Our History
Gates To Zion Ministries was birthed in November of 2006. The vision was to provide a place of learning and nurturing here in South Caroline, for the growing numbers of people whom YHVH was calling back to the study and embracing of the Hebraic Roots of their faith. A vision was also given to establish a presence in The Land of Israel. Abba has been faithful to bring both these mandates to reality.
In March 2007 GTZ began meeting at Glenforest School in West Columbia, SC. It is a beautiful facility and has plenty of room to accommodate all our activities and growth.
You are invited to come to our weekly Shabbat services, celebrations of the Mo’edim/Appointed Times commanded in Leviticus 23, special Guest Speaker meetings, as well as other announced activities during the year.
Our Founding Leadership Team
Founders: Craig & Jan O’Dell
Craig and Jan, after being a part of other ministry endeavors for over 25 years, were called of YHVH to establish Gates to Zion Ministries in 2006. The vision and mandate of GTZ was to prepare a place where ones who were being drawn back to the Hebraic Roots of their faith could find a safe place for nurturing, teaching and fellowship. GTZ has now become a Mishpacha (Family) of believers who not only study but embrace ‘Halakha’ … The Way to Walk.
Craig retired from careers in both agriculture and the military. Since the late 1990’s, he has been involved in the Hebraic Roots Movement and Restoration of the Whole House of Israel. Little did he realize from a young age, that a Hebraic seed was planted in his heart by the teachings of his Christian parents. This along with his professional experience, has provided him with the ability to draw deep insights from the Tanakh (YHVH’s Holy Scriptures). In turn, providing profound revelation into the Messianic Writings (Matthew-Revelation) as YHVH moves by the anointing of His Ruach HaKodesh/Holy Spirit. Craig is both a humble servant, and an anointed leader provided by YHVH to help lead GTZ in the Call for the Restoration of the Whole House of Israel.
Jan has been involved in many different leadership roles through the years. She retired as Manager of Human Resources with BellSouth in 1997. After serving as President of Women’s Aglow, and then on the S.C. State Board of Aglow in the early 80’s, she felt the ‘Call of YHVH’ to return to the Hebraic Roots of her faith. For twenty years she was involved in a ministry teaching these foundational truths, reaching out to State representatives bringing pressing issues regarding Israel and the Jewish people to the forefront, holding rallies, conferences and taking tours to Israel.
In 1987 Jan traveled to Russia to visit some of the Soviet ‘Jewish Refuseniks’, ones who were refused the opportunity to make Aliyah to Israel and were under great persecution in Russia. The following year the ‘doors opened in Russia’ and finally allowed those desiring to emigrate. This trip forever changed Jan’s life and ignited a love and zeal within her heart for Israel and the Jewish people.
In 2002 Jan felt the Call of YHVH to establish a ministry teaching His people the Hebraic Roots of their faith. This was the preparation required for the end-time Kingdom work that YHVH was about to birth.
In November 2006 Jan was given the vision and direction for the formation of Gates to Zion Ministries to teach YHVH’s people the Hebraic Roots of their faith. This included celebrating the Mo’edim/Appointed Times and Chagim/Feasts of YHVH as commanded in Leviticus, and for she and Craig to take small groups from GTZ to Israel. The anointing of wisdom and insight placed upon Jan throughout the years, has been used by YHVH to provide a clear path for GTZ to move forward as both a ministry and a voice of clarity to the Body of Mashiach/Messiah Yeshua in the Restoration for the Whole House of Israel.
Throughout their many travels to Israel, Craig & Jan have established a ‘physical presence’ in The Land of Israel for GTZ, made lasting friendships with both individual Jewish people and ministries, as well as having been able to provide financial support through GTZ to help meet the needs of many of these individuals, groups and organizations.
Leadership Team
Joshua and Sherri Thompson
Joshua and Sherri became a part of Gates to Zion Ministries at its foundation in 2006. Under the mentoring of Craig and Jan they received the call to join the leadership team in June 2014. They have a deep love and calling to see our youth discipled, guided and prepared to be the formidable uprising generation. They are blessed to be the parents of six children: Elijah, Chaya, Ezra, Aliyah, Hezekiah and Tehila. They are also honored and privileged to ‘Go Through the Gates’ with countless others pursuing the Kingdom of our God, The Re-Newed Jerusalem.
Joshua’s birth and upbringing are solely contingent upon the miraculous “born again” experience that forever changed his entire family. As a result, he was ceremonially dedicated to the Lord at three days old and reared in a small independent Baptist church and school. His formidable years were molded by Bob Jones University and Abeka based curricula. The intense (yet indispensable) training has been a deep source of refuge in his life. Because of the dedication and support of innumerable righteous men and women, he graduated from Red Lion Christian School. Eventually he earned a degree from the University of South Carolina majoring in History and minoring in Education focusing on Jewish and American History. Joshua serves alongside Craig in facilitating, teaching and other responsibilities in the administering the needs of the congregation.
Sherri is the Young Talmidim Ministry Leader and one of its teachers; is a part of the Daughters of Zion Praise Team, as well as serves in many other capacities in Gates to Zion Ministries. She was a hairdresser for seventeen years, five of which she owned and operated her own salon. With the arrival of their children, Sherri left her salon business to devote her time to the raising & homeschooling of their six children and is an active part in her Homeschooling Community. She has a tremendous heart and desire for all Yahweh’s children to be raised up in the knowledge and truth of His Word and equipped to fulfill each one’s divine destiny and calling on their lives.
Sherri began the study of the Hebraic Roots of her faith in 2003. She has been a part of GTZ since its birthing in 2006 and has been an active part in the activities and needs of the GTZ Mishpocha (Family).
Dixie Sturgeon
Dixie is the Daughters of Zion Praise Team leader. She is one of the teachers of the Young Talmadim class. She was actively involved in Orangeburg Citizens for life in the late 80’s and early 90’s, speaking in Schools, Churches and Colleges bringing the Pro-Life message to many and served as President for a portion of that time. She was the Orangeburg Coordinator for Operation Restoration, an 800-mile Prayer walk in 1996 that retraced Shermans path through Georgia and the Carolinas for the purpose of identificational repentance. In 2005 she was the Orangeburg Prayer Coordination for The Jesus Video Project whose goal was to put a Jesus Video in every mailbox in SC.
Dixie began the study of the Hebraic Roots of her faith in 2004. She has a deep passion for worship and its many expressions. Her desire is to touch the Fathers heart by bringing a sweet-smelling aroma before Him that will bring Glory to His Name.