This week Gateway News celebrated a significant milestone — our fifth birthday. We give thanks to God for inspiring the Christian news journey that we launched in February 2011 and for continuing to inspire us to pursue the vision He has placed in our hearts.
We also give thanks to many volunteer reporters and columnists who give of their time and talent to keep the Christian news and views flowing. We are also grateful to friends around the country who support and encourage us in many different ways. And we salute the growing family of readers who read and share and comment on our news.
On Wednesday morning some of our local friends joined our board members Afrika Mhlophe, Justin White, together with Paul Coker and me at our regular weekly Port Elizabeth prayer meeting for a time of celebration and thanksgiving for the past five years and to pray for what is to come. I and Gateway News’s number one, supporter, Val (my wife) were greatly uplifted by prayers and prophetic words spoken over us at the end of the gathering.
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The fifth year celebration provided a pause to realise how much we all need each other as we partner with God in visions he has laid on our hearts and take our place in bigger plans that He is outworking. Our team has a strong sense that Christian news is becoming increasingly strategic in this season and we are excited about growing Gateway News God’s way with people who He links us with.
We also have a strong sense of calling to publish news that meets three key criteria which complement each other.
- Bringing unshakeable hope in Jesus Christ: news is not always known for inspiring hope but we believe that news that is centered on Christ will always carry hope, even in the midst of trying times. Hope keeps us moving forward and stepping out in faith!
- Reflecting God’s heart for SA in this time: we believe that as the Holy Spirit enables us to find and tell stories about what God is doing, there is a prophetic dimension to the news that empowers us to partner with God in fruitful ways and to follow our destinies.
- Uniting believers in advancing the Kingdom of God: ironically our stories sometimes provoke disagreements between Christians. But we trust that the stories and discussions are ultimately promoting better understanding of issues and one another and contributing to a culture in which we can love, honour and value one another despite our differences.
During the week we received birthday messages and calls from various friends. Piperjames from Mighty Men Western Cape sent a voice recording of himself singing a fine rendition of Happy Birthday. But it is Hugh Wetmore from Pietermaritzburg who takes the cake for the most unusual birthday gesture: he congratulated Gateway News on reaching 5 years through an adaptation of Psalm 68 which can be read at the end of his latest monthly column, Worship Conversation with Hugh.
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Well DONE Andre and Val: you got the call and walked on water (I remember the very early days)and Gateway News is making its mark !