Our name | Mission | Leaders | Ministries Schedule | Directions | Contact Home   Gateway Church gathers for worship Sundays at 10:45 a.m. Location: 6425 Jefferson Rd. (Hwy. 129) in Athens, Georgia. For directions, click here. Ministry of the Word: Sermons Andy Hines' Blog: Wit and Wisdom of Gateway Mission Our mission at Gateway is to help people experience God — through vital worship, biblical truth, positive relationships, and hands-on ministry. To the degree that we demonstrate God's grace and truth in our worship, our teaching, our personal relationships, and through the ministries of the church, people will experience the character and presence of God. Ministries We minister the love and power of Christ in many ways, including through corporate worship, Bible teaching, music, prayer ministry, small groups, children ministries, and Holy Communion. Gateway members participate in Walk to Emmaus (a renewal ministry), Kairos (a prison ministry), and the Lay Witness Mission movement. In addition, Gateway helps support a number of local ministries, including Covenant Care Services (a crisis pregnancy and adoption ministry), Overcomers (a ministry to people overcoming addictions), The Sparrow's Nest (providing clothing to the needy), and Athens Urban Ministry (an outreach to the homeless, the disabled, the working poor, and the lonely). We also provide support for mission work in Brazil, Ethiopia, and India. Leaders Tom Atkins | Lead Pastor / Evangelist Tom is the past president of the National Association of United Methodist Evangelists and has preached at revivals, camp meetings, and special services all across the USA. He is also a member of the Francis Asbury Society, a group focused on living and proclaiming that Christian salvation involves not only forgiveness but also transformation through the power of the Holy Spirit!   Alex Smith | Worship Leader / Lay Liturgist Alex Smith has been the worship director at Gateway since January 2010. He has been married to his beautiful bride Audrey since 2007. Alex grew up in Norcross, Ga., and moved to Athens in 2003 to start school. He graduated from the University of Georgia in 2007 and is currently working toward his masters in divinity at Asbury Theological Seminary. He is also the youth pastor and worship leader for the Sparrow's Nest Mission Church youth group which reaches out to urban and at-risk youth.   Nancy Fajardo | Secretary After serving many years on the staff of the University of Georgia, Nancy now handles many of the administrative tasks for Gateway. She is also a talented artist. Nancy is married to author and speaker, Roque Fajardo. E-mail: office@GatewayUMC.org   Daniel West | Web servant Daniel recently became Gateway's web servant and is working on a major overhaul of the site. He would appreciate any suggestions! He attends Athens Academy High School. E-mail: webservant@GatewayUMC.org   Clergy-in-Residence Rick Bonfim | United Methodist General Evangelist Sometimes referred to as "a walking revival," Rick is on the road much of the year, preaching and singing the life-giving good news of Jesus Christ. In addition to his ministry in the U.S., Rick preaches frequently in his homeland of Brazil. Rick and his wife, Mary Lucy, have three grown children: Rick, Sammy, and Sandy.       How to contact us