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Gateway Christian Fellowship – St. Catharines, ON

Proper Title

Gateway Christian Fellowship fonds

Dates of Creation

2000–2009

Physical Description

40 cm of textual documents and 1 CD

Administrative History

Gateway Christian Fellowship began in 2000 through the efforts of eight congregations in the Niagara Peninsula and the vision of two couples: Dave and Wendy Franz and Nannette and Marvin Klassen. The goal was to plant a church that would appeal to those suspicious of institutionalized religion, and yet open to spirituality. A small group of individuals started meeting at Lakeport Secondary School in Ontario, and a church was born.  Ed and Karin Willms, part of this small group of church planters, took on the role of lead pastoral couple. They would continue to lead the church throughout its ten-year existence.

The vision and mission statement of the church were to be a church of passionate Christ followers who could grow and care for one another while experiencing an intimate relationship with God. Gateway Christian Fellowship would eventually merge with Southridge Community Church on January 1, 2010.

Scope and Content

This fonds consists of church bulletins and newsletters, phone directories, financial statements, meeting minutes and yearly summary booklets. These documents provide a history of the church, its method of outreach and its ministries. This fonds documents well the Mennonite Brethren church planting in St. Catherines in the 2000s.

Custodial History

These documents were collected and stored by the church. In the summer of 2013, Ed Willms organized the delivery of these files to the Centre for MB Studies. In 2014, Ed Willms delivered more files to the Centre for MB Studies.

Notes

  • Location: Volume 1259, nos. 1–15; Volume 1477, nos. 1–23.
  • Finding aid created by Donovan Giesbrecht, 6 June 2006; updated by Yvonne Snider-Nighswander, October 17, 2011; updated by Kate Woltmann, August 1, 2013; Updated by Andrew D. Brown November 2017.
  • Accession Numbers: 2013-18, 2014-24.
  • Finding aid consists of a textual file list.
  • CD located in Family Life Network Series MCD-03-2.
  • Language: English.
  • No further accruals expected.
  • No restrictions on access.

File List

Volume 1259

  1. Church membership folder, vision/mission statements, church foundations, MB Herald article. -- 2000, [200?].
  2. Church special event invitations, info pamphlets, “shape” seminar package. -- [200?].
  3. Vision Keepers minutes & plans, church admin. Documents, membership covenant, budgets, policies/procedures, child abuse prevention plan. -- 2002–2007.
  4. Church directories. -- 2000–2008.
  5. Financial budgets, statements, correspondence & minutes. -- 2008–2009.
  6. Correspondence & prayer group (“The Intercessors”). – 2000–2003.
  7. Vision Keepers booklets. -- 2001–2009.
  8. Newsletters. -- 2004–2011.
  9. The Gateway Weekly. -- 2000–2001.
  10. The Gateway Weekly. -- 2002.
  11. The Gateway Weekly. -- 2003.
  12. The Gateway Weekly. -- 2004.
  13. The Gateway Weekly. -- 2006–2007.
  14. The Gateway Weekly. -- 2009
  15. The Gateway Weekly. -- 2009.

Volume 1477

  1. Gateway Christian Fellowship First Meetings of Core Group. -- 2000.
  2. Gateway Christian Fellowship Members. -- 2000–2009.
  3. Membership Files. -- 2000–2009.
  4. Finance Team Meeting Minutes and Budget Reports. -- 2001–2008.
  5. Gateway Christian Fellowship Bulletins. -- 2000–2003.
  6. Gateway Christian Fellowship Worship Outlines. -- 2004–2008.
  7. Gateway Christian Fellowship Leadership Team Meeting Minutes. -- 2000.
  8. Gateway Christian Fellowship Leadership Team Meeting Minutes. -- 2001.
  9. Gateway Christian Fellowship Leadership Team Meeting Minutes. -- 2002.
  10. Gateway Christian Fellowship Leadership Team Meeting Minutes. -- 2003.
  11. Gateway Christian Fellowship Leadership Team Meeting Minutes. -- 2004.
  12. Gateway Christian Fellowship Leadership Team Meeting Minutes. -- 2005.
  13. Gateway Christian Fellowship Leadership Team Meeting Minutes. -- 2006.
  14. Gateway Christian Fellowship Leadership Team Meeting Minutes. -- 2007.
  15. Gateway Christian Fellowship Leadership Team Meeting Minutes. -- 2008.
  16. Gateway Christian Fellowship Operations Team Meeting Minutes. -- 2001–2006.
  17. Gateway Christian Fellowship Worship Planning Team Meeting Minutes. -- 2001–2009.
  18. Christmas Eve Services. -- 2002–2005.
  19. Fall Festival Services. -- 2003–2008.
  20. Gateway Christian Fellowship Prayer Guides. -- 2002.
  21. Gateway 101 Membership Class. -- [c. 2000].
  22. Grote Street Church Location Option. -- 2006–2007.
  23. Partnership with Grace Mennonite Church. -- 2007–2008.
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