:

 You are part of a body that is helping unchurched people become a unified community of

growing, multiplying Christ followers. For the past ten years we have been focused on raising
the church up out of the culture, meeting people where they are, and creating an experience
to move those far from God to a transformational relationship with Him in the context of
authentic community.

In our first decade, we’ve grown from a small group meeting in a single home to over 4,000
people meeting together in large and small groups all over Austin. How has this happened?
God has been at work transforming each of our lives, and each of us is sharing His love with
others.

Its actually very simple. At Gateway we grow when we ATTEND a service, CONNECT in
community with God and others, SERVE both the body and the community, GROW in our
relationship with God and LEAD others to follow Christ.

I hope you can see how you are the “hands and feet” of Christ to this world

This report provides stories of life-change, celebrates some of the highlights for us as a body
of last year and shows how your contributions have a multiplying impact here in Austin and
around the world. Thank you for faithfully supporting the ministries of Gateway!

In Christ,
Charles Dishinger
Executive Director

We have services Sunday morning at McNeil (North) and Covington (South). These services
are a safe place where you can invite your friends to wrestle with questions of faith and grow
to fully follow Christ. We also provide a Deepen service Sunday night at the McNeil campus
where we dive into the Scriptures for deeper study, deeper worship and deeper impact.
I lived in New York for 30 years. My life
was all about shopping, museums and dating rich
guys that would take me to fancy places. All that
changed when I moved to Austin last year. I moved
here without a job or an apartment. I knew no one. It
was just me, my rabbit , and a UHAUL.
Within 3 days I had a job at an art gallery, and the
owner asked what I would be doing for the “holiday”,
meaning Easter. As a “secular humanist” at the time,
I answered, “what holiday?” My curiosity grew when
he went on and on about Gateway Church and their
music, especially the upcoming U2 concert. My ears
shot up, and I wrote down directions.
The church was HUGE. I thought it might be a cult, so
I sat near an exit. But it just felt right. I felt understood.
My whole adult life I’d been a pretty good person. I
stayed away from drinking, drugs, and violence. I was
an educated, responsible 31 year old woman. But,
I wanted more…needed more. I kept attending the
Sunday service and listened to past sermons
online while painting or cleaning the
apartment. Click, click - everything started
to make sense. I DID feel loved, I DO need
God’s help.
But after deciding to follow Christ, my life actually
took a downward turn. I left my job for another that
didn’t work out. I couldn’t make rent. I was in financial
trouble. I had no job and no friends. Gateway helped
me out when I couldn’t help myself. God provided
for me at my lowest point. The church paid half my
rent one month, provided a gas card and gave me
a bag to fill up for groceries several times. This was
humiliating for me, I remember crying in the food
pantry and then, just a few hours later, pretending
everything was great when I spoke with my family. For
awhile they discouraged me from coming to church
saying, “Be careful with these new people, you don’t
know them!”
I’ve been able to get plugged in and give back to
the church, as well. I’ve served with the stage team,
greeting, event set up, even the construction crew.
Sometimes I just have a couple of hours, but they need
me and I LOVE serving. I took Gateway U classes
and joined a small group. I’m involved in the Redux/
Merge now FUSE singles group. In fact, I designed
their logo. This has truly become my home and
community.
Attending every week is imperative for me. I’ve only
missed one week since that Easter. The teaching
increases my faith and builds my spiritual foundation.
Sometimes I still walk out totally confused, but
curious and intrigued – wanting to figure it out
and understand more. Since coming to Texas and
becoming a Christ-follower, my life has been more
meaningful then ever before. It’s like I was asleep and
now I’m wide awake, embracing life.
3295 372
Over 68% of people attending McNeil and On the Sunday we did the survey 8%
76% at Covington came because a friend , of the people participating described
family member or co-worker invited them themselves as non-Christ-followers
to come*
Of those who consider themselves Christ-
30-32% of those surveyed had never followers, 11% described themselves
attended or had not been attending as new to faith and discovering their
church for 10 or more years prior to relationship with God, 49% said they
attending Gateway. are practicing spiritual disciplines and
developing that relationship, and 28 %
said they’ve been consistently following
Christ for years and are using their gifts.

