ABOUT US
Church family is an amazing and beautiful thing. The people of Gateway are thriving family, working together to reach our community and to share the love of Christ.
Together we are “all in,” leading lives of purpose and praise. We are there for each other as we grow not only in our individual relationships with God, but also as we grow in our relationships with our families, friends, and community. Below you can learn more about the Gateway story!
From our senior staff, to our newest member, we are so happy you’re here!
Service Times
Sundays at 9:00 and 10:30
Worship Center
Location
1651 Dutch Fork Road
Irmo, SC 29063
Our Staff
Don Brock
Senior Pastor
Ronald Flynn
Executive Pastor
Bart Cook
Discipleship Pastor
Jeremy Lloyd
Worship & Arts Pastor
Jeff Pruitt
Children & young families pastor
Nic Miner
Student Pastor
Emma McInnes
Student Ministry Associate
Judy Davis
Missions Director
Jayson Boseman
Media Arts Coordinator
Scott Streetman
Facilities and Projects Director
Mike Haley
Facilities & Grounds
Chuck O'Shields
Chapel Pastor
Debbie Grizzle
After school / summer camp director
Michelle Crosby
Childrens Ministry Assistant
Jenn Brock
Elementary Coordinator
Courtney Smoak
Preschool Director
Chris Barber
Administrative Assistant
Valerie Stanley
Administrative Assistant
Jenny Steinbrecher
Financial Secretary
Our Story
Gateway Baptist Church began as a vision of Eau Claire Baptist Church in Columbia to reach the fast growing Dutch Fork/Irmo community for Christ. In the fall of 1975 Eau Claire conducted a survey to help discern the need for a church in that area, and on November 30, 1975, the new church held their first worship service at the Dutch Fork Elementary School.
In 1981, Gateway completed its first building. The church was officially constituted as a church on March 7, 1982, with 197 charter members. In August of 1992, Pastor Don Brock was called to Gateway and began his ministry here. In the following years, as the area continued to grow, demographic studies showed that the population was moving towards the Ballentine area.
After our church fasted and prayed, God blessed us in 2004 with sixty acres of prime land in the center of Ballentine. The new property placed us within a 5-mile radius of over 35,000 unchurched people, and on Sunday, August 26, 2007, we held our first service in the new location.
It is for those unreached people that God has placed us in our current location; and in these past decades Gateway has planted five churches, sent hundreds of individuals to the national and international mission fields, given generously to community ministries and missions outside of Gateway, and become a state leader in leading people to Christ.
The vision of Gateway has never changed. We desire to connect with the people of our community so that they may have the opportunity to experience life in Christ.
What We Believe
The Bible is God’s Word to all people. It was written by human authors under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. Because it was inspired by God, the Bible is truth without any mixture of error and is completely relevant to our daily lives.
Deuteronomy 4:1-2; Psalms 119:11, 89, 105; Isaiah 40:8; Matthew 22:29; John 5:39; 16:13-15; 17:17; Romans 15:4; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; Hebrews 1:1-2; 4:12; 1 Peter 1:25; 2 Peter 3:16
God has existed in relationship with Himself for all eternity. He exists as one substance in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Although each member of the Trinity serves different functions, they each possess equal power and authority.
Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 61:1; Matthew 28:19; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 1:35; John 5:21-23; 14:10, 16; Romans 8:9-11; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Hebrews 1:8-10; James 2:1
God is great. He is all powerful, all knowing, ever present, unchanging, completely worthy of our trust, and above all, holy. It is in Him that we live, move, and exist. God is good. He is our Father. He is loving, compassionate, and faithful to His people and His promises.
Exodus 3:14; Numbers 23:19; Leviticus 11:44-45; 19:2; Psalm 11:4-6; Malachi 3:6; John 3:16; 4:24; 5:26; 14:1; Acts 17:28; Romans 3:3-4
Jesus Christ is completely human and – at the same time – completely God. He is the only plan for bringing people who are far from God back into a right relationship with God. He lived a perfect life so that He could be a substitution for us in satisfying God’s demands for perfection. He defeated death in His resurrection so that we can have life.
