Origins of GateWay Connection
“..your descendants will inherit the nations, and make the desolate cities inhabited.” - Isaiah 54:3
GateWay Connection was launched in March 2006 with the implementation of its Skills Development and Education Project (SDEP), a residential program for under-privileged Thai teenage girls. The following is a personal account by the pioneer of GateWay Connection, on how GateWay Connection's vision was birthed and the program launched:
"I was struck by the needs and existing ministries in north Thailand. There are numerous children's homes, particularly for the minority groups, but none for youths. The resources in such homes are often very stretched with no let-up to the growing number of under-privileged children needing help every year. As such, very little help is being given to those under-privileged children turned under-privileged teenagers. Many of the under-privileged teenagers who are keenly interested in the academics do not have the opportunity to the help and extra lessons that will enable them to gain entry into tertiary institutions of higher learning. In short, such teenagers often remain deprived of a systematic training and education program to enable them to break through the poverty cycle and empower them to live successful lives.
In September 2005, God further unfurled His plans and purposes with the formation of the mission and vision for the GateWay Connection project – a program for under-privileged Thai teenagers, where life unlimited flows as the staff and students discover the promises of abundant life that Jesus came to give. GateWay Connection would be about developing the gateway connections of the individuals within its program by helping them discover and realize their full potential and connecting them to opportunities of growth and possibilities in life, beginning with a connection with our Creator God who has called us to a life of a future and hope.
So in March 2006, the program was launched with 4 girls. The greatest joy is seeing the reality of God's promise fulfilled in the lives of the girls and staff at GateWay and how God has used them to be a blessing and a gateway for their family and friends to enter into the abundant life that God has given through Jesus Christ."
Since its launch, GateWay Connection has continued to witness extraordinary growth in its ministry and the lives of its students and staff. At present, there are 12 girls from various parts of north Thailand who are part of GateWay Connection.
"I was struck by the needs and existing ministries in north Thailand. There are numerous children's homes, particularly for the minority groups, but none for youths. The resources in such homes are often very stretched with no let-up to the growing number of under-privileged children needing help every year. As such, very little help is being given to those under-privileged children turned under-privileged teenagers. Many of the under-privileged teenagers who are keenly interested in the academics do not have the opportunity to the help and extra lessons that will enable them to gain entry into tertiary institutions of higher learning. In short, such teenagers often remain deprived of a systematic training and education program to enable them to break through the poverty cycle and empower them to live successful lives.
In September 2005, God further unfurled His plans and purposes with the formation of the mission and vision for the GateWay Connection project – a program for under-privileged Thai teenagers, where life unlimited flows as the staff and students discover the promises of abundant life that Jesus came to give. GateWay Connection would be about developing the gateway connections of the individuals within its program by helping them discover and realize their full potential and connecting them to opportunities of growth and possibilities in life, beginning with a connection with our Creator God who has called us to a life of a future and hope.
So in March 2006, the program was launched with 4 girls. The greatest joy is seeing the reality of God's promise fulfilled in the lives of the girls and staff at GateWay and how God has used them to be a blessing and a gateway for their family and friends to enter into the abundant life that God has given through Jesus Christ."
Since its launch, GateWay Connection has continued to witness extraordinary growth in its ministry and the lives of its students and staff. At present, there are 12 girls from various parts of north Thailand who are part of GateWay Connection.