Life is lived to the fullest when it’s in community with others. God never intended for us to go
through this life alone… that’s one of the reasons being part of the body is so important. You can
connect at Gateway in Group Life either through small group or running partner relationships.
January 1, 2008, was the beginning of a painful
divorce for me. My family was thousands of miles
away and none of my friends understood what was
going on. Therapy helped, but my psychologist
seemed so distant and mechanical. I felt like
I was totally alone until I found a DivorceCare
group at Gateway. That class showed me that
others were suffering like I was and it gave me
a venue to go through the stages of grief and
suffering. With those people, I didn’t have to
“shake it off” or “bounce back.” I could just
allow the pain to work its way through me.
I was into God when I was younger, but I gave up
on Him for the last ten years because I felt that I
didn’t need him… and I was in a relationship with
a hardcore atheist. But I had such a welcoming
experience at DivorceCare that I signed up for
Starting Gate and I heard this tall and extremely
energetic guy named Kirby Holmes. We had lunch
because he’d worked overseas and I wanted to
do the same. As we talked, Kirby realized that
all I really wanted to do was escape the situation,
escape Austin, and escape the pain. He reached
out to me and invited me into a small group that was
about to do Morph. That is when God took over.
God knew that I needed strong guys around me
for support. My pain caused me to lose all faith
and trust in women. Instead my Morph group led
to my Soul Revolution group and now I get to meet
with eight of the most solid dudes every week. Our
discussions in that small group are deeper than
any friendships I have ever had. I feel like I can
trust all of them and I cannot even describe how
important that is to me at this point in my life.
God has given me a new life where He is at the
core. I know that He’ll never leave me when life is
not great. Because of His love for me, I’ve learned
that I don’t need to be dependent on others for my
self-worth. He’s taken my constant worrying about
things like money or my job and replaced it with
peace and calmness. God has shown me that I’m
at this point for a purpose. He removed me from an
unhealthy relationship. He took away my financial
worries. He changed my perspective about my career.
Most importantly, he led me through my divorce to
show me what a real relationship needs to survive.
He lifted me out of the darkness and took me in….
Then out of the blue, my husband told
me he wanted a divorce. And then not
long after I found out he was having
an affair. I felt so lost and in shock.
But amazingly, these people I had
just met at Gateway prayed with me.
They called to check on me, brought
I grew up around the church, but as an me food. They did not judge me. They just embraced
adult I wasn’t connecting with God personally. I had me. They helped me find a room-mate, find some
a head full of info about God, but honestly I wasn’t work,…I was overwhelmed that they did all this
sure He was a real, active, engaged part of my life. when I felt like they barely knew me!
I “believed” in my head, but felt like I was just going
thru the motions. Now I have this relationship with a very real God
– more than just an idea I believe in my head.
I had just gotten married and we were living in Like never before, I feel like God is alive! I feel his
New York and moved to Austin in March of 08. I presence every day, and see how he is giving me
knew that I should find a church, and my sister told hope.
me about Gateway. It was really far away, but I
then heard there was a new campus down near my
house. So I decided to try it.
When I first came it was the music that moved me.
I would find myself weeping and not even knowing
why! But I just felt like God was here! The people I
met seemed authentic and talked about knowing and
experiencing God. This was real and I was drawn to
start connecting with the members of the music team.
Small Groups
Average for 2008 Current 2009
McNeil 720 Covington 107 McNeil 780 Covington 205
At McNeil 17% meet with running partners regularly,
while 22% do so at Covington.

