Our dear fellowship

Before the buzz of the Official Opening weekend dies down, I asked if I could write in this month's Pastor's Pen instead of Pastor Paul, as I have a few things on my heart to share.

What an amazing weekend of celebrations! I want to say a big thank you to each and every one of you who helped to make it such an excellent and memorable time. I am so very proud of you. Your outstanding service and your friendliness was noticed and appreciated by so many people.

My one regret is that I missed such a significant opportunity to publicly honour Paul in the Opening Ceremony service. My Paul's focus and commitment to the vision of this new Church has never flinched or wavered. He knew what God had told him – therefore it was going to happen. His dedication to you never ceases. I have seen him laugh and cry and then laugh again as the Lord has given him the strength to continue to achieve all that was necessary over months and years so that we could actually have the Opening Ceremony.

Pastor Paul rarely receives ministry for himself so please continue praying for and upholding him, especially as the days will come when obstacles to preaching of the Gospel increase.

Exactly one year previously to the Opening Ceremony weekend, the leadership looked out over the site of the Church. Every brick of the old church building had been knocked down and removed – there was no going back – and the building of the new premises had not yet begun.

The foundations had been laid but the site was empty. Our faith was really being tested – God had just removed our dependency on the financial support and input of man and we realised we were at that place where it could only be God if the vision was to come through. “And it came to pass”. Praise the name of the Lord. If we continue to put Him and His will and purpose first in the life of GateWay and in our personal lives we cannot fail because God is good – all the time!

Miriam