Values
Centered on the way of Jesus, our values guide us to live whole‑heartedly, love God and our neighbors, and practice renewal in Des Moines and beyond.
Distinctives
Our distinctives reflect how Gateway’s values take shape in the life of our church. They express the particular ways we seek to follow Jesus in our time and place. Each one points to a facet of the church we long to be—worshipful, imaginative, generous, rooted in community, and engaged in the renewal of Des Moines and the world. Together, they offer a vision of a whole, vibrant faith that touches every part of life.
Worship
We worship by ascribing ultimate worth to God, engaging our whole person—mind, will, and emotions—in response to His glory and grace.Generosity
We are committed to joining God in the renewal of all things through the faithful proclamation and embodied practice of the Kingdom of God on earth—cultivating generosity not only in spirit but in concrete acts of hospitality, mercy, and shared abundance in a world marked by need.Imagination
We believe that Jesus redeems and renews the whole person, not only the soul, and our creative impluse is a gift to be offered in service of His kingdom. We desire to see the church cultivate imagination as a reflection of the imago Dei, contributing to the beauty and flourishing of Des Moines.Beauty
We believe that beauty reveals the heart of God and invites us into His vision of New Creation. We seek to express that beauty through the arts, culture, and vocation.Community transformation
We believe the Church is a countercultural movement for the common good, and that community formation is not for our benefit alone. We desire for the love we freely receive from Jesus to be given in kind to our neighbors, regardless of race, ethnicity, orientation, age, or class.Justice
We desire to partner with God to put the world to rights, both locally and globally, and we actively look for ways to support those who are vulnerable in Des Moines and around the world.Live-giving community
We believe God is forming a new family out of strangers, a people bound together by grace. In this community, we love, serve, and are formed—and our shared life becomes a visible sign of the gospel and a living witness to the transforming power of Christ.Lifelong spiritual growth
We believe discipleship is a lifelong journey of learning to entrust every part of life to the way of Jesus, that we might be formed into His image. This ongoing formation shapes us in heart, mind, and body for faithful presence in the world.Life-changing truth
We desire to be a people and a place where honest questions are welcomed and truth is pursued in the presence of Jesus—who both knows us fully and invites us to know Him.