Gateway is a place where people discover their gifts and use them to serve.
There are over 1,000 people each Sunday who use their time and energy
to care for kids, produce services, welcome guests, and lead small groups.
God has worked in
amazing ways through our
small group and I am just
overwhelmed with gratitude
to be a part of it and to share
how great God is and what He has done
with a few willing hands!
Last year we started a benevolence fund in which we
each donated $10/month and as needs came up we
would use the money to help others. We’ve been able
to provide school supplies, food, clothing, gift cards
to people in need. Seeing God use us stirred a desire
to do more and we started dreaming together.
One person shared an idea to start a food bank and
prepare meals and freeze them in individual bags so
that if anyone we knew needed food it would already
be made and available. We’ve been able to provide
enough meals for some families for several weeks at
a time. We’ve helped people with disabilities that
can’t cook for themselves, people having surgery, or
some just down
on their luck. The meals are always
received with such gratitude, joy and often times,
tears. This idea sparked another and Amy really
wanted to expand and start making food bags to
give out to the homeless. One of our other members,
Drey, had been wanting to start a toiletry ministry for
the homeless, so we combined the ideas and Spirit
Fed was born.
Spirit Fed is a program where we make bags for
the homeless that include non-perishable snacks,
toiletries and a bible. We all carry the bags in our
car and when we see someone in need we give
them a bag. It’s been great to see this grow. I have
people that are not even a part of our group that ask
for bags to hand out. One of our members, Joe, is
a police officer. His co-workers have been inspired
and are now wanting to start their own program
where the police officers will have similar bags on
hand to give to the homeless. Joe shared how the
first time he handed out a bag the homeless person
was very leery to even come up to his car, much less
take something from him. I’m so excited about the
opportunity for God to change the way the homeless
and the officers perceive each other through this
simple act.
We really were able to kick the program off because
of the sermon Gateway did last fall in which they
gave us envelopes with money to invest in serving.
We collected $400 from the envelopes and we were
able to involve community businesses, as well.
The people in our group are always so willing to
get behind and support each others ideas, whether
it is feeding the homeless, helping a family with
clothing or school supplies, going to pray for
healing for someone, having a garage sale to raise
funds, helping someone pack up their house and
so much more. Whatever the need, it is a beautiful
thing God has begun and we are so excited about
where He will take us in the days to come.
Though I’ve been coming to Gateway for years, probably the
biggest impact on my life has been through serving trips and
mobilization. I’ve been able to serve in East Austin, as well
as Mexico and Zambia. Next month I’m excited to go to the
Dominican Republic to serve with our church partner there,
building classrooms and bathrooms for the same community
Gateway has provided clean water for in the past.
All of these trips have been amazing experiences that have
taught me about gratitude and the importance of giving
back. In travelling, two things have struck me the most.
First and foremost, we are so much alike. All mothers
After looking for a
church for seven years –
sometimes visiting 3 in one
day – I came to Gateway.
I showed up in a suit for the third service because I had
been to two other churches that day, but I immediately knew
this place was different. Even though I looked out of place,
I felt right at home. I had a conversation that week on the
phone with a volunteer who answered a lot of my questions.
Kenny Martin actually took thea time to go to lunch with
me. My second Sunday I was serving on the Frontline team
and I signed up to help out in the Café on the alternating
Sundays. For me, I figured the best way to get know your
church is to volunteer, to get to know the people who make
things happen. That’s how it becomes YOUR church.
I love being able to meet new people and help them get
connected. There are several people – Robert, Isaac and
Alicia, Roger, Michelle, James - that I see on Sundays
that I know I was a part of making them feel welcome
and wanted here. For me it’s about creating family –
people you can rely on. I’ve been able to do that through
Frontline, the Café, the stage design team and now the
construction crew. We have a blast working together. Being
able to serve alongside these people and get to know their
relationship with God has really shown me how different
desire for their children to grow up safe, happy and
healthy. All children love to laugh, run and play.
We’re all created to be part of a community. It’s
crucial. The second thing is how differently we all
worship the same God. In Mexico they’re so traditional
