Welcome to the Gateway Seventh-day Adventist Church

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"Do You Belong"?

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That’s kind of a weird question, isn’t it? “Do you belong?” It feels like the kind of thing a philosopher might ask after too much coffee and not enough sleep. Belong to what, exactly? A family? A club? A church? The PTA? Costco?

Truth is, we all want to belong somewhere—whether it’s around the dinner table, in the break room, or walking into church without feeling like everyone else got the dress code memo and we didn’t. (FYI—we don’t have a dress code here at Gateway!)

Belonging is one of those deep human needs we don’t always know how to talk about but sure know when it’s missing.

I still remember that awkward, stomach-in-knots feeling of walking into a new school. As a pastor’s kid, we moved a lot. And I mean a lot. I became a professional “new kid” before I could spell cafeteria. Each time, it was the same routine—new hallway, new classroom, and a whole lot of faces that weren’t too interested in making eye contact.

And believe it or not, I was a pretty shy kid. (Yes, really.) I didn’t hate people; I just wasn’t sure they wanted me around. But that would always change the day a few classmates invited me to sit with them at lunch or pulled me into their group for a class project. Those little moments changed everything. Someone made room. And that made all the difference.

Now, I never felt that sense of belonging in sports. The dreaded team-picking ritual was basically a masterclass in public humiliation. I was usually one of the last picked—right between the kid in a cast and the guy who thought a basketball was a soccer ball. I learned pretty early that if I couldn’t impress anyone with athletic ability, maybe I could at least get a laugh. Humor, it turns out, is a fast pass to friendship.

But here’s the point: belonging doesn’t just happen—it has to be offered. That’s especially true in church. You’d think church would be the easiest place to find belonging. We use the word “community” all the time. I’m starting to think we overuse it—but that’s a different discussion. For many people, walking into church feels like walking into a middle school cafeteria: uncertain, intimidating, and kind of lonely.

Here’s where the research backs it up. According to church growth experts Win and Charles Arn, new church members who form six to seven meaningful friendships in their first six months are far more likely to stay. If they only make one or two connections, there’s a good chance they’ll quietly slip out the back door—and not come back.

Lifeway Research puts it plainly: around the six-month mark, new folks start asking a few quiet but crucial questions:
Have I made any friends here?
Do I fit? Does this church really want me?

If the answers are “no,” it’s tough to stay. But when the answer is “yes,” people don’t just stay—they grow.

That’s where small groups, prayer groups, Bible studies, and even serving teams come in. Not because we need more programs—but because we need more people to find their people. Relationships are what make a church a church—not just a place with pews and a projector.

But let’s not overthink this. The real challenge isn’t just finding meaningful connections. It’s being one.

Think back: When did you finally feel like you belonged? Chances are, someone invited you in. They smiled, pulled out a chair, asked your name, and remembered it next time.

That simple gesture could be your ministry.

Joseph understood this. In Genesis, when he was finally reunited with his family after years of pain and separation, he didn’t say, “Well, good luck getting settled.” He made arrangements. He used his influence to make sure his people had a place, were welcomed in Egypt, and had what they needed to survive and thrive.

He didn’t just accept them—he prepared for them. That’s what belonging looks like.

So let me leave you with this: Is there someone sitting alone? Someone new on the fringe? Someone who might just need a friend, a handshake, or a laugh? You don’t have to wait for a program to get started. Be the welcome someone else is waiting for.

Because at the end of the day, the question isn’t just, Do you belong? It’s: Who might belong because of you?

Pastor Kip

Service times:
Sabbath School: 9:30 AM
Worship Service: 11:00 AM