Sometimes in order to grow larger, one must focus on getting smaller. That’s precisely what the folks at Gateway Fellowship Church in San Antonio do. They encourage everyone within the church family to join a small group that meets throughout the month.
Putting their energy into growing small groups and small group ministries ensures authentic connectivity. When folks share their physical, spiritual and emotional challenges with a few trusted friends, that’s when accountability and vulnerability flourish.
“We want to engage people at a relational level and let them confess their struggles and challenges,” says John Van Pay, lead pastor at Gateway Fellowship Church.
In 2007, Van Pay and his wife, Stephanie, loaded a van and relocated to San Antonio, Texas, with their children and a heart to start a church. The plan was to get to know as many neighbors in the community as possible. As they met people, the couple recorded names on a piece of butcher paper—and then prayed for each person.
Over time, as the church grew, the congregation moved from a living room to an elementary school to a movie theater. Much of the growth came about through word of mouth and personal invitation.
“The Great Commission is not just for pastors—it’s for all believers,” says Chris Gregory, pastor of operations at Gateway Fellowship. “There’s a whole generation of unchurched people who are born in this country not knowing what a church is. These people won’t consider attending church unless someone invites them.”
It’s not just about extending the invitation, however. The key is establishing real community, authentic friendships and a true relationship with the Lord.
When Gregory and his family first moved to San Antonio, they were eager to establish roots and make connections. They attended another church for six months but didn’t make a single friend. So, they visited Gateway. There they found instant community, due in large part to the church’s small group focus.
“It’s nice to have somebody beyond the pastor pour their life into yours and vice versa,” he notes, adding that these tight and true connections are what has driven the church’s growth in the last decade. “I pray we never lose that sincerity of getting to know people and building community, one family, one small group at a time. That’s the thing the world needs. That is the missing piece.”
Gateway also has seen remarkable growth in their youth ministry, which shot up 140%. They have since started a young adult group.
“We continue to be intentional with the younger generation,” says Van Pay, who was a youth pastor for 14 years.
In 2016, Gateway Fellowship was named the fastest-growing church in America on the Outreach 100 Fastest-Growing Churches list. It now has 10 growing campuses, each with its own campus pastor, all of whom were once small group leaders at Gateway.
Church leadership has a vision to have 100 churches by Gateway’s 25th anniversary in 2033, which may very well happen as they also have partner churches in Mexico, the Middle East and Vietnam.
“We’re starting to see the cumulative effect and synergy in locations because of our passion, our focus on discipleship, and our shared vision and mission strategy,” observes Van Pay. “Those churches are making disciples who are making disciples. Our growth and multiplication are due to our passion for both evangelism and discipleship.”
As he gets older, Van Pay focuses on growing the next generation of churches. “We are on the cusp of seeing our churches that we started begin to multiply. We’ll have grandkid churches, and that’s exciting.”
GATEWAY FELLOWSHIP CHURCH
San Antonio, Texas
Pastor: John Van Pay
Website: MyGateway.tv
Founded: 2008
Fastest-Growing: 73
A 2024 OUTREACH 100 CHURCH