and reverent. In Africa, they sing and dance their hearts
out with total abandon, in spite of their incredible poverty.
Getting to be a part of these experiences has
impacted me deeply. It’s changed who I am. I know
this type of serving has to be a part of how I live
the rest of my life. I’m so thankful that Gateway is
committed to serving globally, as well as locally.
this church is. Honestly, I didn’t even know what a real
Christ-follower was before I came here, even though I’ve
been in church my whole life. For the first time I get this
whole staying connected to God moment by moment thing.
There’s such freedom in not having to impress anybody
or care what anybody thinks except Him. Serving here at
Gateway is a significant part of how I do life. Actually,
I’m not very good at showing up here and not having
something to do. It’s just part of who I am. Serving here
at Gateway is a significant part of how I do life.
People involved in serving the
body currently: 793
Percentage of people serving
the community at least once a
year: 72%
Feed the Community is
currently serving an average of
80 families per month.
 One year has passed This year in community has also allowed God to show
since I walked into my me what unconditional love is. He has followed that
first Gateway South up with His biblical truth on how to love, how to fight
service. It was hard, but for love through conflict resolution and how being in
I was encouraged to community is a model for marriage. I had a limited
search for community, view of what a small group experience was, but God
and that perspective helped me set aside any wound I has blown my heart and mind through the Thursday
No matter what season of life you are in, Gateway is a place where you can night south Austin Life group. I’ve learned how to
carried regarding church. God placed me side by side
continually take next steps in your walk with Christ. Experiences like Soul Revolution, open up around others and to be vulnerable., to be
with the small groups’ pastor, who quickly realized
Morph and Deepen are tools people use to grow in their love for God and others, where I might fit in to the community. That led to a more honest in communicating where I am within
and in the process we become more and more of who God created us to be. friendship with the music and campus pastors who God’s process. It’s taught me the importance and
God has used to build my trust in Him, heal my heart power of praying for people going through difficult
and discover a passion for serving in the arts in a way situations such as marital, family, or work issues.
that’s protecting an actual artist within me.
I am a changed man because of God and this
I’ve made some huge choices to trust God in ways community.
I never thought I would. I’ve experienced amazing
healing in my relationship with my dad. I’ve learned
Raised in people are imperfect, but are complete through God’s
a Christian home, I have made an attempt loving process. The relationship has continued to
to follow Jesus for most of my life. However, improve, and just recently, He emailed, “I’m so proud
complacency and laziness have slowly worked of you Dan...Stay on the path you are on and things
their way into my faith, making it lukewarm will only get better!” These were sweet words to hear. I
at best. The Morph [Love God] experience at know God the father is pleased at this victory.
Gateway has challenged me to move forward
with a hard look at what I believe about God, This would be the first of many victories I’ve had
this year. Victories because of a willing attitude to
who He is, whether it is in fact Him that I am
trust God and participating in a small group. The
seeking, and why He deserves to be sought
book of James, a best selling book about a man’s
after. I spent several weeks laboring over one
healing journey heal, a conversation with a friend, an
Baptisms
question presented in the material. “Is God your
encounter with a fellow soldier and the healing hand
god?” I had to answer no. I find myself making
of God have been the ingredients that have delivered
life decisions far more often based upon how my
me from a 16-year long battle with a condition called
comfort (financial or otherwise) will be affected than P.T.S.D. God spoke to my heart and showed me the 2008: 222 2009(to date): 167
whether or not it’s something God wants me to do. root cause was fear. Once again, I found a freedom
relationships to be built as a group of us have moved
The more comfortable I become, the less need I have
for God. In fact, there are a few areas of my life
through Morph together. We are now in the Build and a long overdue victory. Morph participants to date: 504
Character module, and once again I find myself
that I simply don’t trust God with. Morph illuminated
wrestling. I look forward continuing the struggle and
these, among other things. The community based
moving toward a life more fully devoted to the God I Soul Revolution participants in 2008:
approach to the material enabled accountability and
have claimed to serve for so long. 3800 (approx.)

