Part of knowing where you’re going is in knowing, where you’ve been. The bible tells us that, “for lack of vision, the people perish. There has been no lack of vision for Lifegate Church, even from its earliest stages, and a few name changes.

What began as a core group of seven couples getting together in the summer of 1991, quickly formed into North Metro Community Church, as they began meeting in the Sheraton Hotel, led by Senior Pastor David Sylvester.

On November 2, 1991, in need of larger more suitable facility, DISD opened its doors for the church to begin meeting in Ryan High School Auditorium. Services continued at Ryan High School for several months, until June 1992 when a stewardship campaign was started to renovate a new home for North Metro. Transition continued and the church continued to grow as God led. In July of 1995 Pastor David, felt that he was called by God to move to another area, and in November of the same year Wayne and his wife Lori Gooden became the new Senior Pastor.

Wayne Gooden brought with him a high level of spiritual maturity and a great teaching ability. More importantly he brought with him the love of the Jesus, evident throughout his family. The church was taken to higher levels in every area, and with that came the provision and favor of God to purchase land and begin to build a new church home. At that time North Metro became Deerwood Park Church and is located on Deerwood Pkwy. just north of Loop 288.

For over nine year Deerwood Park Church continued to prosper and grow. In 2005 Pastor Wayne, told the Elders of the church that he had taken the church to the level that the Lord wanted, and that it was time for someone else to take the church to the next level. In February of 2005 the search began in earnest for a new Senior Pastor, as well as a relational church covering to help the church expand and grow. This new relational covering became Gateway Church. With the help of Gateway Church and it’s pastoral staff, they began filling in the pulpit, and compiling a list of potential pastors.

Through a series of confirmations by the Holy Spirit, God led Eddie Lafuente, then an Associate Pastor at Champions Church in Abilene, Texas, to Deerwood Park Church, to fill their pulpit. Through continued confirmation by the Eldership and relational covering, Eddie and Beth Lafuente, with their children, were appointed as the new Senior Pastor of Deerwood Park Church.

Under Pastor Eddie’s leadership the church has begun to flourish again. Eddie’s desire to reach the lost and disciple all Christians, as well as communicate the vision of the church to the region, led to changing the name of the church to Lifegate Church.

After Pastor Eddie assumed the leadership, he and pastors at Gateway church as well as Champions Church, continue working closely together bringing the excellence of both respective ministries into the life and body of Lifegate. Their relationship with Lifegate Church stands as a symbol for the anointing that rests on this church and it’s members. Through relationship, accountability and unity that relationships bring, Lifegate Church will continue to operate in the power and blessing that God intends for His Body.