Anchor House Ministries

Anchor House is a Christian ministry located in Polk County, Florida, committed to reaching boys in crisis. The large majority of these boys are placed in our care as a result of parents being unable or unavailable to take care of their sons, independent of anything the child has done. We are not a behavioral facility, but we are a safe place for boys with no other place to go – whether their parents have died, been incarcerated, or had their rights terminated. Unfortunately, when home situations are disrupted, boys often have to leave the area to receive the care they need. But Anchor House's 10-acre campus is rooted in the heart of Polk County as a safe haven for boys who have experienced trauma or abandonment. We strive to construct a home environment where the physical, spiritual, and emotional needs of our boys can be readily met and where they can experience the kind of true love that fosters life change and huge dreams. Some experience the deep and unconditional love of Christ for the first time through those around them. Our passion for seeing young men connect with their Heavenly Father and go on to live healthy, fulfilling lives drives the compassionate and powerful work that goes on here at Anchor House Ministries. An extension of the Anchor House ministry was established with the purchase of the Barnabas House transitional group home this past May. For the first time in the history of our area, Barnabas House is providing a transitional environment for young men who have aged out of traditional care at eighteen years old, and have decided to continue in extended foster care. Located in a residential neighborhood just a skip over from downtown Lakeland, the mission of Barnabas House is to equip young men with the knowledge, skills, and encouragement they will need as they pursue employment, prepare for further education, and plan for the future they will have to work hard to create. The supportive relationship with house parents and one-on-one training with the job coach help our young men understand how to define success and then chase after their dreams, while they are becoming more confident about the unlimited potential inside them and learning how to unlock it.