Embattled Gateway Church Opens to a New Senior Pastor

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 4:6 BSB)

If any body of believers deserves to see a glimmer of light after months of darkness, it’s the people who have remained faithful to Gateway Church‘s vision in North Texas. The 100,000-member church experienced a mighty blow to its spirit of service and worship when founding pastor Robert Morris was arrested and charged with sex crimes dating back to the 1980s.

Light is on the horizon as the church announces its new senior pastor, Daniel Floyd of Fredericksburg, Virginia. He founded Lifepoint Church and understands how to tend to the unique needs of a satellite church campus, hosting five of his own across the state.

It was fitting that one of Gateway’s most tenured officials, Elder Tra Willbanks, announced the news, fulfilling a nearly year-long search.

“Throughout the process, we looked at a wide range of candidates and consulted with many other pastors in the body of Christ across the United States. And as I briefed you many weeks ago, we were seeking a senior pastor who could cast fresh vision for our church, who could feed the church spiritually, and who could steadily lead our church organization,” Willbanks explained.

“Fresh vision.” “Spiritually feeding.” “Passionately work Monday through Friday.” These are strategic talking points, not just a church elder introducing his new boss.

When Robert Morris “resigned,” clouds loomed overhead for the church that has served the nation with worship and the Word for decades. Members left, staff was cut, and revenue dwindled. One of the most challenging aspects of this entire imbroglio is that Gateway Church had to separate the mission it carries out daily from the man who used to lead the charge.

While Morris prepares to face criminal charges in Oklahoma and continues to bicker about retirement benefits with the church, Gateway is turning the page and getting back to their basics: “Love God, Love People.” Researching the new pastor, Gateway is well on its way.