About Gateway
Membership Information
We believe that all Christians are members of the church, the body of Jesus Christ. We also believe that there is value in becoming a member of a local congregation of believers. Church membership helps you to fulfill five purposes that God has for your life: 1. It helps you center your life around God through worship. 2. It helps you connect with other believers through fellowship. 3. It helps you cultivate spiritual maturity through discipleship. 4. It helps you to contribute something back through ministry. 5. It helps you to communicate God's love through evangelism. If you are already a Christian, regardless of your church affiliation, then you may become a member of Gateway Christian Church by a simple confession of your faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior of your life. We believe in and practice baptism by immersion, but we accept those from other denominations who have been baptized by other means. If you are not yet a Christian, but are ready to commit your life to God through faith, then we ask that you make a simple confession that you believe that Jesus died for your sins, that He was buried and that He rose from the dead on the third day, and that you want Him to be both Lord and Savior of your life. Upon confession of these things, you will be baptized by immersion in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. We also encourage all new members to take an entry level discipleship class.
Our Worship Services
Gateway Christian Church has chosen to offer a casual, contemporary and challenging morning worship service. We are casual in the way we dress for worship, preferring Dockers and jeans to suits and dresses. Our music is a blend of contemporary praise music and favorite traditional hymns of the church. We have a small praise band with guitars, drums, and a keyboard player. We believe that communion was a central part of the early church, (see Acts 2: 42 - 47) and so it is one of the focal points of our worship each week. Our communion is open to all believers who are worshipping with us, regardless of church affiliation. The pastor strives to offer messages that challenge people to a deeper spiritual life and a greater commitment to serving Jesus Christ through His church. Our announcements, music, Scriptures texts and key sermon points are projected on the front wall to help enhance your worship experience.
Inclement Weather Policy
Will Gateway cancel services in the event of ice and snow? Here are some guiding principles from our church policies:
- In the case of bad weather (snow or ice), all weekly activities (including rehearsals) shall follow the decision of the Springfield Public School System. Though the Church Office may remain open, regular evening activities (including Wednesday night schedule) will be canceled when the Springfield Public Schools close. Committee meetings and other special activities will also be canceled, unless participants are notified otherwise by the Staff member or lay leaders responsible for the event.
- We will conduct Sunday morning activities unless weather conditions are extremely bad. Should conditions force the cancellation of Sunday activities, appropriate announcements will be provided on the church website and you may call the pastor or one of the elders. Of course, members are urged to exercise their best judgment about getting out in any kind of threatening weather.