Church and Community Profile 2019-2020

Gateway Community CRC Profile

Our HISTORY

Gateway was founded in 1950 by Dutch immigrants who after many years of attending worship services

across the border in Sumas, Washington had the desire to establish their own church in the community

of Abbotsford. At its beginning Gateway was known as First Christian Reformed Church of Abbotsford.

The congregation consisted of 28 families and quickly grew to over 200 families within the first 10 years.

In 2002 the name was changed to Gateway Community CRC since our location at that time on McCallum

Rd was considered the southern “Gateway” into Abbotsford, and now at our current location we’ve

become the northern “Gateway”. Over the years Gateway daughtered three CRC churches in the com-

munity of Abbotsford.

VISION and MISSION

Gateway’s vision is:

“Gateway CRC is to be a healthy, growing, and diverse family of God expressing the good news of God’s Kingdom that transforms lives

in our church, in our city, and in our world.“

Gateway’s mission is:

“Helping People to Love and Serve Jesus.”

WORSHIP

Gateway believes that Spirit-directed and heartfelt worship honours God and draws us into His presence.

The worship services are contemporary and have a focus of biblical preaching that challenge listeners to

holy living.

Gateway CRC MEM-

BERSHIP

View of auditorium from the stage

Gateway CRC Membership

We have a good mix of all age groups and have ministries which reach out to all ages. Our current

membership is 663 people. Of which 405 people are confessing members, 258 members are under the

age of 18. (Graph below includes adherents)

Our FACILITIES

In 2006 Gateway moved to the property where it is currently located: a former elementary school

campus on 12 acres just on the edge of the city. The campus consists of 85,000 sq ft and includes a

partially finished basement. A portion of the campus is leased out to a preschool. In 2013, after many

years of fundraising and congregational support, we were able to begin worshipping in the new sanc-

tuary.

Approximately 70% of Abbotsford is zoned agricultural with 16% zoned residential. The remainder is made of up Industrial/Institutional and Parkland

61+ years

41-60 years

25-40 years

19-24 years

13-18 years

9-12 years

3-8 years

0-2 years

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200 Number in age category

FINANCES

Gateway is blessed with a history of generous giving. From its beginning in 1950 and the construction of

its first facility, to the resources needed for the establishment of three additional CRC churches in

Abbotsford, to the support for its missions work abroad, and most recently the money raised for the new

building.

CURRENT STAFFING

Lead Pastor

Pastor of Faith Formation

Director of Children’s Ministry (P/T)

Pastor of Visitation (P/T)

Worship Director (1/2 time) (shared by 2 people)

Facilities Manager

Evening Caretaker (P/T)

Office Administrator (3/4 time)

Administrative Assistant (P/T)

SAFE CHURCH

Gateway Community CRC desires to be a safe place for

all people and therefore requires that all staff,

leaders and teachers, and anyone volunteering in

ministries involving minors and/or vulnerable adults

take the training course offered at Gateway. This

training course takes place every quarter, and requires

our employees and volunteers to a criminal record and

vulnerable sector check for participation in any

ministries involving minors and/or vulnerable adults at

Gateway.

Gateway is further promoting safety of children by

having a secure electronic check-in system for Sunday

nursery and Kidz Church as well as our weekly chil-

dren’s ministries.

Gate

BY THE NUMBERS

663 current membership

Gateway Campus is

85,000 square feet

Full time and part time 9 224

People under the age of 18

100% Percentage paid to Classical and denominational ministry shares

1,120 Seats in

auditorium

3 daughter churches established since

1950

North Entrance to the Facilities

Gateway MINISTRIES

Life Group Ministry: Gateway places a strong

emphasis on the importance of being involved in

the Life Group ministry. It is one of the main ways

in which the spiritual care of the members is carried

out.

Nursery: Children ages 0-3 are welcome to come

to a safe and loving environment during the Sunday

morning service and Wednesday morning during

Women's Coffee Break ministry.

