The programs defined below are simply there to meet needs. The programs evolve, change, or go on hiatus as we perceive the needs. We don’t believe in having a program just to say we have a program.

LION’S DEN – This is the heartbeat, or epicenter, of the ministry –the place where the “family” lives and lives are changed. It is a rec center, safe haven, and “home away from home” that is open after school, evenings, and week ends. There is loving supervision, homework tutoring, relational support and mentoring, and life skills training. Opened in 1994 in a poor east Dallas neighborhood where many of the young people were gang involved, the Lion’s Den is where we invest much of our time and many of our resources on a core group of predominantly Hispanic boys and girls in a loving family environment and produce the leaders who are expanding and carrying on the vision. We also pursue relationship with the families of these core kids (most families are headed by single moms) and lend support wherever we are able in the needs of the family as a whole.

A.C.E. (Academics Change Everything) – the umbrella under which various forms of academic and vocational support takes place. Winners’ Circle is an academic support and motivational group held at neighborhood schools which we began 15 years ago when we became aware of the alarmingly low literacy level at our nearby elementary school. A.C.E. After School takes place at the Lion’s Den. Several young adults who grew up in this organization now help tutor the students who come for homework and study assistance, as well as relational mentoring in those critical after school hours. GED tutoring - for those who have dropped out and want to complete their high school education. We tutor these young people and assist them in the registration and scheduling process of the test. College Assistance – for those who want to go on to college after high school or GED completion. We help them with testing requirements, financial aid applications, enrollment procedures, and funds as needed. Vocational Training - we are always on the lookout for opportunities to enroll young people in apprenticeship programs or vocational training and help them with acceptance process that is required. We currently have 4 young men participating in an electrician apprenticeship program.

UNIT - Bible study and prayer group held for teens at the Lion’s Den. Our core group at UNIT consists of approximately 20 boys and girls.

GOOD NEWS GANG – Bible club for kids ages 5-12. This was the original program started in 1990 which was attended by many of our young adults who are now leaders when they were in elementary school.

La Junta (“The Gathering”) – Bible study and prayer group for our core group of leaders (older teens and 20-somethings).

CRISIS HOUSING – for teens who find it necessary to remove themselves from a living environment in order to make major lifestyle changes – some for days, some for months, some for years. In our residential home, the Lighthouse, we provide a loving, peaceful family setting for those who find themselves in abusive situations, or when a single parent becomes incarcerated and the young person has no where to go, or a gang member wants to leave street life behind and needs to remove himself from situations, or a young addict needs a place to rest and get clean, and numerous other scenarios we have encountered over the years which cause a young person to be in crisis and need a safe haven.

Over the years CROSSFIRE has built relationships with a variety of other inner-city non-profits and churches. We don’t feel it is necessary to “reinvent the wheel” every time there is a need, but through relationship and partnership with others we can leverage resources and experience to meet a wider variety of needs without diverting too much focus away from our specific vision.