Our Story
Gateway Church Cymru has been part of Aberaman for more than 100 years.
Our story began in 1910 when seven Christians from Gwawr Chapel in Godreaman, having been baptised in the Holy Spirit, left the chapel and began meeting together in local homes.
In 1919, when the church numbered just nine people, they invited the Welsh evangelist Stephen Jeffreys to Aberaman. What followed was a remarkable time of revival, with newspaper reports recording around 300 people responding to the gospel, along with many testimonies of healing and the work of the Holy Spirit.
The growing fellowship became known as Aberaman Mission, meeting in the former Prince of Wales public house on Cardiff Road, locally known as the “Gin Palace”. That same site remains the home of the church today.
As the church grew, the building was extended during the 1920s, with much of the work carried out by members of the congregation themselves. In the years that followed, Aberaman Mission became known as Aberaman Pentecostal Church and went on to become one of the UK’s first Assemblies of God churches.
Another major step came in 1986 when a further extension was opened, creating additional space for the growing life and ministry of the church.
Across the generations, the church has been served by a number of pastors, including Pastor Danny Davies, Pastor E. Lee, Pastor Phelps, Pastor Cyril Chick, Pastor Ian Jennings, Pastor Henry Drabble, Pastor William Morgan, Pastor Chris Thomas, Pastor Colin Hurt and Pastor Robert Baldwin.
In time, Aberaman Pentecostal Church became Gateway Church Cymru, a name inspired by Genesis 28 and Jacob’s words about the house of God and the gate of heaven.
Pastor Robert Baldwin once described Gateway as a small place with a significant name and seismic influence.
That influence has reached far beyond Aberaman. Over the years, generations of people have come to know Jesus, many have found a spiritual home here, and more than 40 missionaries and pioneers have been sent from this church to serve across the UK and around the world.
In October 2017, Pastor Luke Morgan became Senior Pastor, continuing a story that has been carried by generations.
Today, we honour the faith, sacrifice and legacy of those who have gone before us, while looking forward with expectation to all that God still has ahead.
We remain rooted in the same community, serving Jesus and the people of the South Wales Valleys, grateful for where we have come from and believing the story is far from finished.
A church with a glorious past, but an even more glorious future.
Our Vision
At Gateway Church Cymru, we see a future shaped by God’s promises.
We’re from a small place, but God has given us a significant name and called us to have a seismic impact.
1. A Church of 1,000 People
Isaiah 60:22 NLT
“The smallest family will become a thousand people, and the tiniest group will become a mighty nation. At the right time, I, the LORD, will make it happen.”
2. Household Salvation
Acts 16:29–32 NLT
“The jailer called for lights and ran to the dungeon and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and asked, ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’
They replied, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.’ And they shared the word of the Lord with him and with all who lived in his household.”
3. Forgiveness and Return
Jeremiah 3:22 NLT
“‘My wayward children,’ says the LORD, ‘come back to me, and I will heal your wayward hearts.’
‘Yes, we’re coming,’ the people reply, ‘for you are the LORD our God.’”
4. An Even More Glorious Future
Haggai 2:9 MSG
“‘This Temple is going to end up far better than it started out, a glorious beginning but an even more glorious finish: a place in which I will hand out wholeness and holiness.’ Decree of GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies.”
Our Mission
Our mission comes from the words of Jesus in Matthew 4:19 and is to help people know Jesus, become like Jesus and make Jesus known.
1. Know Jesus
“Come, follow me…”
We share the gospel, pray for people, invite them to respond to Jesus and help them begin following Him. Through our gatherings, Alpha and personal witness, we want everyone to have the opportunity to know Jesus for themselves.
2. Become Like Jesus
“…I will make you…”
We help people build their lives on the Word, prayer and the work of the Holy Spirit. Through baptism, church family, Small Groups and serving, we help each person keep taking their next step and grow to become more like Jesus.
3. Make Jesus Known
“…fishers of men.”
We equip people to share their faith, use their gifts, serve others and help someone else follow Jesus. We raise leaders and send people to live for Jesus wherever God has placed them.
“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.”
Matthew 4:19 NIV 1984
The 4:19 Life guides everything we do as a church.
Our Beliefs
As part of Assemblies of God Great Britain, our Statement of Faith expresses the biblical beliefs that guide our life and ministry. We invite you to read through them and see what grounds us as a church.
Life Of Jesus
We believe in the Virgin Birth, Sinless Life, Miraculous Ministry, Substitutionary Atoning Death, Bodily Resurrection, Triumphant Ascension and Abiding Intercession of the Lord Jesus Christ and in His personal, visible, bodily return in power and glory as the blessed hope of all believers
Trinity
We believe in the unity of the One True and Living God who is the Eternal, Self-Existent “I AM”, Who has also revealed Himself as One being co-existing in three Persons – Father, Son and Holy Spirit
The Bible
We believe that the Bible (i.e. the Old and New Testaments excluding the Apocrypha), is the inspired Word of God, the infallible, all sufficient rule for faith and practice.
Fall Of Man
We believe in the fall of man, who was created pure and upright, but fell by voluntary transgression.
Salvation Through Faith
We believe in salvation through faith in Christ, who, according to the Scriptures, died for our sins, was buried and was raised from the dead on the third day, and that through His Blood we have Redemption.
New Birth
This experience is also known as the new birth, and is an instantaneous and complete operation of the Holy Spirit upon initial faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Baptism By Immersion In Water
We believe in both Water and Spirit baptism as essential and empowering aspects of the Christian experience.
Baptism In The Holy Spirit
We believe in the baptism in the Holy Spirit as an enduement of the believer with power for service, the essential, biblical evidence of which is the speaking with other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance.
Gifts Of The Holy Spirit
We believe in the operation of the gifts of the Holy Spirit and the gifts of Christ in the Church today.
Holiness Of Life
We believe in holiness of life and conduct in obedience to the command of God.
Divine Healing
We believe that deliverance from sickness, by Divine Healing is provided for in the Atonement.
Breaking Of Bread
We believe that all who have truly repented and believe in Christ as Lord and Saviour should regularly participate in Breaking of Bread.
Resurrection Of All Who Truly Believe In Jesus Christ
We believe in the bodily resurrection of all men, the everlasting conscious bliss of all who truly believe in our Lord Jesus Christ and the everlasting conscious punishment of all whose names are not written in the Book of Life.