MISSION STATEMENT AND GOALS
We are committed to the principle that God has a great purpose for every child
regardless of their geographical location, financial status, religious affiliation, race or
culture. We are committed to transforming the disadvantaged neighborhoods of our city
by making a long term commitment to the children and showing them a pathway to a
life of success.
Goals
The goals and related measurable objectives of Citychurch Outreach Ministries.
1. We are committed to first meet the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of
children in order to change their lives for the better.
• Provide a weekly schedule of Bible instruction in aged graded classes for the
children in our program.
Provide nutritious meals at no cost to each child on holidays, each day of the
summer except Saturday, and each time we meet for a planned activity.
Meet the need of food assistance for the family where needed.
Provide or secure clothing, shoes, and school supplies when needed.
2. We are committed to finding those children who are most in need and teaching
them through family counseling, mentoring, education, and example that
God’s purpose will lead them to their highest potential.
We will go to the worst places first.
Provide a weekly schedule of activities in the neighborhoods served.
Provide transportation to activities at no cost.
3. We are committed to build young people of integrity by teaching the virtues of
honesty, diligence, compassion, faithfulness, creativity, initiative, loyalty,
respect for others and the privilege of hard work and it’s reward.
Provide practical instruction concerning personal relationships.
Promote a lifestyle of abstinence regarding sexual activity prior to marriage.
Promote practical dating and courting activity.
Provide job skills training, and encourage education in the field of interest and
ability of each child.
4.We are committed to educating others concerning the needs, developing
resources, and recruiting volunteers to do the work in the disadvantaged
areas of our city.
Citychurch Outreach Ministry began in October 1996. The Lane family moved to
downtown Amarillo, Texas to an abandoned building at 205 S. Polk and began ministering to the disadvantaged children of the city. Don Lane Sr., who has served as a
Southern Baptist pastor since 1971, had survived a life changing liver transplant, after
15 years of illness. Don, his wife, Diana, sons, Donnie Jr. and James, and daughter,
Anna Lea, worked together to clean out the old building, build the living quarters on the
second floor, and visit the neighborhoods around the Downtown area. The ministry
began as a weekly mealtime and Bible club. It started with 16 children the first night
and quickly grew to 150 children per week within a few weeks. Within six months Citychurch
was running out of room to serve the children and volunteers who would come to help
with each week’s meetings. The building attached to the north of Citychurch became
available and was purchased and put in use immediately, providing much needed class-
room space. Volunteers from all denominations and walks of life were recruited to help
transport, feed and teach children. The buildings now house a commercial kitchen capable of feeding 300 people continuously. Citychurch maintains a fleet of vans and buses
because free transportation is provided to each event at the church.
In August 2000, Citychurch was given the property directly across the street on
the west side of Polk Street. Money was raised and Tol Ware Park has been in constant
use every since. Tol Ware Park provides playground space, basketball courts, an amphitheater, a fifty foot climbing tower, and a concession stand.
Citychurch now operates a free after school program, a feeding program called
CityKid Cafe, which will serve over 150,000 meals delivered to children each year, a
recreation program which includes two climbing facilities, and a youth and children's Bible Study program that teaches the Word Of God along with ministering to the emotional and physical needs of over 300 young people a week. The most important job is sharing the love that Jesus Christ has for these children who have been abandoned by the churches of Amarillo.