Last June at the “Beyond These Walls” event and this past January during our “Vision Sunday”, Pastor Steve shared that our vision is to follow Jesus together by helping people find freedom, live with focus, and shape the future. We believe God is calling Gateway to be a healthy, growing church that reaches those who are far from Christ and equips believers for lifelong discipleship.  Practically, we are already stretched across three services, and our ministry space is limiting our ability to welcome new people and expand discipleship, care, and next-generation ministries. A new facility allows us to steward this season of growth wisely and prepare for decades of faithful ministry in our region.

We want to be very clear that a new facility is not the mission of Gateway. The love of Christ for spiritually lost people is what compels us to pray and give and serve. This building is simply a tool God can use to help us carry that mission forward. This space will allow us to welcome more people who are exploring faith, disciple believers more deeply, strengthen families, care for those in need, and equip leaders for ministry. It supports the full journey of following Jesus together where we find freedom, live with purpose, and shape the future.

We observe in Scripture and our world that spiritual and numerical growth comes from the ministry of the Holy Spirit as we pray, listen to Jesus, and follow His leading together. Over the next 10 years, we are confident that God will bless Gateway as we focus on helping people follow Jesus, find freedom, live with purpose, and pass on their faith to the next generation. This happens through biblical teaching, worship, small groups, care ministries, and intentional outreach.

As we learned last June, our Facility Expansion Team carefully planned spaces that encourage gathering and relationship such as large welcoming areas, meeting rooms, a café space, children and youth zones, and flexible ministry rooms. These spaces make it easier for people to linger, serve together, join groups, receive care, and build friendships across generations. They also allow for multiple ministries to happen at the same time without competing for space. This is because Gateway is not just a Sunday-morning church, but a community that meets throughout the week.

While we understand the desire to wait in uncertain times, this vision has been prayed over and carefully considered for many years. And as we are already experiencing significant space limitations, our community continues to grow. Waiting would almost certainly increase costs and delay our ability to serve people who are ready to take their next steps of faith. This is why we are moving forward thoughtfully and responsibly, trusting God’s leading and seeking to steward this season well.

This expansion is not built around one personality but around our mission of Following Jesus Together. Healthy churches are sustained by strong culture, shared leadership, and a clear discipleship pathway and not by any single individual. Succession planning is a normal Board responsibility and will be addressed within future strategic planning. This building is about equipping an anchor church for our region and creating space to serve future generations well beyond the lives of those who presently call Gateway their spiritual home.

Yes. Our pastors and elders have spent significant time praying, listening, and seeking the Lord’s guidance together. We have approached this carefully and thoughtfully, knowing the responsibility that comes with a project of this size. We are united in believing that this is where God is leading Gateway at this time, and we trust Him to provide what is needed as we move forward. At the same time, we value the prayers, wisdom, and discernment of our church family. We see this as a journey we are taking together, as we seek to follow Jesus faithfully.

Prayer has been central to this journey from the very beginning. The Facility Expansion Team, Board, and staff have spent extended time in listening prayer, seeking unity, and asking for God’s wisdom. This process has included seasons of congregational prayer, fasting, worship, and shared discernment.  We do not see this as simply a building project, but as a spiritual journey where God is shaping us “wider and deeper” as a church. Our desire is to continue depending on Him every step of the way, trusting that He will guide, provide, and grow us through this process.

Our desire is not for a large building to draw attention to Gateway, but to point people to Jesus and to serve our community well. From the beginning, this project has been framed as building a tool for ministry, not a monument. The vision is to create space that supports discipleship, care, outreach, and partnerships with other churches and community groups. We hope this facility will reflect humility, generosity, and cooperation in a manner that makes it clear that Gateway exists to bless Haldimand, strengthen the wider Church, and help more people encounter Christ. Our prayer is that it will be seen as a shared resource and a spiritual home that serves the common good.

We are so very thankful for the many faithful churches in our region, and we believe God uses churches of all sizes to reach people for Christ. Each has an important role in His Kingdom. Our goal has never been to compete with other churches or draw people away from them. Over the years, God has brought people to Gateway who were unchurched, dechurched, or exploring faith for the first time. We believe there is a place for both smaller and larger churches working together. There is a growing sense among us that God has uniquely positioned Gateway to serve as an “anchor” church that would support, bless and equip others even while faithfully reaching those who are still far from Jesus. Our heart is simply to see Christ’s Kingdom grow across our region.

