Eric Schwartz serves as the pastor at The Gate Community Church in Bethlehem, PA. He and his wife, Maria, have been married for over 19 years and have 2 beautiful daughters. They both have a passion to make disciples for Jesus Christ. Pastor Eric has worked as a youth pastor, young adult pastor, and discipleship ministries pastor at House on the Rock Family Church for 7.5 years before obeying God’s call to plant a church. He is also a graduate of Moravian College with a B.A. in religion, and is also currently enrolled in Moravian Theological Seminary, pursuing a Master’s in Theological Studies. Pastor Eric’s desire is for all people to come to know their Creator in an intimate and authentic way.
How would you describe the area your church is in?
Urban.
How would you describe the journey of pastoring the Gate Community Church? What have been some of the milestones/different seasons?
Seeing the community of loving and gracious individuals God has brought together has been the highlight and joy in my time as The Gate’s pastor.
Looking back, what do you know now you wish you had known when you first started the Gate Community Church?
It’s ok to not know what you’re doing, because I still don’t. ?
As you think about what you’ve been able to do so far in ministry there what are some things you have done/tried that have worked well?
Creating a format of open discussion during Sunday morning sermons where’s it not just me speaking the whole time. I am also super proud of what we call Deep Cuts. It is a series of bible studies where we discuss some of the deeper and more theologically controversial issues which the church at large is facing.
What hasn’t worked so well? What have you had to rethink/reimagine/rework?
A youth group. Yeah, we haven’t made that work yet.
What is one failure you experienced and what did you learn from it?
With our open discussion format I learned the hard way not everyone likes to speak or be put on the spot.
What is something you’ve been hearing from or learning from God in this last season of leading?
I’m re-learning what it really means to trust in Him.
What do you dream/hope/pray the Gate Community Church looks like in five years?
I pray we can reach more of the church Nones, Dones, almost Dones.