministries / Open Door Mission
Reverend Richard Thebo - CEO/President
316 E Jefferson, PO Box 0873, Fort Collins, CO 80522
(970)224-4302 x10 or cell (970) 209-7717
E-mail: Rev@ODMministries.org
Karen Doyle - Secretary/Treasurer
128 Cheyenne Ave, Eaton, CO 80615
(970)388-7729
E-mail: OpenDoor@ODMministries.org
Darren Thebo - Vice President
2715 Alan St., Fort Collins, CO 80524
(970) 219-5946
E-mail: OpenDoor@ODMministries.org
Andrew Kaminski - Vice President
16570 E LaSalle Pl., Aurora, CO 80013
(303) 343-8930
Patty Kaminski - Vice President
16570 E LaSalle Pl., Aurora, CO 80013
(303)343-8930
ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Sally Doyle
Sgt. Frances Gonzales
Dr Robert Johnson
The Honorable Past Mayor, Fort Collins - Ray Martinez
Ken McGarrahan
Rob Pehkonen
Ron Pino
Financial Advisor
Jim Sprout
Richard Thebo was driving along a quiet road in Iowa when he first heard the voice of God. The 35-year-old salesman had only attended Orthodox Church services in his life and those had been conducted in Latin. But that sunny day it didn't take him long to figure out whose voice he was hearing.
"At first, I reached behind my seat, thinking someone was there. There was no one. Then I reached down to see what station I was receiving, but the radio was not on. And then, like a light coming on, I realized what was happening."
The message Thebo heard was clear: "Rich, change now or it will be too late."
As a child of a poverty-stricken, single mother who never drank anything stronger than Coca-Cola, but who spent most of her life in bars, Thebo was forced to grow up fast. "I truly believe God let me see the shady side of life, so that I could learn from it," he said. "Running away, rebellion, thievery, alcohol dependence, gang fights, I can relate to all of those things. I can help others going through what I went through myself."
The young man overcame the hardships of his childhood to become a successful salesman. "I had money, a loving girlfriend, and everything people work for in my life, but I still felt emptiness inside," says Thebo.
That's when he heard the voice while driving to another sales account. "When God calls, you answer," he says. "I was amazed that God could care about someone like me."
At age 40, he graduated and was ordained a minister. He had already been ordained as an evangelist. In 1987, Thebo founded the Open Door Mission. The Mission began by providing food and then shelter for the homeless and destitute. Today the mission serves an average of 120 meals per day and sleeps an average of 25 clients per night in the summer, 45 per night in the winter.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Full Spirit Ministries / Open Door Mission
Reverend Richard Thebo - CEO/President
316 E Jefferson, PO Box 0873, Fort Collins, CO 80522
(970)224-4302 x10 or cell (970) 209-7717
E-mail: Rev@ODMministries.org
Karen Doyle - Secretary/Treasurer
128 Cheyenne Ave, Eaton, CO 80615
(970)388-7729
E-mail: OpenDoor@ODMministries.org
Darren Thebo - Vice President
2715 Alan St., Fort Collins, CO 80524
(970) 219-5946
E-mail: OpenDoor@ODMministries.org
Andrew Kaminski - Vice President
16570 E LaSalle Pl., Aurora, CO 80013
(303) 343-8930
Patty Kaminski - Vice President
16570 E LaSalle Pl., Aurora, CO 80013
(303)343-8930
ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Sally Doyle
Sgt. Frances Gonzales
Dr Robert Johnson
The Honorable Past Mayor, Fort Collins - Ray Martinez
Ken McGarrahan
Rob Pehkonen
Ron Pino
Financial Advisor
Jim Sprout