We care about the health of all Bible-believing and Christ-centered churches in our region and are grateful for the partnerships we enjoy at the Caledonia Ministerial Association. Over the years, we have worked hard to encourage and support other congregations even as they have helped us. As we have observed above, assisting other churches and growing our own ministries is not an “either/or” choice but is rather a “both/and” blessing. Each local church has unique strengths, and together we can reach more people than any one church could alone. As Gateway grows, we are better positioned to offer training, resources, and ministries that may not exist elsewhere in our area. Our desire is simply to strengthen the whole Body of Christ as we serve our community in His name.

Our new building is being designed to serve both our church and our wider community. It will include flexible, multi-purpose spaces that can support care and discipleship ministries, family programs, training, outreach events, and partnerships with local organizations.  Our desire is for this facility to be a tool that blesses our neighbours and strengthens our witness in our region.

As Gateway has grown, we’ve added additional services to help people connect with Jesus and our church family. First, we were in two services for over a decade. And since 2019, our Sunday attendance has made it necessary to offer three services.  The reason we’ve focused on adding to Sunday mornings is because this remains the main time when new people are willing to attend church. Also, services at different times of the week (i.e. Saturday or Sunday nights) place a growing load on volunteers that can be difficult to sustain over time. Our goal isn’t just to fit more people in but to create a healthy space for worship, community and discipleship and expanding our facilities helps us to do that in a way that cares for everyone involved.

As a church of The Alliance Canada, Gateway believes in starting new churches both locally and globally. By God’s grace, Gateway has helped plant churches in Brantford, Ancaster, and Binbrook over the past 20 years while also strengthening new churches in Cambodia and Ecuador. We remain committed to doing that wherever and whenever the Lord leads. What we’ve seen, however, is that planting churches locally has not resulted in fewer people attending Gateway. Each time, God has followed the addition of new Alliance churches with seasons of evangelism and discipleship growth. Therefore, church planting and facility development are not “either/or” but “both/and.”  As Jesus leads, we hope to keep reaching new communities through new churches, while also creating a healthy, sustainable space for the people God is bringing to our Gateway location. Expanding our facilities helps us disciple, train, and send people so we can continue to be a church that reaches those who are spiritually lost and gives itself away for the sake of Christ’s kingdom.

Over the years, our Facility Expansion Team and leadership have explored a range of options, including expanding our current building and looking at other properties. Unfortunately, there are limited suitable facilities available in Caledonia. When Gateway purchased this property and the surrounding area (eventually 15 acres), it was done with the long-term vision of expanding as the Lord provided growth. Building on land we already own allows us to steward resources wisely and design space that truly serves our ministry needs. Logistically, it also makes far more sense to house our ministries on one unified campus rather than absorb the ongoing costs of acquiring and maintaining multiple ministry sites. We believe this approach reflects both prayerful planning and responsible stewardship as we seek to follow Jesus together.

The Facility Expansion Team began with the assumption that an addition to our existing building would be the best solution. However, after significant research, consultation, and site analysis, they recommended constructing a new building on the land behind our current facility. Several factors shaped that decision, including environmental constraints near the existing structure, archaeological considerations, site topography, and the limitations of the current building’s layout. A new pre-engineered structure also allows for greater efficiency, flexibility in design, and long-term functionality. Building separately enables us to continue ministry in our current facility during construction, avoiding major disruption. It also provides flexibility in how the existing building may be used once the new space is complete.

This past June, the Facility Expansion Team shared that our plan is to 1. build a new “stand alone” facility in a way that serves our mission well and then 2. prayerfully and carefully discern the best use of our current facility. Depending on future needs and opportunities, this could include continuing to use it for ministry, renting it, or potentially selling it to a like-minded organization. We want to steward our existing space wisely in a way that supports Gateway’s long-term ministry, helps us reach more people for Jesus, and serves our community. Any final decisions will be made with prayer, transparency, and accountability.

Expanding our facilities will significantly help with our current midweek space challenges. While many of our Small Groups will continue to meet in homes across the Haldimand and Hamilton areas, we have found that ministries like Alpha, GriefShare, and other care and recovery programs are often most effective in a welcoming, neutral church space. We also have a growing need for more room for adult ministries that run at the same time as our children’s and youth programs that are bursting at the seams. Right now, limited space often restricts what we can offer and when we can offer it. Additional ministry space will allow us to better support people who are exploring faith, walking through grief, facing addiction, or navigating major life changes. It will help us grow these ministries in healthy, sustainable ways. Our prayer is that this space will serve our church and community well for many years to come as we continue to trust God for future impact.

The new worship space is being designed as a highly flexible, multi-purpose environment. It is planned to function as both an auditorium and a gymnasium, allowing it to host worship services, teaching events, conferences, community gatherings, banquets, youth activities, sports programming, and special ministries. By being adaptable for community sports and recreational use during the week, the space may also generate rental income that strengthens long-term sustainability. This flexibility ensures the building serves people throughout the entire week.

