GatewayLife

Christmas Communion, Candelight Service and Baptism

On December 24, 2010, we had a Christmas Communion, Candelight Service and Baptism

The Christmas Eve Service is the most wonderful time of year and special service in the life of the body at Gateway.We always sing hyms and light the Christ candle of advent. This year the candle was lit by the Bauman family with children reading scripture and lighting the candle.

 

 

 

This year was exceptionally great as we had a baptism.One of our military families was blessed to have their husband and father home from deployment to baptize two children just one week before they move after living in Montgomery for three years. What a blessing. Another military family who is only here for a few more months was blessed to have a little girl baptized just after her father honored the Lord in baptism. What a special night. Many people gathered around these families speaking special words of encouragement.

  As tradition, we always end with Silent Night and light the room with candles all stemming from the Christ candle. This year so many were in attendance that families had to share! What a wonderful, intimate time with each other as we celebrated Christmas.

 

Christmas Dinner Theater & Haiti Trip Fundraiser

On Sunday, Dec. 12, 2010 we had a Christmas Dinner Theater & Haiti Trip Fundraiser.

A Christmas one-act written and directed by Jenniffer Haberkorn warmed the hearts and tickled the funny bone of many Gateway families. The skit was performed by Tom Haberkorn, John Wible, and Audrey Gillis along with youth performers Ashtyn Cross, Jenna Moore, and Sara Gillis accompanied by musical perormance Ashley Hostetter and pianist Ira Hostetter.

The children's choir performance was wonderful and it reminded us all of the true
meaning of Christmas. Our youth served a tasty dinner prior to the performance and raised
a lot of money for the Haiti Mission Trip in the spring.

 

Brighton Estates Health Awareness Day

Brighton Estates Health Awareness Day

Saturday August 8, 2009 9:00 am

All ages are invited!

Fun Run / Jog / Walk through the neighborhood

Nutrition and Exercise Clinic

Lots of fruit and fluids provided

Suggested donation of $5
(towards our Building Fund)

Celebrating 25 years of Ministry!

Our anniversary celebration on May 17 was a wonderful day of blessings and remembrances. Over 250 people were in attendance for this special day. Mitch & Christie Schumacher shared about their time at Gateway and their ministry now in KY. Charlie & Martie Elgin shared about how God led them to Gateway and then to the coast of Mississippi. Lisa Rose from the Montgomery Baptist Association presented a
plaque to Pastor Alan recognizing our 25 years of ministry. On behalf of the Senior adults, Ray Bozeman presented a memorial plaque to the church. Mitchell David (stage name) shared an original song as part of our worship. James (Cindy) Skipworth, former Children’s Minister, shared about the impact of Gateway on him and his family. A delicious catered meal was enjoyed by everyone!

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!

Christmas Extravaganza

On Sunday, December 7th, we celebrated our Christmas ExtravaGANZA (with emphasis)combined with Family Life Bible Fellowship. It was an amazing time together and the night began with the anticipation of the Spirit causing believers to dwell together in unity. The service began with a combined choir of both Churches singing in four-part harmony. The sancuary was full and there was standing room only. It was amazing! Young musicians performed piano duets, guitar, violin and even a lap harp! Young adults performed the Lifehouse Everything skit and the children of both churches sang joyful choir songs. The Family Life Praise Dancers were magical, but the sermons by both Pastor Lenard Slater and Pastor Alan Cross declaring the praises of Jesus and unity among our families were the most amazing part. As we declared the praises of the Lord, division and barriers in this city were broken in the spiritual realm.

Father / Daughter Formal

Father / Daughter Formal

Recently, the fathers of the teenage girls at Gateway had a very special Father / Daughter Formal. Read what Dorothy Morris and Caitlyn Collins say about it.

"We had a Father and Daughter formal Friday night. We were surprised but we had clues a month ago. We were told we were to dress up for 'dinner with a view' and have hors d'oeuvres with our dad. We had a coupon for shopping with our dads for a formal dress. We went to Belk (Dorothy) and I went to a Thrift Store (Caitlyn). 'Oh wait wrong event!' I went shopping for a Sunday dress with my dad and actually wore my beautiful dress from the Thrift Store Formal. It was fun shopping, being with my dad and buying whatever I wanted. We felt really loved and special. We got clues each Sunday leading up to the event. One was 'Reserve the Date', another was a ' Cordial Invitation for Hors d'Oeuvres, Pictures and to Follow Dinner with a View". Still another was a coupon for shopping. We spent 3 hours at the Morris' house getting ready for the event. We spent 2 hours together doing manicures and pedicures at the Collins the night before!!!!"

