Gateway Community Church Staff

DR. BLAKE SWITZER, SENIOR PASTOR

Pastor Blake and Shawn, along with about 35 other children and adults, started Gateway Community Church in January of 2001. Pastor Blake served as a Single Adult Minister for 7 years at two different churches prior to starting Gateway.

Pastor Blake made the second best decision of his life (second only to giving his life to Christ) when he married Shawn in May 1992. Shawn worked in the professional world for six years before retiring to stay home with their first daughter, who was born in 1998. God blessed them with a second beautiful girl in January of 2002.

Pastor Blake and Shawn both graduated from Baylor University in 1992. Pastor Blake immediately enrolled at Southwestern Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, TX. He earned a Master of Divinity degree in 1996 and immediately enrolled in the Ph.D. program, where he graduated in 2002.

When they have free time, Shawn and Pastor Blake both enjoy hanging out with their girls. Shawn also enjoys shopping (only for bargains, of course) and hanging out with friends. Pastor Blake loves to play and watch all kinds of sports, especially basketball.

Contact Dr. Blake Switzer, Senior Pastor.

JUD HARDAGE, ASSOCIATE PASTOR AND WORSHIP LEADER

Jud began his music ministry while working on his degree at Hardin-Simmons University. While there, he played keyboards and sang with Worship Leader Jeff Berry, as they led a college-age bible study called Grace. From there, Jud left the music ministry and became a coach at Cedar Hill High School. While there, he started the Fellowship of Christian Athletes program, which is still going strong today. Although he loved coaching football, baseball and most importantly, golf, he realized that God was calling him in a different direction.

In December 2003, Jud accepted the call to become the part-time Worship Leader of Lifeway Fellowship Church in Killeen, Tx.

During that time, he continued to teach and coach. As time went on, Jud realized that God was calling him into full-time ministry. In December of 2006, his families prayers were answered, as he was offered a full-time position at Gateway Community Church.

Jud's wife, Delisa, other than raising two wonderful children and serving Gateway Community Church, works in the corporate world in North Dallas. Jud and Delisa have two children, Zack and Abby. Zack loves football, baseball and Texas Tech (where Jud went to school), and Abby enjoys soccer, swimming and socializing.

Contact Jud Hardage, Worship Pastor.

GABE LOPEZ, YOUTH MINISTER

Gabriel Lopez was born in Artesia, NM in May of 1981. He and his family have lived in Texas for the last 22 years. Gabe is married to his wife of 8 years, Jennifer. They have two sons Dominique and Jaeden, and one daughter Gabby. Their lives revolve around serving the Lord and being involved in the lives of youth. Gabe is working on his degree in religion through Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA and plans to graduate spring 2011. In his spare time, Gabe enjoys hanging out with friends and family for the occasional cookout, playing video games, and reading books. A "need-to-know" about Gabe is that he is a diehard Lakers fan and loves the game of basketball.

Jennifer is currently a full-time student working on her degree in Psychology/Christian Counseling also through Liberty University. She is a stay at home mom, but has her hands full with homeschooling her three children and being a full-time student. She also has a passion for teenagers and looks forward to the day she has her degree as a Christian Counselor. In her spare time, she enjoys hanging out with friends and family. She loves to cook and bake, especially for a large crowd. However, nothing is more meaningful to her than spending quality time with her husband and kids.

Contact Gabriel Lopez, Youth Minister.

CASSEY CHAPMAN, CHILDREN'S MINISTER

Cassey joined the Gateway staff on October 1, 2009 as Children's Minister where she administers the Preschool and Children's Ministries for children ages birth-Preteens and loves every minute of it!

Prior to coming to Gateway , she has served two other churches as Director of Weekday Education , Minister to Preschool and Director of Children's Ministries.

Outside of the church , Cassey is a frequent Conference leader and loves to provide training and resources to encourage and equip others to be the best that they can be at what God has called them to be as they teach children about Him.

She has also served as Chair person on the Childcare and Weekday Committee for the Dallas Baptist Association as well as the committee for Texas Baptist Weekday Education Association. She currently serves on the Mt. Lebanon pre-teen camp committee as well.

Cassey has been married to Dan for the past 24 years and feels very blessed to have had him serve along side of her and support her ministries all these years. Dan is currently a Special Education Specialist/Teacher for the Sunnyvale ISD and they have four amazing children, Kyle, Cole, Jessica and Taylor, the youngest of the four still living at home, who is a sophomore in High School and serves in Children's Ministry along side her parents at Gateway as well.

In her free time , Cassey enjoys spending time with family and friends , hanging out with her kids , bargain shopping and mini-vacations!

Contact Cassey Chapman, Children's Minister.

Learn more about Gateway's Elders.