Staff

Dr. Mark P. Gonzales

Pastor Mark was the founding pastor of Gateway Baptist Church (now Gateway Grace Fellowship, sbc) back in 1990.

Shortly after arriving, the Lord also called him to become one of the founders and first president of Christian Home Educators of Southwest Florida (CHESF) in 1991, and become the featured Bible teacher on The Heritage Hour (Saturdays at 8a.m. on 91.5 FM) in1992 which continues to this day. Over the last five years the Lord has opened up opportunities for him to become a featured columnist in Gateway Lifestyles; serve as a pastoral consultant and international speaker for Awana Clubs International and the 4-14 Global Network; and author a systematic theology in a unique children’s picture book called: “The Story of God and Man” which is already being translated into Chinese and Russian. (For more, go to www.storyofgodandman.org) He is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Arts in political science/pre-law, and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, with a Masters of Divinity in theology and a Doctorate of Ministry in Missions. Pastor Mark and his precious wife, Lindy, continue to live in Fort Myers, Florida and had the honor of including her father, Bryan Brasington (former missionary in South America), into their household after his stroke from 2001 to 2011.  Their three grown sons love the Lord to this day as they have flown from the nest to cultivate their college educations, career choices and future families in the Lord.

http://markpgonzales.com
Contact: pastormark@gatewaygrace.org

Phillip Gonzales
Worship Pastor

As the son of a pastor, Phillip has always answered questions about following in Dad’s footsteps with, “If God calls I’ll go, but we’ll see…” When he sensed “the call”, though, he was ready to go.  Serving in many different ministry roles has provided a broad perspective on the Kingdom of God, and whether speaking, leading worship, writing or helping empower others for ministry, he dives in headfirst.

In addition to serving as Worship Pastor for GBC, Phillip currently serves as Lead Pastor for outpostChurch, home-group leader for young-adult Bible study network Connect, and Creative Director for Quill Press and The Story of God and Man.  He also writes regularly at PhillipGonzales.com.

Contact:phillipg@gatewaygrace.org

Doug Cohen, Ministry Administrator

Doug has recently been added to our staff to oversee and organize our growing ministries, spot gifted people in our fellowship, and empower them to create new ministries to bless the Body of Christ and reach the lost!

Marc Wallace, Business and Facilities Administrator

Marc has graciously served in our fellowship by overseeing all office operations, facility maintenance, usage, and scheduling for nine years, and refers to himself as our church “administraightener.”

Ryan Eyre, Student Ministries Director

Ryan is passionate about mentoring and pointing teenagers up to Jesus. “We minister to them best by training them to minister to others.”  Ryan has been with us for over a year and hates spinach.

Jenna Richardson, Children’s Coordinator

Jenna oversees our Children’s ministries, anchors our Awana Council time and always leaves fun in her wake.  She’s been with us three years and is also known to our kids as “Pink,” “Rainbow,” and now “Coyote Lily” in the characters she creates on stage for our Awana  council time.

Chrissy Howard, Preschool Coordinator

Chrissy is our newest staff member with fresh eyes, creative hands and a gracious heart as the Lord has raised her up from being a pro-active volunteer assistant to her good friend and our former Preschool Coordinator, Sharon Whitney.

Michael Kain, Children’s Worship

Mike has been leading two children’s worship services every Sunday as he trains our children for “big church” with some of the most creative and energetic teaching gifts we’ve ever seen!  He’s been with us for over 3 years along with his wife Karen and their five young children.

Jolene Wells, Church Secretary

Jolene has been our gracious “first voice” and “first contact” in our front office and our lead solo pianist for 18 years!  Her gifting is unmistakable on the Sundays she brings us into the presence of the Lord with her lush and lovely solos of praise.

Vicky Kennedy, Parish Nurse

Vicky is an R.N. with many years of training and experience in faith-based holistic ministry, and offers experienced medical consultation to the church family with a heart of mercy that is touches us all.

Gwen Miller, Parish Nurse

Gwen is also a fully trained R.N., has recently been added to our parish nurse staff and brings her unique gifting to our church family, making us the only church in southwest Florida with two wonderful parish nurses!