History of Gateway Bible Church

Conception Phase . . . 2003

Gateway Bible Church was started in October of 2004 by the Immanuel Bible Church in Springfield, Virginia.  From the start, Gateway was commissioned by her “Mother Church” to be an “outreach-focused” church.

Prenatal Development Phase. . . 2003-2004

In the fall of 2003, thirty-two brave souls from Immanuel Bible Church were called by God to leave their home church and join founding Pastor, Jay Nickless, in the adventure of starting a new church in the Gainesville community. 

By February of 2004, seven small groups were started and began to meet in various homes in the growing community.  It wasn’t long before the original 32 became a core of 64.  A target launch date of October 3rd was set and the core of 64 began to discover and develop their God-given gifts to deploy into ministry for the new church. 

During the summer of 2004, monthly “preview” services were conducted in various locations, giving people a sneak peak of what was to come.  The anticipation and excitement began to grow.

Birth Phase . . . 2004-2005

On October 3, 2004, Gateway Bible Church conducted their very first worship service at Bristow Run Elementary School in Bristow, VA.  Counting everything that moved or breathed that day, there were over 200 people in attendance for that very first service.  After the dust settled, Gateway averaged 142 people in attendance for the first three months.

Over the next two years, Gateway continued to steadily grow.  More importantly, peoples’ lives were being changed; relationships were being established, marriages were being restored and hearts were being transformed by the Gospel.

Growth Toward Maturity Phase . . . 2007 -2008

In three short years Gateway has grown to a church of over 300 people meeting in schools, homes, clubhouses and anywhere else its people can find.  As we mature, we will continually discern how we can best “reach out” to bring people to Christ, “reach in” to grow people in Christ and “reach up” to serve and worship Christ.

Reproduction Phase . . . 2009

As Gateway looks toward the future, we envision building a church campus on our 15.9 acre property just off Route 29 in Gainesville.  We envision leveraging this campus to bring people to Christ, build them up in the faith and then send them out (just like our Mother Church) to help start other churches.