Throughout the Bible, names aren't just names - they have an underlying meaning or significance. Names often reveal something important about the nature or character of the one named and can even be a prophetic declaration of destiny. The name "Jesus," for example, means "the LORD saves." This is why the angel who foretold his birth said, "You shall call his name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins" (Matt. 1:21). Selecting a name for the new church plant would have to based on something more substantial than simply what sounded nice to the ears.

Steve and Sylvia Neptune were on their way to church one fall morning in 2000. Steve was sharing with Sylvia what the Lord had shown him in his morning reading in Nehemiah 3-a book about the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem in which Bible students have often found parallels with the task of renewing or restoring the Church when it has strayed from the Lord's purposes for it. Both were deeply impressed that the Sheep Gate (the first gate to be rebuilt), is rich with the biblical imagery of backsliders - unchurched Christians - coming back into the church. Likewise, the Fish Gate (the second gate to be rebuilt), carries associations of the ingathering of lost souls in the great harvest at the end of the age. Sylvia sensed the Lord impressing her with a picture of two banners of the gates in Jerusalem: one of a sheep coming in - the other of a man carrying a net of fish into the holy city.

Steve wanted the name of the new church to carry some of this rich imagery, yet wanted to be sensitive to the received wisdom amongst church planters that church names should be "vanilla" or generic. In other words, church names should not unnecessarily put unchurched people off with "Christianese" or trying to make a doctrinal point - The First Church of the Fire-Baptized, Holy Ghost Redeemed Remnant. He began thinking about and praying for a name that would have a double-entendre (French for double understanding or meaning).

One morning the word Gateway came to him. It was perfect because Rt. 422-just off of which is Solon High School where we have our Sunday morning services- has become known as a gateway to the east from Cleveland and because of the biblical associations. When he shared this with Sylvia, she immedi-ately said: "With a capital W!" Steve exploded, "Yes!"

The name, GateWay, combines two words Jesus later used in describing Himself. In John 10:9, he said, "I am the gate." The Greek word translated gate means "an entrance or passage into." In this passage, Jesus uses the image of sheep going through a gate to proclaim that He is the entrance to "green pastures," the place of safety and sustenance. In John 14:6, He uses the other part of our name: "I am the way," he proclaimed. The Greek word we translate way is hodos, which means "a traveled road," or "the avenue of a traveler's journey." So Jesus is not only the "gate" (the entrance), he also is the road on which we travel after entering the gate to reach our full destiny in God. The name Gateway speaks of the person and work of Christ. He is the Gate and the Way. It also reminds us of our work in the Great Commission to point people towards the Gate of Salvation and enter into a lifetime of walking in the Way of discipleship.

"Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name." Psalm 100:4

"Go through, go through the gates; clear the way for the people; remove the stones, lift up a standard over the peoples. Isaiah 62:10

Lift up your heads, O gates, And be lifted up, O ancient doors, That the King of Glory may come in! Who is the King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, The Lord mighty in battle. Psalms 24:7