Jesus asked his followers on his last day with him to go and develop
the masterpiece in others. He told them to baptize people into a life
with God and help them to know how to live out the way of Christ. We
should all be asking God who the people are in our lives he wants us
to be in intentional about walking with in developmental relationships.
In the past year
there have been
several times
when God shifted
my friendships.
Each time God
has provided the perfect moment
to challenge them. “You’ve been experiencing Jesus
for yourself and seeing who He is in your own life, I’m
asking you to begin asking HIM how He would like to
use all that He has taught you and done. Would you be
willing ask Him that question and giving Him your ‘yes’
to whatever He asks?”
It has been so much fun to be with them as they continue
to say yes to Him! Every one of them has been given
various opportunities to invest in women over coffee, a
lunch, inviting someone to church, calling or emailing
people as they feel led. It’s been great for them to get to
see God lead them with baby steps preparing for the first
group of women He will entrust to them.
Two months ago, I began praying about starting a group
for Gateway women to teach them how to really dig
needed Christ. So we decided to join the South team.
Originally we got on board to just “help out.” I said I
would be an usher. That was simple, easy.
But along the way, I began to see that the need was
bigger; they needed leaders. The role kept growing.
Eventually, I was leading all of Guest Services!
This was really stretching and scary; I was leading as I
As long time Gatewayer (2001), and Southie (25yrs) never had before. But then it was so energizing as I was
I was disappointed when we decided to move to from also discovering gifts I never knew I had!
Bull Creek to McNeil - it was going to be lot harder to
be involved. But eventually, Mike and I got excited about I’ve had the joy of seeing one of those who had dropped
the new location and more room to grow. We committed out, get baptized, and seeing another in the process of
to One Life and got excited about moving in and stayed getting sober in recovery group. Plus we’re reaching
into the Bible for themselves and let God speak to them
involved! hundreds of new folks. Its been so exciting and sobering,
personally through His word. In launching this group, I
to think of all the good that has happened and realize
asked these women and others to pray about leading a
Then there was a South Austin Town Hall meeting where that it never would have happened if we hadn’t followed
table as the study is completely table-driven. Today, three
we first started talking about this idea of launching a Christ leading us to step out and lead others!
of the five tables are being led by women who have
South Campus. I have to confess that John surprised me
never led before!
when he said this was not about my convenience, but
about the mission of reaching the whole city. Interesting,
Last week was their first week to step into ‘official’
but we decided to stay at McNeil. That is until we started
leadership and the glow on their faces after their first
noticing friends from the south who had been growing
meeting made me cry. They LOVED it and were just
and now were dropping out. It was heart-breaking!
amazed at how God put their table together JUST for
Then God started showing us others in South Austin who
them! They are learning and growing, eager and
scared, and relying on God for all of it. Great times and
I am so excited to see what God will do with each table
at the end of the study.
What that means for ME is in all of this is that the Lord
continues to say, “You just stay close to me and live – I
will bring the fruit.” The pressure isn’t on me to ‘be’ or
‘try’ or ‘strive’ ... It is to give Him my yes as well, as He
Leaders
leads. He continues to remind me of how Jesus Himself
would only do what He knew the Father was doing and
would only speak as He heard the Father speaking.
2008: 209 2009(to date): 253
 September brought our 10 year anniversary.
Can you believe it? We celebrated at Dell
  Diamond Gateway-style with lots of live music,
In January we launched our first satellite stories, memories, baptism in the pool (probably
the first and only for the Dell pool) and vision
campus. South campus or Covington and inspiration for the next 10 years.
launched with a core group of abouvt 80
people and was averaging almost 400
by the end of the year. Bruce Gilson and
the other staff and volunteers have story
after story of how God has brought South
Austinites to connect with God and their
community. There’s been a steep learning
curve and many challenges along the way, but the
Sunday experience at Covington, as well as the authentic
relationships have been life-changing for hundreds of
Southies.

