GatewayLife

Mission Trip to the Coast

Mission Trip to the Coast
(from a chaperone's perspective)

Missy Crews along with several other adults heped chaperone the recent youth m ission trip to the coast. Here are her thoughts:

The group we took on the mission trip this year was very cohesive. Everyone worked together to accomplish our common goal, loving others and representing Christ. In Louisianna, we participated in a Car Wash Fundraiser and a 2 day Kids' Camp. Even though we were not assigned duties and were just "helping", no one hesitated to jump right in and assist Northwood with their activities. In Mississippi, we knew our assignment and even though we hit a few bumps everyone did a fantastic job with VBS. The kids that participated had a great experience and wished that they "couild come to church their every day!" Big thank you to Drew and Erika for all their hard work.

   

Backyard Bible Club

 






















Summer is such a great time to be outdoors and what better reason to be outdoors than 
to have a Backyard Bible Club? That is exactly what one team from Gateway did this week!
on Sunday a group went out into the neighboorhood and passed out flyers meeting 
many neighbors of our church along the way. The children that have come out have been
so happy to be here. The kids have played games,learned about God's love and had a great
time. They are really enjoying Mr. Chris and Mr. Bruno leading games especially the team
skiing event! The watermelon and snacks are also a hit!
If you have a child in 1st or 3rd grade, bring them out for the fun!

Click on the photo to the left or the link below to view more photos. 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/50854335@N00/sets/72157621134698336/
Check back later for more photos!

Gateway 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament

The Collins Life Group initiated “Always a Time to Serve” in July and August to piggy-back off of our “Time to Serve” events that we always plan in December. A few Saturdays ago, we had a 3-on-3 Black Top Basketball Tournament. God blessed this event in amazing ways. Many people from the church came out to volunteer and help. The Brighton Estates Homeowner’s Association donated two extra goals to our church because so many people form the neighborhood came out to play ball throughout the year. We had 8 or 10 teams sign up to play in the tournament. Volunteers helped with registration, setting up tents, music, cooking and serving food and it was a day of community celebration. The Montgomery Advertiser (local newspaper) was on hand and created a video (see below). It rained on Saturday so we continued the tournament on Sunday. It rained Sunday too, but about 4:00 pm the rain stopped and all of the teams came back including the old-timers (so they called themselves) who won all of their games. We set up tables and had hot dogs on the lawn Sunday and many expressed interested in growing closer in their walk with the Lord.

 

Read more:

http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009906140304

Gateway Kids Club and Basketball Teams

Gateway Kids Club and Basketball Teams
Last summer the Jr. High and High School students from Gateway Baptist went on a mission trip to Houston, TX. God really used that experience to help them catch a vision for reaching out in their city. When they returned to Montgomery, they started an outreach ministry they called Kids Club. The target was children living in the neighborhoods adjacent to Gateway. The expectation was that mostly young children would want to participate. To their surprise, the majority of those who have responded have been teenage boys.

 

The outreach, which began as an initiative of the students, has quickly become a ministry that the entire church has embraced. "It has been incredible to see how hungry these guys are for relationship," says one of the volunteers. "We want them to feel a part of our church family." Several of the boys have professed faith in Christ and some have been baptized and are being discipled.

 

Now many Gateway families are reaching out to the guys apart from the Kids Club. Some are tutoring, some are having the boys into their homes for meals, some have taken the guys on weekend getaways. The heart of those plugging in is to intentionally "reflect the love of Christ through relationship and Bible Study."

 

A few months after the outreach began, the Montgomery Baptist Association youth basketball league was starting. Gateway entered a Junior Varsity team and a Varsity team into the league, comprised entirely of guys from the Kids Club. Recently both Gateway teams were crowned City Champions. Both teams traveled to Mobile to participate in the State Tournament and the Junior Varsity won the State Championship. We are so proud of them. The church is planning a Sports Banquet Friday Night as an outreach to their families and to honor the guys for their hard work this season.

 

Praise God for this new work He has started in our city!

Testimony from Jeff Palomino

Are you ready to be interrupted by God in 2009?

A challenge from Jeff Palomino:

“God always works in the desert.”  An Army Chaplain said this to me two weeks into my Iraq deployment. The Chaplain was assigned to another Forward Operating Base (FOB) and only came to our FOB every other week. I and three other military members were meeting with him. He needed volunteers to lead Chapel services each weekend he was gone. I was stoked but apprehensive: “I didn’t come to Iraq for this,” I thought to myself, “Or did I?”

