2004 – Under the guidance of Bishop Sam Jacobs and the vision of Fr. Mark Toups and Paul George, Adore began as an outreach to lead people into a relationship with God in Houma, LA. The first initiative of Adore Ministries was to bring the relevancy of the Gospel to those who were disenchanted, fallen away, un-evangelized, marginalized or simply desiring to know more about Jesus Christ.
2005 – Hurricane Katrina causes severe destruction along the Gulf Coast, most especially New Orleans, LA, as the levee system failure left 80% of the city flooded. 60 miles away in Houma, LA, the one year old Adore Ministries is thrust to the front lines of charitable aid to those who had lost everything. As Adore’s worship spaces became emergency shelters and re-entry centers, Project Starfish is born as Adore’s Social Justice arm. Worship is justice, and working for Justice is worship.
2006 – As the outreaches in Houma grew to produce great fruit, the 2097 worship tour with friends Matt Maher, Kelly Pease, and Josh Blakesley brought Adore Ministries to a national stage. It was clear that an expansion of Adore was eminent. Adore partnered with Youth Arise North America and the Diocese of Phoenix to begin a full time mission at the Arizona State University Newman Center in Tempe, AZ, and a campus that was known for it’s wild parties begins to be transformed into one known for worship and justice.
2008 – Adore partners with the Companions of the Cross religious community and brings on board, Ennie Hickman to begin it’s third full time mission. This one to Houston, TX, first at the Catholic Charismatic Center to the third ward and then St. Thomas More CC to Southwest Houston.
2011 – As the Lord began to reveal the great needs in the poorest parts of Houston, two more mission outreaches to youth directed by Jonathan Alexander were born, one in inner city Richmond and one in the Fifth Ward. 2011 also brought about an expansion to the city of Lafayette, LA directed by Nic Frank.
Even though the mission has come a long way from a couple of families gathering in homes, Adore continues its mission of reaching people, and transforming lives in all that they do.
// ENDORSEMENT:
“As Bishop of the Diocese of Houma/Thibodaux, I fully support the endeavors of Adore Ministries, as they respond to the call of John Paul II for outreaches in the spirit of the New Evangelization. Adore has been very effective in our Diocese and beyond and I pray that you will join me in supporting God’s authentic movement, as they reach people with the Gospel.”
Most Reverend Sam G. Jacobs, Bishop of Houma/Thibodaux, Chair for the USCCB Committee on Evangelization