Kidz Church: A special children ’s message is

given for children ages 3-grade 3 during the wor-

ship service and then the children are invited to

Kidz Church for a fun filled program of Bible stories

and crafts.

Gems Girls Ministry: Girls grades 3-7.

Cadets Boys Ministry: Boys grades 3-7.

Youth Ministry: Junior high & Senior high.

Grades 8-12

Coffee Break for Women: Women from our

community and our church fellowship gather to

study and socialize together every Wednesday

morning. Children ages 3-5 are welcome to enjoy

playtime and fun crafts, Bible stories, songs and a

snack. Nursery is provided.

Women's Bible Study: A group of ladies, 70+

years old, who gather together every 2nd and 4th

Wednesday morning of each month to study God's

word.

60+ Seniors’ Ministry: The senior ’s group

meets every 3rd Thursday of the month. It's a time

of coffee, fellowship and entertainment for seniors.

Friendship: This ministry is for adults w ith

mental disabilities. The group meets every Wednes-

day evening for a time of fellowship and praise to

God.

Mexico Missions: For 2020, our youth w ill be

partnering with Youth With A Mission to work in and

orphanage and build a 400 square foot home in Vin-

cente Guerrero, Baja California, Mexico.

Gateway Meals: Gateway volunteers provide

meals on a temporary basis to Gateway families in

situations of need, such as a birth of a baby or a

death in the family.

Extreme Weather Shelter: When the weather

get’s cold, Gateway opens its gym for up to 30 indi-

viduals to have a warm, dry place to sleep as well

as a home cooked meal.

ABOVE: South Entrance to the Facilities

Abbotsford is a city located in the Lower Main-

land region of British Columbia, adjacent to Greater Van-

couver. With an estimated population of 141,497 people,

it is the largest municipality of the Fraser Valley Regional

District, the fifth-largest municipality of British Columbia,

and the largest municipality outside Greater Vancouver.

The Abbotsford–Mission metropolitan area approximately

170,191 inhabitants (as of the 2011 census) and is the

23rd largest census metropolitan area in Canada. Ab-

botsford has the third highest proportion of visible minor-

ities among census metropolitan areas in Canada, after

the Greater Toronto Area and the Greater Vancou-

ver CMA. For 9 consecutive years Statistics Canada

names Abbotsford as Canada’s most generous city in

terms of charitable donations.

The community of 375.55 square kilometers

(145.00 sq mi) is the largest city by area in

British Columbia. It is home to

the University of the Fraser Val-

ley, Tradex and the Abbotsford Inter-

national Airport which hosts the Ab-

botsford International Airshow.

The municipality's southern boundary is

the Canada–United States border. Across

the boarder is Sumas, Washington. In

Canada, Abbotsford is bordered by

the Township of Langley to the west,

the Fraser River and the District of Mis-

sion to the north, and the City

of Chilliwack to the east. Many inhabit-

ants of Abbotsford enjoy views of Mount

Baker (to the southeast, in Washington)

and the Coast Mountains (to the north).

ABBOTSFORD

Fraser Valley, Mt Baker

HOUSING Benchmark Price:

RENTAL Apartment units EDUCATION

1 bedroom - $900 per month 2 - bedroom - $1,100 per month

CHURCHES

Single Family Home $800,000

$600,000-$700,00

Condominium $310,000

Townhouse $450,000

6 CRC

19 Mennonite

11 Baptist

5 Reformed

4 Anglican

Abbotsford Christian School K-12 Mennonite Educational Institute K-12 Cornerstone Christian K-8 St James and St John Brebeuf Catholic K-12 School District 34: Elementary, Middle and

High Schools Universities/Colleges: University of the Fraser Valley Trinity Western University Columbia Bible College Summit Pacific College Regent College

Mill Lake, Abbotsford, BC

55 other denominations (approximately)

2884 Gladys Ave Abbotsford, BC, V2S 3Y2 604-859-5908 Gatewaycrc.org