Expanding Our Capacity To Bring Heaven to Earth

As a church, we have heard the cry of a world that waits to know Jesus, and we are determined to answer it with God's presence.
 
We believe that this is the hour for the Church to arise and build to leave a legacy, a place of worship for our children's children. Now is the time to arise and build for the purposes of our God as people united who are equipped and empowered to impact our city and our nation for Jesus, bringing His manifest presence into the lives of those who seek Him. Why build a church? Chances are you were saved because of a church. You learned to read the Bible in a church. The church is the place where lives are saved and transformed, where people are baptized, get married and where we celebrate their lives when they go to Heaven.

Why build a church if Jesus is coming back? 

There are many reasons to build a church, but we believe the most compelling is this: Chances are you were saved in a church building that a previous generation built. Why not pay it forward and create a space where the next generation can encounter Christ?

Another important truth is that Jesus said no one knows the day or hour of His return. The disciples believed Jesus would return in their lifetime. Throughout history, from the year 999 to 1999 and even 2012, many Christians gave away their possessions, believing the end was near—but we are still here. As Jesus reminded us, no one knows the day or hour, so let’s continue to build for the future, creating a place where generations to come can worship, grow in faith, and bring souls to Christ until He returns.

Should we encourage the poor to give even if they are struggling?

That’s a great question, and Jesus seemed to think so. When He saw the poor widow give all she had, instead of rebuking her or calling her act foolish, He praised her for her faith. Similarly, in the story of Elijah, a widow on the verge of death gave her last provisions in obedience to the prophet’s request. Instead of the death she anticipated, she lived, thrived, and her resources were multiplied.

These stories remind us that God honors faith, no matter one's financial situation. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and continues to bless those—rich or poor—who trust Him enough to give. By investing in His kingdom, we invite His provision and blessing into our lives.

Why not give the money to the poor instead of using it to buy land and build a church?

This is an important question and one similar to what Judas once asked. When Jesus was anointed with expensive perfume worth a year’s wages, Judas suggested the money could have been given to the poor. But instead of agreeing with Judas, Jesus responded that the poor will always be with us, and He praised Mary for her act of worship.

In other places, Jesus compared His body to a temple, saying, "Destroy this temple, and in three days, I will rebuild it." Mary's anointing was an act of honouring that temple, and Jesus didn’t rebuke her for not giving to the poor. Instead, He commended her and said her story would be told wherever the gospel is preached.

So, how about we do both? We can build a church and give to the poor. By building a church, we create a place that reaches more people, gets more souls saved, and in turn, those people will give, allowing us to bless the poor even more than we could without a church. It’s about shifting our mindset—aligning our hearts with God's heart. Does God want people to build churches today? We believe the answer is a resounding yes.

"The 20th Century model for building churches focused on the needs of the congregation, whereas we believe that the future of the church is to focus on the needs of the community first."

Instead of creating a large church building that is surrounded by a sea of parking and only used once or twice a week, Gateway wants to create a campus that is vibrant throughout the week because (1) it has buildings that cater to the needs of the entire community; and (2) they are designed to be so welcoming and comfortable that people will simply want to hang out there.

Forge Partnerships

We will create partnerships that matter! In the future, Gateway’s campus will be home to entrepreneurial incubators to help people start small businesses that our town desperately needs as it continues to grow. There will be non-profit collectives that bring services to our local community as well as collaborative national and global initiatives. There will be space for community events that will remind people of the importance of doing life together.

Do it with Adventure

Do it all with adventure! Churches are not normally known for their adventure and creativity these days, but it wasn’t always that way. In fact, some of the great movements in human history started with the church. We believe an adventurous and creative approach toward loving a community in bold ways will awaken people to God’s love.

Be a Model to Others

Gateway Church wants to serve as a model to get these elements right for other congregations around the nation. We are prepared to lead boldly into this next chapter of reaching people with the good news of Jesus Christ. With your help, we can create a new path that just might revitalize communities with a life-giving model for sharing Jesus with the next generation.

"This is our opportunity to follow Jesus on an adventure to reach people with a thoughtful, caring design that invites them to engage God in a relationship."