Isaiah 7:14; 53; Matthew 1:18-23; 3:17; 8:29; 14:33; 16:16; 28:5-6; Luke 22:70; 24:46-47; John 1:1, 14; 10:30; 11:25-27; 17:1-5; Acts 1:9; 2:22-24; 7:55-56; Romans 1:3-4; 3:23-26; 8:1-3; 10:4; 1 Corinthians 8:6; 2 Corinthians 5:19-21; Gal 4:4-5; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 1:15; 2:9; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; 3:16
The Holy Spirit’s presence assures us of our relationship with Christ. He guides believers into all truth and exalts Christ. He convicts people of their sin, God’s righteousness, and the coming judgment. He comforts us, gives us spiritual gifts, and makes us more like Christ.
Genesis 1:2; Psalm 51:11; 139:7 ff.; Isaiah 61:1-3; Joel 2:28-32; Mark 1:10; Lk 1:35; 4:1; 11:13; 12:12; John 15:26; 16:7-14; Acts 1:8; 2:1-4; 13:2; Romans 8:9-11, 14-16, 26-27; 1 Corinthians 3:16; Ephesians 1:13-14; 2 Peter 1:21; Revelation 22:17
Man was created to exist forever. He will exist either eternally separated from God by sin or in union with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is hell; and to be eternally united with Him is heaven. Heaven and hell are real places of eternal existence.
John 3:16, 36; Romans 6:23; 1 John 2:25; 5:11-13; Revelation 20:15
Man is made in the image of God and is the supreme object of His creation. Man was created to have fellowship with God but became separated in that relationship through sinful disobedience. As a result, man cannot attain a right relationship with God through his own effort. Every human personality is uniquely created, possesses dignity, and is worthy of respect and Christian love.
Genesis 1:26-30; 2:7, 18-22; 3; Psalms 8:3-6; 32:1-5; 51:5; Isaiah 6:5; Jeremiah 17:5; Acts 17:26-31; Romans 1:19-32; 3:10-18, 23; 5:6; 6:6; 7:14-25; 1 Corinthians 1:21-31; 15:19, 21-22; Ephesians 2; Colossians 1:21-22; 3:9-11
The blood of Jesus Christ that was shed on the cross provides the only way of salvation through the forgiveness of sin. Salvation occurs when people place their faith in the death and resurrection of Christ as sufficient payment for their sin. Salvation is a gift from God and it cannot be earned through our own efforts.
Isaiah 1:18; 53:5-6; 55:7; Matthew 1:21; 27:22-66, 28:1-6; Luke 1:68-69; 2:28-32; John 1:12; 3:16, 36; 5:24; Acts 2:21; 4:12; 16:30-31; Romans 1:16-18; 3:23-25; 5:8-10; 6; 1 Corinthians 1:18; 2 Corinthians 5:17-20; Galatians 2:20; 3:13; Ephesians 2:8-10; Philippians 2:12-13; Hebrews 9:24-28; Revelation 3:20
The Church is a local community of baptized believers unified through faith in Christ. It is committed to the teachings of Christ and obeying all of His commands, and it seeks to bring the Gospel to the world. The Church works together in love and unity, intent on the ultimate purpose of glorifying Christ.
Matthew 16:18-19; 18:15-20; Acts 2:41-47; 5:11-14; 13:1-3; 14:23; 16:5; 20:28; 1 Corinthians 7:17; 9:13-14; 12; Ephesians 1:22-23; 2:19-22; 3:10-12; 5:22-32; Colossians 1:18; 3:15; 1 Timothy 4:14; 1 Peter 5:1-4; Revelation 21:2-3
Our Purpose
Gateway is a church that has a great commitment to the Great Commandments (Mark 12:29-31) and the Great Commission (Matt. 28:19-20).
“Jesus replied, ‘The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.’” Mark 12:29–31
“Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19–20