As you know, I just returned from Iraq in November.  Susan and I are so grateful for all you did for us while I was gone. My deployment was to FOB Shield in Baghdad, about a mile from Sadr City. As an Air Force lawyer, I was assigned to a Task Force to establish an independent Iraqi justice system or at least that’s what the Air Force said. I say this because while I did do that, the Lord had a whole other wavelength going for me in the desert, one that had nothing to do with my job. The only issue is whether I’d embrace His agenda or mine.

This was one of many strong God lessons from Iraq. Each day we have our own idea of what we will do.  Some of these may even be our own idea of what we think we’ll do for God. Thing is, though, as a Christian, “I no longer live, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20).  So, there is no question about who’s living today:  It’s not you; it’s Jesus.  You are in His story; He is not in yours. On this, I share with you this quote from Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Life Together:  “We must be ready to allow ourselves to be interrupted by God. God will be constantly crossing our paths and canceling our plans by sending us people with claims and petitions. We may pass them by, preoccupied with our more important tasks, as the priest passed by the man who had fallen among thieves, perhaps reading the Bible…it is part of the discipline of humility that we must not spare our hand where it can perform a service and we do not assume that our schedule is our own to manage, but allow it to be arranged by God.”

What happened? I volunteered to lead the every other week Saturday night service, and it was an extreme blessing.  Not only was I able to minister to military members, but a large contingent of contractors from Uganda, Sri Lanka, India, and South Africa also attended the chapel. Worshipping with them in a Muslim war-zone had the feel of an underground Chinese house church. I was encouraged by the simple faith of our brethren around the world and now that I’m home realize I could have easily missed it. As the New Year starts, I have one question for you:  This year are you ready to be interrupted by God?
Jeff Palomino

A Time to Serve

Each year at Gateway shortly after Thanksgiving, we enter into a Time to Serve. Several projects are headed up by individuals and familes where we can serve others as a church. Serval parents and youth volunteered to watch children for parent's morning out at Gateway. It was enjoyed by the children and fruitful for the parents who were able to shop. So many people provided cakes for Bullock Memorial Prison where one of our members is chaplain. Pictured here are volunteers who gave of their time one chilly day to wrap presents for people at the local Wal-mart. Many people couldn't understand that we were wrapping presents and wanted nothing in return. Many tried to give a donation and some just needed help getting all of their groceries in their car. It was a great way to bless people at Christmas time.

Also pictured here are several children who gathered after church one Sunday to make crafts for the children at Father Walter's Children's Home where children have illnesses that leave their body helpless and needing full-time care. Tireless workers care for them, and members of Gateway were able to bless them with goodeis and hugs and Christmas carols during the holiday. Other opportunities this year were singing at the Bell Oaks Nursing home and going out the Sunday before Christmas to bless our neighbors around the church. In the body of Christ, we are called to be servants and what a great time to serve as we celebrate our Savior's birth.

If you were able to participate in one or more of these activities, let us know what it meant to you and your family by commenting below. Merry Christmas!

Neighborhood Ministry

Neighborhood Ministry

For several weeks, members of Gateway Baptist Church have been reaching out to the community. As you can see from the video here, Tom Kotouc, Eddie Chambers and Rob Slagle have been going out into the community to meet with and pray for people. This is a ministry in which every Christian can take part in because it simply involves going and praying for people which we are called to do as part of the great commission. To get involved, please contact Tom, Eddie or Rob. Watch the video and read what Rob has to say below.

     "I've been going out in the neighborhood with Tom Kotouc and Eddie Chambers since July.  We are trying to get to know people and meet them where they are in their lives.  We have been able to share the Gospel, pray with people and tried to meet needs of our neighbors. It's also exciting to see the youth and other people in the church step into His work in our local area around the church." -
Rob Slagle

Also, for several weeks, the youth have been reaching out to the community through the Kid's Club. This past Sunday three people were baptist from receiving Christ a few weeks ago. This is a vibrant ministry which everyone can help pray for and provide snacks, etc.  Please contact Drew, our student minister for more information. Read what one of our youth, Melody Bray had to say below.

