OUR STORY
It started with two young men and an open door. More than twenty years later, the door is still open.
Narrow Gate holds to a single core purpose: to invest our resources for the Glory of God by making disciples of Jesus.
As a nonprofit dedicated to educating, inspiring and empowering Christian discipleship, we equip and train young men, develop business discipleship platforms, and serve the Church locally and globally.
How it began.
It started at home.
Bill and Stacy Spencer invited two 19-year-olds, Adam Stoner and Rob Rogers, to stay in their home. By year’s end, seven young men were living in their three-bedroom house.
Narrow Gate Lodge opens.
God made a way for Narrow Gate to have a permanent home and formalize as a 501c3 nonprofit and the ministry flourished
Into the marketplace.
Through generous partners, Narrow Gate launched Narrow Gate Artisans where handcrafted items and leadership embody discipleship in the workplace. Every purchase helps keep NG Lodge tuition-free.
Narrow Gate Bridge.
Training and equipping young men from other countries to create sustainable Kingdom businesses that bless their communities with jobs and hope.
The vision keeps growing.
We believe in Christ’s mandate to love, serve and make disciples, and we hope you’ll join us.
Where it all started.
We believe in creating an environment for change, not changing people.
The people behind the mission.
Bill Spencer
A gifted communicator and the visionary founder of Narrow Gate, Bill has led the organization from a start-up nonprofit to the Lodge and three Kingdom businesses.
Stacy Spencer
With a background in film, TV and video production, Stacy has been a driving force in shaping the heart and structure of Narrow Gate.
Erin McAtee
An entrepreneur at heart, Erin merged his coffee company with Narrow Gate and now equips young leaders to run businesses that display the love of God.
Weston Brann
A 2011 Lodge graduate, Weston leads the team that creates the environment where God changes lives, mentoring young men every day.
Angie Cornwell
Angie gathers God’s people together for His purposes, helping them discover His love and their part in His Kingdom.
Hannah Fuller
Hannah first connected with Narrow Gate in 2023 and joined the team as Community Development Manager in 2026. She loves seeing Jesus transform young men’s lives every day.
Dakota West
Dakota grew up around Narrow Gate and joined the development team in 2026. She loves serving the students and the community through outreach.
Bennett Stephens
The youngest of four brothers who all graduated from NG Lodge, Bennett, a 2023 Lodge graduate, builds relationships with churches, donors and partners.
McGraw Eby
A Lodge graduate, McGraw guides, mentors and invests in the young men who call the Lodge home.
Josh Fuller
A 2023 Lodge graduate, Josh oversees admissions to find the young men ready for studentship, then walks with them through the first phase as they make the decision for discipleship.
Dylan Dawkins
A 2016 Lodge graduate, Dylan spent 10 years in youth ministry before returning in 2026 to help young men discover the abundant life Jesus offers.
What shapes everything we do.
Narrow Gate Foundation is a Christian, interdenominational organization.
Many of the young men who come to Narrow Gate have acquired some destructive habits. We believe in focusing on transformation of the heart, which leads to new behaviors born out of an appreciation for what God has done for them through His Son, Jesus Christ. While it takes many months (and sometimes years) to break destructive habits, once there has been a “heart transplant,” God continues the sanctification process for the young man throughout his entire life on earth.
Key Scripture: Matthew 12:35
As Christians, we are called to be a witness, not a judge, not a lawyer, but to only tell what we’ve seen God do in our own lives. That is why most of the Narrow Gate staff consists of young men who have graduated from Narrow Gate and can personally identify with other students’ struggles. There was only one perfect Christian, Jesus Christ. So our staff is not expected to perform perfectly in their duties, but to always strive to demonstrate Christ-like attitudes and hearts of repentance for shortcomings.
Key Scripture: Philippians 4:9
Jesus constantly offers never-ending mercy and compassion to a lost world. At Narrow Gate we believe that you must earn the right to speak correction into someone’s life to evoke serious change. We are more concerned with correcting hearts or attitudes than we are behaviors and will focus on the heart issue as it is manifested in a student’s behavior.
Key Scripture: Micah 6:8
No greater gift does a man have than this; that he lay down his life for his brother. We strive to demonstrate this scripture every day and give of our time, talents and resources. We also expect that all graduates of Narrow Gate accept this scripture as a principle of their life and strive to live it out daily.
Key Scripture: John 15:13; Philippians 4:17
Jesus came not only to save us but also to give us abundant life. We help young men discover who they are according to God’s Word. Once they discover what God says about them, they spend the next few phases learning how to live out their true identity in Christ. Believing the truth about who God says you are radically changes your beliefs about yourself and, in turn, your life-long behaviors.
Key Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:16-17
At Narrow Gate, we understand that we are God’s workmanship. We can only share the truth and let God’s Holy Spirit cut through to the heart. Narrow Gate is designed to create an environment for change, but each student determines when and how much they are willing to change as prompted by God.
Key Scripture: Titus 2:11-14
When Jesus was tempted in the desert, Satan only offered him what He was due as the Son of God. Jesus was willing to accept less than He was due and we expect our staff and our students to learn to do the same with joy and contentment.
Key Scripture: Philippians 2:5-11
We believe that every life is gifted and challenged uniquely. It is that unique set of gifts and challenges that builds the character and personality of every person we serve. Scripture teaches us that every individual has a specific role or function within the body of Christ, and it is our endeavor to help each individual discover that role. At Narrow Gate, we use the absence of parity in every facet of life to expose the corrosive practices of covetousness, envy and materialism while strengthening the character qualities of contentment, gratitude and humility, so that every individual can learn to steward the blessings entrusted to them by their maker.
Key Scripture: Luke 19:12-27
God’s Word instructs us to love one another by serving each other. At Narrow Gate, we believe that living in a spirit of unity is one of God’s commandments. Each class works together and moves through the program together. If your brother is struggling, you don’t leave him behind; you adjust your life to bring him up. When necessary, staff and students are encouraged to sacrifice themselves for the good of others.
Key Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-13
Leadership and accountability.
We're dedicated to our calling, and we hope you'll join us.
Don't just take our word for it.
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