2023 Recap of Our Values of Connect

Written by: Joe Sherrieb, Life Group Director

Gateway Church exists to glorify God by making disciples of Jesus Christ. One of the ways we do this is through our discipleship process of Connect. Our values of Connect are word-based application and caring for one another. As we look back and reflect on the past year, I wanted to share some ways that our church has carried these values out. I am thankful for and encouraged by our church family who is hyper-focused on living out God’s Word and caring for one another as family.

Word-based Application:

Throughout the year, our Life Groups have gathered together to discuss God’s Word and how to apply it to our lives. Many groups have used the sermon discussion guides, discussing deeper the ideas in each sermon and how they can align themselves with the application stemming from God’s Word that was preached each week. Other groups have used various book studies, video series on RightNow Media, or simply read books of the Bible without supplemental material. No matter the mode used to study and discuss, God’s Word has been first and foremost. I am encouraged to know that our church family is made up of zealous disciples eager to connect with one another through our shared devotion to God’s Word and submission to it as the Holy Spirit guides us toward sanctification. God has been faithful to us.

Caring for One Another:

I am also thankful for how our value of caring for one another has been so evident in the last year. We have seen several meals provided for mourning individuals or families as well as for those entering into a new stage in life. We have prayer teams who faithfully pray each week for the needs of our congregation. Life Groups have sent out new leaders to start groups in order to care for those in our church family who were longing for fellowship. Many people have attended the Go Celebration event to care for and support those who have gone on one or more mission trips throughout the year. Life Groups members of several groups have collectively provided financial support for other members in need. In fact, one Life Group couple paid for a flight for someone to fly south to say his last goodbye to his mom before she passed. We’ve seen Life Groups connecting with other Life Groups through several connection events like potlucks, dodgeball, parties, bowling, and attending other church events like Equip Classes, prayer nights, and Conversations with Leaders. We’ve even seen this care extend outside of our church family. Life Groups have served together at various mobile food pantries and the City Mission, caring for the less fortunate.

I could go on and on about how we have seen our value of caring for one another expressed in the life of our church, but I don’t think this article could contain them all. I am thankful that God, through his Spirit, is working in the hearts of his people here at Gateway Church, to have zeal for him and his Word and compassion for others. “And I am confident of this, that he who began a good work in us, will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:16).