Friday, October 8, 2010


Celebrating 25 years in crisis pregnancy ministry

You're invited to Gateway's Annual Stewardship Banquet


Friday October 29, 2010 from 7:00-9:00pm at

The Kenilworth Inn, Kenilworth, NJ
You will hear testimonies by men and women impacted by the ministry You will be blessed with music to stir your soul and challenge your spirit

Gateway Pregnancy Centers 25th. Annual Stewardship Banquet Friday October 29, 2010 7:00 - 9:00 PM


UPDATE!!

Our special guest speaker Kay Coles James fell ill and will be unable to attend.

Gateways director and staff will share exciting details about what's coming up in the 'next 25'!

Please all us at 973-399-8378 or email dean@gateway.org to reserve a seat. There are still reservations available. We are some 30 reservations below our guarantee.

Please pray as to how you will participate in the freewill offering to be taken that evening. An opportunity will be available for monthly pledge giving.

Our banquet theme this year will be...

'Greater things are yet to be done in the city'

Check out Chris Tomlin's song at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0hJ4JfPeKs&feature=related

Our special musical guest will be our very own Maria Westbrook

Rev. Maria Antoinette (Rimmel-Ellis-)Westbrook was born and raised in the “Projects” of Pittsburgh, PA. Shortly thereafter, she had a terrible interruption in her life due to her mother’s 3rd divorce, creating a sudden, unannounced move to Compton (Los Angeles), CA. As a teenager, this thrust her into a world of hatred, misery, homelessness, and utter loneliness. Also, her mother suffered a stroke when she was 16. In spite of it all, God spared Maria’s life by introducing her to a teen focused community outreach program & church. This enhanced her spiritual & academic growth and eventually led her to the opportunity of receiving several academic scholarships by being 3rd in her class, therefore granting her the chance to attend William Penn University in Iowa where Maria received her degree in Business Administration and Economics, with later education at Fuller Seminary, CA, Eastern Bible College, PA, and graduate of Metropolitan Bible Institute, NJ.

After serving for over a decade in a thriving business career at Kemper Insurance in Collection Accounting & Underwriting (which included working at the World Trade Center, NYC), while volunteering after work, she began to recall how blessed she was to overcome childhood tragedy, realizing that God was “calling” her to serve full-time to “give back” what she had gained; to young people, parents, families, and community of Newark, New Jersey.

Including her business career & community service over the past 25 years, and Ordination 18 years ago, Maria has served in the areas of Accounting, Underwriting, Administration, Nonprofit Organizational & Fundraising Development & Leadership Development, Women’s Counselor, Women’s Seminar Leader, and established Teen Programs, Gang Intervention & Prevention Programs, and Young Married Couples’ Counseling & Gatherings along with her husband, Michael including at Fountain Baptist Church (Rev. J. Michael Sanders), and at St. John UFB Church (Late Bishop Curtis D. Gilmore, Sr.). She and her husband also helped to pioneer Young Life in Newark, NJ (a street outreach to teenagers) in 1986 through 2003, where she also served as Administrator, Trainer, and Fund Developer for Young Life’s Vice Presidents Office of Multicultural & Urban Ministries in the E. Div. of the U.S.

Maria currently serves in the city of Newark, NJ as Vice President, Co-Founder, and Assistant. Pastor of Greater Life, Inc. (an expanded holistic outreach to Youth, Family & Community), and Greater Life Christian Fellowship Church, alongside the leadership of her wonderful husband, Michael, who is also Co-Founder, President, and Pastor.

Maria has been certified/graduated in several areas of expertise, including the Executive Leadership Program of The Institute for Black Family Development, Urban Youth Work, Crisis Pregnancy Counselor to women & families, Grant Writing/Consultation/Fund Development, and the Newark Community Orientation Course. She has also been professionally trained and participated in statewide choirs, musicals, and solo productions, and is honored to be 4th cousin of W.C. Handy (“Composer/Father of The Blues” -- on the June page of the African-American Heritage Calendar! J )

Maria is listed in the “National Who’s Who” Directory, and has received numerous other awards for her service to others, including the State of New Jersey First Lady Award! She has volunteered her time over the years at: Local Boys’ & Girls’ Club, Youth Advocate Program, Youth Employment & Referral Network (YERN), YMWCA, Boy Scouts, Newark Police Clergy Alliance, Gateway (Crisis) Pregnancy Centers in NJ which she and her husband helped to establish in 1992, Newark Anti Human Trafficking Coalition which she and her husband helped to establish in 2005, Essex County Youth Detention Facility, Newark Police Clergy ride-a-longs, Newark-North Jersey Black Church Clergy, and serves on several organizations’ Board of Directors.

Rev. Maria A. Westbrook is joyfully J married to Pastor Michael T. Westbrook for 25 years on Sept. 1st, residing in Newark, NJ for 23 years. They have 2 unborn babies in Heaven……..have 6 Godchildren, have been “parenting” orphaned children of murdered/deceased parents; humbly assisting parents in crisis situations for 25 years.

Maria’s quote: “It is an honor to serve others, as I, too, have been served; encouraging them to take hold of assistance & opportunities for Greater Life; leading to healthier Youth, Families & Community!”



(973) 399-8378 dean@gateway.org

Check out our BLOG at www.gateway.org for updates, directions and a biography

Celebrating 25 Years of Ministry

Pregnancy Center have been helping some 25,000 women in Elizabeth, Irvington, Plainfield and the surrounding communities. The gospel ministry of Gateway has had the opportunity to share Christ with women who otherwise may never enter a church building.

Services offered by the Gateway ministry include pregnancy testing, boyfriend and husband counseling on responsibility, limited ultrasounds for pregnancy verification, infant clothes and supplies, baby furniture, post abortion counseling, church, high school, college, radio and television speaking opportunities, Internet counseling, and various contacts with the judicial system.

All services are free of charge and strictly confidential. Gateway's services are made possible only through church missions giving and individual gifts and pledges.

The banquet is free / Open seating

A freewill offering will be taken for the ministry of Gateway

Reservations are available by advance notice only
For more information: Call Gateway at (973) 399-8378

E-mail us out on Facebook enter: Gateway Pregnancy

Check out the Gateway website www.gateway.org


Banquet 2023 ALL DETAILS

  On the night of the banquet, we will be updating our supporters about Mission England 2024 view here the promo video directly from the UK ...