      "The Kid's Club is really fun. We went out into the neighborhood to invite people recently. We talked to a bunch a kids of all ages. Most of them are really exited and are so happy to have something to do. The parents we talked to were really into sending their kids to hang out. We met some teenage boys who were friend with Chris Bass in the youth group, and they even came back to Gateway with us for youth group for the remainder of the night. Hopefully we will have a lot of kids come on Sunday, because we have a lot planned. For the smaller kids, there will be snacks, games, crafts, and a  lesson. The same thing is for the older kids but they will mostly be interested in the sports. I am really exited to get to know all the people coming and hopefully build relationships with them. I really feel like God is working on the hearts of everyone involved and I hope we will do a good job reaching out to the kids and letting God teach through us."-Melody Bray

Visiting Trenholm Court

Visiting Trenholm Court

For the past couple of months, a group of young adults have gotten together and visited Trenholm Court, a local low-income residential community in Montgomery, AL. The young adults get together, hang out with the youth on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon, play games, share candy, share prayer and a devotional about Jesus Christ. What a wonderful way to be the hands and feet of Jesus. Read what Gateway's young adult ministry leader has to say:

"We go to Trenholm Court with theyoung adults to play sports and have fun with the kids as we also reach out to their families. We pray with them when possible and try to meet some needs. We seek to point them to Jesus and encourage them to stay out of trouble. We motivate them to dream and have a vision for the future, therefore staying in school and developing their talents in sports and arts. We hope to be used by the Holy Spirit and share the love of Christ as we go."
- Bruno Resende

Houston Mission Trip

Houston Youth Mission Trip

Our youth just returned from a mission trip to Houston, TX where they ministered for a week. We have an amazing youth group. The leadership from the group that hosted our youth commented on the depth of our group; 1) how they all served wholeheartedly more than any other group this summer, and 2) were able to comprehend how God was using them and what God was doing through them more than any other group this summer. What an awesome God we serve! The ministry of our youth is going to continue in Montgomery, AL now that they have returned and their lives are forever changed. We wait with anticipation for what our awesome God is going to do through them! Read the testimonies from one of those that chaperoned and one of the youth below.

"The trip to Houston was one that I was very excited about but also dreading.  I could not imagine myself with teenagers for 10 days and no outlet to sanity.  God really showed me!!!  We have the GREATEST YOUTH GROUP EVER!! 

God really showed me how selfish we are and how unappreciative I can be.  I got to see amazing people who ran into unforeseen circumstances and ended up hopeless.  What little bit we accomplished last week seemed to help so many.  It really stirred a fire in my heart, as well as the kids, to see what could be done here.  We do not have to look outside our local area to see people in need.  The kids were amazing and when it was time to work they did.  There is no doubt in my mind that there are great opportunities beginning at Gateway."
- Missy Crews

"The week in Houston I saw God provide for our group. He gave us strength when we were weak, the words to say to people, and also guidance as to where to go. God also taught our group many things about Himself and about serving Him. I saw what it means to rely on Christ on this trip and I hope I will rely on Him at home as much as I did there. I am very thankful for the experiences I had on this trip and I hope to continue God's work here at home."
- Mark Schneider

5-Day Club in Dalraida Area

Several people in the Dalraida area got together last week to have a 5-day club to reach out to neighborhood kids who may not know Christ. On Saturday, we formed teams and passed out flyers in the neighborhood to invite children to 5-day club. Each week, several members of Gateway volunteered their time and talents to help with the 5-day club. Parents carpooled kids, picked up kids and brought them to club, baked goodies, served snacks, and had a great time with the kids helping them learn Bible verses and God's word. The cooperation of everyone was a blessing to see how the Lord used each person to reach the children. The youth missionaries from Child Evangelism Fellowship in Montgomery, AL came out each day of the week to teach the Bible stories, mission stories, songs and games.

A spectacular miracle happened on Friday night. When asking young Jada how she enjoyed the club, she said "I expected to learn about God and what he made. I thought club was good. I came to learn about God so that I can accept Jesus as my Saviour. The leaders were nice and club was fun. I enjoyed the games and stories." After talking with Jada, one of the leaders discovered that she had not asked Jesus as her Saviour but that she wanted to do so. She understood what sin is and who Christ is and accepted Christ as her Saviour on the last night of club. Praise God for our new sister in Christ!!!!