Standing
in the GAP
How GAP Started
It started with a spare bedroom and some space in the garage…
When Greg and Pam Ayers left their executive careers in Utah and moved to Tucson, they thought they were coming to plant a church. But when they arrived, it became clear—God had a different plan. Searching for answers, Greg sought the Lord, asking what they were truly called to do. God’s response was simple, but life-changing: “You already have what you need in your hand…”
GAP Ministries was born out of obedience to that call – to use what was already in their hands to help others. In those early days, Greg and Pam were the first group home, caring for up to 8 children in their own home, all of whom came from deeply traumatic backgrounds. Greg drove with his son, Jason, all around town in a beat-up blue pickup truck, responding to tear-off flyers requests for help (which they tacked up in community centers around town).
Because of one family’s yes, a ministry grew.
Over the years, GAP has expanded to serve thousands across Southern Arizona. What began in a garage now includes community programs, visitation services, foster licensing, food and goods distribution, and our Career Plus workforce development – all rooted in one truth: children thrive when families are made whole.
Core Values
Children are the heart of everything we do
Faith Driven
COMPASSIONATE
EMPOWERING
FAMILY FOCUSED
COLLABORATIVE
Faith Driven
Our faith propels us in two ways; First, we are unapologetically faith-based. Our belief that every individual is created in the image of God compels us to serve with compassion, integrity, and a deep sense of calling. While we serve all people regardless of religious background, our faith shapes our actions—how we show up, how we endure when things are hard, and how we extend grace to people others may have written off. Secondly, we understand that without faith it is impossible to please God. This “faith” empowers our desire to co-labor with Christ and believe that what we cannot do on our own – Christ will do for us and through us. It is a mindset that builds trust in Christ and a determination to follow the will of God no matter what.
Genesis 1:26 and Ephesians 2:10
Hebrews 11:6
COMPASSIONATE
Even in the most heartbreaking situations—abuse, neglect, addiction—we believe in the dignity and worth of every individual. We treat biological parents not as villains, but as people who often need healing themselves. Compassion doesn’t mean turning a blind eye – but being a light in a dark place, and loving people the way Christ loves us.
Matthew 14:14
Ephesians 5:1-2
1 Peter 4:8–11
EMPOWERING
We believe in second chances, empowering people…We believe no one is too far gone. That belief is tested regularly—in children who push people away because of past trauma, and in adults trying to rebuild after incarceration, addiction, or negligence. We serve a good God who is not only capable of restoring the broken and redeeming the lost but desires to give life and a life full of abundance.
Isaiah 40:29-31
Lamentation 3:22-23
John 10:10
FAMILY FOCUSED
It was once said, “The strength of a nation—or a community—comes from the integrity of the home.” From the very beginning, God wove the desire for family into the DNA of humanity, making it a cornerstone of His design. This truth guides us as we respond to the needs within our community. Whether it is witnessing families restored after painful circumstances or celebrating children finding their forever homes, GAP Ministries remains steadfast in showing the restorative power of God’s love and the beauty that is FAMILY.
Genesis 2:24
Psalms 68:6
Psalms 127:3-5
COLLABORATIVE
God’s Kingdom is founded on the truths that we are not meant to do life alone, and that what we hold in our hands is meant to bless others. Our dependence on God gives us the courage to trust Him, and that trust inspires us to work alongside others in our community. This interdependence with God and one another enables us to serve with greater impact—so that, in the end, a community – a life is changed, and all glory belongs to Him.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
Romans 12:4-5
Nehemiah 4
LEADERSHIP
Greg and Pam Ayers
Meet our Staff
Foster
Warehouse
Kitchen
Career Plus & Miracle Center
Admin
Mission & Vision
Standing in the GAP for those in need, bringing HELP to children, HEALING to families, and HOPE to the community
We are a light in dark places, standing with the forgotten and the hurting, and believing that no life is beyond restoration. Through our programs and services, generational cycles of poverty and abuse are broken because we invest deeply in the lives of those we serve. One person at a time, one story at a time—we are bringing help, healing, and hope to our community.