In October we started a revolution. Over 4000

people committed to the 60:60 experiment. For 60 days
we tried to connect with God every 60 minutes to see
what God would do in our lives. Of course, the real goal
In April we celebrated Easter like never before, probably was for us to develop a habit of staying connected to God
like no other church in history before. Our incredibly moment by moment and learn to live out that relationship
talented programming and production teams pulled in community with others. We launched ? new small
groups and ? people committed to meeting with running
together to create a rock opera based on the music of U2
partners for the duration of the experiment. Many of
entitled See What Love has Done. We did it live – at both those small groups and Running partners continue as
campuses - two bands, two casts, two sets, two production we continue to do life together. Churches all across the
teams. It was powerful, if not miraculous! Over 7000 country and around the world are now joining in the
people experienced this unique prodigal message of Easter, experiment as John’s book gains popularity as people
many for the first time and many have continued to attend experience this revolution.
Gateway, get connected and experience life-change here.   
Gateway is supported solely through the financial contributions of

those who call Gateway their church home. Gateway is overseen by Current Assets
Cash & Equivalents1 1,913,832 2,864,469
a Board of Directors that is responsible for stewarding the resources Property & Equipment

used to minister to the church and community. There are extensive Buildings 13,961,720 13,779,062

Land 2,200,000 2,200,000

financial controls in place to ensure the integrity of the church’s financial Furniture & Equipment 440,803 392,126

Total Prop & Equip 16,602,523 16,371,188

transactions. For example, Gateway conducts an independent audit
Total Assets 18,516,355 $19,235,657
of its financial records and accounting processes each year and has

received an unqualified opinion every year according to the accounting

firm of Lockart, Atchley & Associates, L.L.P. This opinion from our Current Liabilities
Current portion of long-term debt 151,291 141,091
auditors means our processes and financial statements are in good
Health Reimb Account 26,828 31,828

order. Gateway is also a 501(c)3 organization as determined by the IRS. Total Current Liabilities 178,119 172,919

This designation means that Gateway follows standards set forth by the Long-term debt less current installments 11,403,946 11,555,219

IRS for non-profit organizations, which allows contributors to make tax- Total Liabilities 11,582,065 11,728,138

deductible contributions. Below are the audited financial statements for Net Assets

2007 and 2008. Unrestricted 6,934,290 7,507,519

Total net assets 6,934,290 7,507,519

Total Liabilities & Net Assets 18,516,355 19,235,657

Revenue and Support 2008 2007 Expenses (cont.) 2008 2007
General Offerings 4,061,136 3,922,060 Next Generation
Designated Support 1 587,972 766,631 Kids and Students 93,229 112,527

Other Support 105,327 113,512 Capital Expenditures - 4,074

Other Revenues 67,136 73,893 General and Administrative2 2,901,309 2,200,853

Total Revenue and Support 4,821,571 4,876,096 Facilities 312,340 233,030

Communication 39,164 64,073

Expenses 2008 2007 Loss on Disposal of Fixed Asset3 20,047 -

Attend Interest Expense 814,235 884,586

Total Expense 5,394,800 4,151,997

Programming / Music 96,143 66,445

Connect
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets4 (573,229) 724,099
Adult Ministries 148,619 64,067

Small Groups 31,144 18,157

Net Assets at Beginning of Year 7,507,519 6,783,420
Café / Hospitality 31,378 31,207

Grow
Net Assets at End of Year 6,934,290 7,507,519
Spiritual Formation 55,922 59,411

Resource Center 31,378 31,207 Below are notes to further explain the statements:

Serve 1. From 2007 to 2008, the Total Current Assets decreased from $2.8M to $1.9M. These assets consisted largely of cash reserves from the One Life Capital Campaign that
were used to pay the mortgage expense during that time. Additionally, the cash raised during this time as part of the Epicenter Fund was distributed to build a water well/
Compassion & Mobilization 805,567 368,315 purification system in the Dominican Republic and start construction on a hospital in India. This detail is also reflected in the decrease in the Designated Support from
$766k to $588k.
Lead 2. General and Administrative expenses enable the ministries of Gateway to be adequately staffed and supported operationally to lead a church of 4,000+ individuals. The
chart below provides a total picture of the staffing expense combined with the ministry expense for each strategic area of the church.
Leadership Development 14,325 14,046
3. Because Gateway does not depreciate assets, any Loss or Disposal of Fixed Assets is expensed each year. This expense is shown for 2008 at $20k.
4. As Gateway prepared to assume the full cost of its mortgage in 2009, the Board of Directors created a plan to use cash reserves during 2008 while attendance and giving
reached a level to sustain expenses. This shortfall in operating expenses is demonstrated by the decrease in net assets in 2008 of $573k. During 2009 Gateway has
implemented a resource plan to control expenses and encourage people who call Gateway their church home to fully engage in resourcing the ministries of the church.
Gateway continues to maintain an operating reserve of at least three months expenses.
 Next Generation Attend
Programming & Production
Kids & Students

Lead
Leadership
Development

Connect
SG &
Guest Services

Serve Grow
Compassion & Mobilization
Spiritual Formation