"So on the big day we arrived at the Collins house and Chris McCorkle took pictures for us. We had chocolates and finger foods. there were a lot of girls squealing with the BIG, WHITE, Stretched LIMOUSINE pulled up on the street!! 'Aaaaaaaaahhhh' screamed all the girls. They rolled out the red carpet for us and we felt like princesses!!"

"We had sparkling cider in the Limo which was pretty cool and enjoyed being together with our dads. We drove around and ended up at the fountain at Eastchase for pictures. There was another limousine behind ours but ours was bigger. We drove by the Governor's Mansion and parked out in front. We took pictures but got to speak to the First Lady and mentioned what we were doing. When she heard it was a family-oriented event, she invited us in and we took pictures on the front steps. We also stopped by Pastor Drew's house and had fun rolling his house with toilet paper. Our dads were teasing us about taking us to Wendy's, but then we pulled up in front of the RSA Tower and Capital City Club. Our mom's came out of the revolving doors and we went all the way to the top!! We got up to the top to a secluded, private room for a sit-down dinner with our dads. Special guests Alan and Erika Cross came to speak to us about becoming a young woman and being a child of God. Then, we went out on the terrace and viewed the whole city of Montgomery. On the balcony, we had a special time with our dads and talked."

"Then, we went on our next adventure! We walked across the street to an unmarked building with only the words '301 Club' over the door. It turns out that it was the Dexter Avenue Methodist Church basement where our dads took us dancing. We told them it was a Father/Daughter Group and they let our dads twirl us around for free. We had fun doing the Cha-Cha Slide. It was a LOT of Fun!!"

- Dorothy Morris and Caitlyn Collins

Take Me Out to the Ballgame!

Play Ball!

The Gateway Softball teams are having a record-breaking year! With a 900% increase in wins over last year, Nacho Libre, Napoleon Dynamite and the Goonies won all of their games this week. The Goonies and Libre had two wins Monday night and Dynamite secured a win on Sunday! The year started off with one practice which was one above last year and has played great, despite multiple injuries. The Church has enough players to make three teams with some of our superstars on multiple teams which is amazing! We have some GREAT hitters and spectacular defense. Way to go TEAM! If you haven't been out to a game yet, Libre plays on Sunday, May 11th at 2 pm, Dynamite plays on Monday at 6:20 and the Goonies play at 8:20. Take me out to the Ballgame!!!

Annual Spring Picnic

The Spring Picnic at Gateway Baptist Church on Sunday was so much fun! The afternoon began with the AWANA Grand Prix Event. The kids had a blast! Three huge inflatables were set up on the lawn and the kids jumped and played until they couldn't any longer. Some "Big Kids" even joined in.The new slide this year was a 20 foot water slide and it was a big hit!  There was face painting and kid's ball.

The annual egg-toss was a big hit and there was some speculation that the eggs were boiled because they just wouldn't break!!!!! The popcorn machine and the snowcone machine was a big hit. There was a run on the snowcone machine with Banana being the favorite.

Grill-masters were on hand cooking up delicious hamburgers and hot dogs and many people were helping get the food prepared to eat. At Alan and Drew's request, there was a LOT of food! Thanks to everyone who helped set up and clean up. It was a wonderful time of food and fellowship.

Church-wide Easter Egg Hunt

Easter Egg Hunt: An Egg-cellent Event

The Children’s Ministry Team did an “Egg-cellent” job putting together this year’s Easter Egg Hunt for the Gateway family and neighborhood. On Sunday, March 16, we had a Giant Inflatable Jonah Whale, Spiderman Inflatable, egg-hunting and many visitors who came to enjoy food and fellowship. All age groups had an opportunity to hunt for eggs and everyone got plenty. The Jonah Whale inflatable was a huge hit with everyone. There was a constant line to get in!  Big thanks to all the volunteers who helped put this event together, you did a great job. The kids had an awesome time! Thank you to all who provided candy for the eggs, assisted with manning the inflatables, cooking and hospitality. If you were able to make it to the event, why not post a comment below about your experience?