We're glad you're here!
Stephen Howe, Pastor
Hello, I'm Stephen and I'm the brand new Pastor here at Gateway Baptist Church. My wife Erin and I have most recently served as overseas missionaries in Taipei, Taiwan. I have been serving in ministry for over 15 years; and I've ministered in the U.S. in Massachusetts, Alaska, West Texas, and Central Texas. I'm a proud graduate of Wayland Baptist University (2004).
I enjoy traveling with my wife to Taiwan to see our family and friends, taking day trips to explore the Texas Hill Country, playing guitar, and weekly lunches with my Dad. I'm also a bit of a foodie, and I always enjoy trying new dishes.
OUR CHURCH
Here at Gateway Baptist we have adopted the Scriptural command to be "Christ in the Community." What does that mean? Well, first and foremost it means we seek to be like Christ in all that we do. Of course, because we are human, we know we will fall short sometimes in this endeavor. This causes us to appreciate the grace, mercy, and love shown to us by God; and allows us to then turn around and share these with those around us. Second, we want to be "in the Community." Our church originally started in 1955 as a group of people who wanted to reach this neighborhood and area of Austin. We see the value of being present in our community here, and meeting the needs of our neighbors in the same way Jesus met the needs of those in His life. Even if you're not from this area, we are excited to have you come and visit us!
What can you expect when you visit? We are a small, traditional, community focused church. The blessing to you as a visitor is that when you come here you are more then a face in the crowd. You will be welcomed, and people will actually get to know you. You will also get to have the opportunity to grow with us! Also, our desire to be traditional doesn't mean we don't sing or believe in modern worship songs. We believe people connect in worship through many different styles, but we see the value that traditional hymns have played in expressing our faith throughout the years. Being "traditional" for us means that we place high value on the Biblical teachings that have guided Christianity for thousands of years.