Many people want to know, What is Gateway Stories?
What do you do there?
and What does it mean to me?
We are a local community outreach, that gathers both in our home and also in other locations where we meet new guests each month within our local area, share a fellowship meal followed by a simple storytelling concert. We are here to partner with the many local churches and ministries in the area and help to reach out to many who may not feel welcome or comfortable at first within a traditional church setting. Some of our guests just have not yet found a church home. After we meet our guests, we love to help connect them with local churches in the area or partner ministries who may be able to assist them in their journey.
We get asked this question regularly, “How do you find the people to come to your events?”. The answer is simple.
It’s usually by divine appointments each month. What I mean is that when we set a date on the calendar for a monthly event, and then print off simple invitations for that month, then we just go about our week and pay attention to the different people who cross our paths. It might be the checker at the Dollar General, gas station attendant, or our local grocery store clerk. In December we had a knock on the front door from some folks who wanted to share with us their own personal worldviews, and we invited them. One month it was neighbors who were out walking their dogs that we stopped and invited over. We have met strangers in the park, at work, or even in a doctor’s office waiting room. One day I was in a local shop and saw a man in a wheelchair. I started talking to him, invited him over and he said to me, “no one ever invites me anywhere…can I bring my girlfriend?”
Just knowing that there is a designated night is on the calendar, and that invitations are in my purse, makes it very exciting to see who God brings across our paths. We believe that hospitality is a gift and that so much can happen when you share a meal with someone and just get to know them.
This coming Jan. 20th, 2023 we will be hosting our 62nd event and beginning our 8th year! We are so excited about meeting new people this year. If you haven’t attended a Gateway Stories night, or if you know someone who might enjoy the evening and you would like to reach out to them, please email us at gatewaystories@gmail.com and we will save you a space.