The goal is not to choose between a gym and an auditorium, but to design a beautiful, event-ready worship space that also functions as a gym when needed. The proposed design allows for strong acoustics, clear sightlines, and a welcoming atmosphere for Sunday worship and teaching. At the same time, the space can accommodate weekday activities such as sports, youth programs, community events, and large gatherings. This multi-use approach maximizes stewardship by allowing one primary space to serve many purposes throughout the week. Rather than building single-purpose rooms, we are creating a flexible environment that supports both worship and outreach.

The proposed plans include expanded kitchen and café spaces to better support meals, events, ministries, and community gatherings.  These spaces are being designed to serve a wide range of uses: from fellowship events and youth nights to outreach activities and rentals while remaining flexible for future needs.

As part of this process, the Facility Expansion Team has consulted with architects, builders, engineers, and other professionals to design a building that is efficient, durable, and responsible to operate. This includes considering construction methods, building systems, and long-term operating costs that support good stewardship of resources. As plans continue to be refined, sustainability and long-term efficiency will remain important factors in decision-making.

Accessibility is a key priority for Gateway. Our desire is to create a space that is welcoming and usable for everyone. Designing portions of the building with a second storey allows administrative offices and lower-traffic areas to be located upstairs while keeping primary ministry spaces on the ground floor. This ensures that children’s ministries, worship areas, gathering spaces, and high-use rooms remain easily accessible. The second floor will also be fully accessible, with a centrally located elevator. Because the atrium and worship space already require higher ceiling heights, incorporating a second level allows us to steward space wisely without significantly increasing the building’s footprint.

This project is based on careful study of our current attendance, future growth in our area, and long-term ministry needs. As mentioned above, Gateway is already operating in three services, and on many Sundays we approach the seating capacity envisioned in the new space. The Facility Expansion Team also considered the significant residential growth planned around us and within a 25-minute radius.  Our goal is not to build more space than we need, but to prepare responsibly for the people God is already bringing and those He will bring in the years ahead.

While exact timelines depend on approvals, design, and construction conditions, projects of this size typically take several years from start to finish. One advantage of the proposed plan is that much of the new building could be constructed while our current facilities remain in use. This allows ministry to continue with minimal disruption and provides flexibility in how and when different phases are completed.

Traffic flow and parking have been important considerations throughout this process. The Facility Expansion Team has worked with engineers, county staff, and consultants to understand the constraints of our property, access from Highway 6, and future development around us. This includes planning for parking layout, site grading, and circulation.  As communicated during the “Beyond These Walls” event in June 2025 and the “Lot of Love” fundraising campaign during the 2025 Advent season, plans also include options such as temporary and future parking areas. As designs move forward, these details will continue to be refined in cooperation with local authorities to ensure safety and good neighbour relationships.

We are already taking some next steps. A new Facility Expansion Team (2.0) is being formed and will begin the process of reviewing and engaging an architect. From there, plans will be developed and submitted for the necessary approvals and permits. This stage takes time and requires careful planning. While timelines can shift, our hope is to be in a position to begin construction in early 2028.

Our first priority is the ministry and mission of Gateway. We do not want to see our day-to-day ministries weakened in order to fund a building. The general fund supports worship, discipleship, care, outreach, and local missions, and the Global Advance Fund supports our International Workers: the Lims in Cambodia and the Browns in Ecuador. This capital campaign is designed to be above and beyond our regular giving, not a replacement for it. Our prayer is that this project will strengthen, not strain, our ability to serve people and advance God’s Kingdom.

Some allowance for inflation has already been incorporated into the fundraising goal, based on credible sources and current building industry standards. If costs rise beyond projections, we would make appropriate adjustments to the building plans to ensure the project remains within the approved budget. If necessary, we would also consider securing a mortgage to cover any additional costs. Any borrowing would be carefully structured and supported by alternate revenue sources to ensure long-term financial sustainability.

Our desire is to move forward in a financially responsible and sustainable way, without placing unnecessary strain on our ministry or our people. To this end, the Facility Expansion Team has explored phased construction and flexible design options that allow adjustments to be made if needed. This means that certain elements could be delayed or completed in stages rather than forcing the church into unhealthy financial pressure.  Any significant budget decisions would be approached prayerfully, transparently, and in consultation with church leadership and the congregation. Our priority will always be to protect the health of our ministries while stewarding God’s resources wisely.

Pledges help us plan wisely and steward what God is providing. They give us a clearer picture of what is possible as we move into design and construction. Funds will be received over three years, Lord willing, which allows us to cover early costs like architectural work and permits, and then meet larger construction expenses as they come at key milestones throughout the project. This approach helps us move forward responsibly, without unnecessary pressure on our church family.