Church and Community Profile 2020-2021 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.
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)
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
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
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.
BY THE
CURRENT STAFFING NUMBERS
Lead Pastor Pastor of Faith Formation 1,120 Pastor of Ministry Development Seats in Director of Children’s Ministry (P/T) 663 Pastor of Visitation (P/T) current membership auditorium 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 Gateway all people and therefore requires that all staff, Campus is leaders and teachers, and anyone volunteering in 85,000 100% ministries involving minors and/or vulnerable adults square feet Percentage paid to Classical and take the training course offered at Gateway. This denominational ministry shares training is offered online, and requires our employees and volunteers to submit to a criminal record and Full time and vulnerable sector check for participation in any part time ministries involving minors and/or vulnerable adults at 9 224 Gateway. daughter churches People under the established since 1950 age of 18 Gateway is further promoting safety of children by 3 having a secure electronic check-in system for Sunday nursery and Kidz Church as well as our weekly chil- dren’s ministries.
North Entrance to the Facilities
Gateway MINISTRIES ABOVE: South Entrance to the Facilities
Life Group Ministry: Life Groups are the hub of Women's Bible Study: A group of ladies, 70 + our ministry. We believe if you connect people to years old, who gather together every 2nd and 4th the word of God and other Christians, they’ll grow! Wednesday morning of each month to study God's This is the place where real ministry happens. The word. LG mission is to cultivate meaningful relationships centered on God’s word and prayer. 60+ Seniors’ Ministry: The senior’s group meets every 3rd Thursday of the month. It's a time of Nursery: Children ages 0 -3 are welcome to come coffee, fellowship and entertainment for seniors. to a safe and loving environment during the Sunday morning service and Wednesday morning during Friendship: This ministry is for adults with mental Women's Coffee Break ministry. disabilities. The group meets every Wednesday evening for a time of fellowship and praise to God. Coffee Break for Women: Women from our community and church gather to study and socialize Mexico Missions: For 2021, our youth will be Wednesday mornings. Story Hour and Nursery for 0- partnering with Youth With A Mission to work in and 5 is available. orphanage and build a 400 square foot home in Vin- cente Guerrero, Baja California, Mexico. Kids Church: Children age 3-grade 3 are invited to Kids Church, for a fun filled program of Bible Gateway Meals: Gateway volunteers provide stories and crafts, midway through the worship meals on a temporary basis to Gateway families in service. situations of need, such as a birth of a baby or a death in the family. Gems Girls Ministry: Girls grades 3 -6. Cadets Boys Ministry: Boys grades 3 -6. Extreme Weather Shelter: When the weather gets cold, Gateway opens its gym for up to 30 indi- EDGE: Everyday God Encounters is a vibrant new viduals to have a warm, dry place to sleep as well ministry intentionally ministering to our grade 7 & 8 as a home cooked meal. students.
Youth Ministry: Junior & Senior High, gr. 9 – 12.
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. ABBOTSFORD
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).
Fraser Valley, Mt Baker
HOUSING Benchmark Price:
Single Family Home Townhouse Condominium $821,000 $456,000 $322,000 $625,000-$725,000
RENTAL Apartment units EDUCATION
1 bedroom - $1,100 per month Abbotsford Christian School K-12 Mennonite Educational Institute K-12 2 bedroom - $1,270 per month Cornerstone Christian K-8
St James and St John Brebeuf Catholic K-12
School District 34: Elementary, Middle and High Schools CHURCHES
Universities/Colleges: 6 CRC University of the Fraser Valley
Trinity Western University 19 Mennonite Columbia Bible College Summit Pacific College 11 Baptist Regent College
5 Reformed
4 Anglican
55 other denominations (approximately)
Mill Lake, Abbotsford, BC
2884 Gladys Ave Abbotsford, BC, V2S 3Y2 604-859-5908 Gatewaycrc.org