PROFILE
a student assistant with the football team. During that time, I connected with a guy who felt called to start a youth prison ministry. So a couple years later, I moved to Texas to help him and coached high school football in Arlington. I loved coaching, and I think pastors and coaches are very similar because you’re helping people identify potential, whether that is a God-gifted talent or just helping people see themselves the way He does.
JELANI LEWIS JELANI IS THE ASSOCIATE CAMPUS PASTOR AT THE FRISCO CAMPUS. HE AND HIS WIFE, ERIN, HAVE A DAUGHTER, JUDAH, AND A SON, JADON.
I MET MY WIFE when I interviewed her to be my assistant. I was in children’s ministry here at the time, and when she walked in for the interview, I thought, she’s cute, but I kept it professional. Later, I thought, I should keep her for the rest of my life! She says she couldn’t believe I was a children’s pastor because I was so serious in the interview. In the end, I only had a part-time position available, and Pastor Randy Cochran had a full-time one, so she chose to work for Pastor Randy. But it was all God because if she would have chosen to work for me, then one day I would have had to come into the office and say, “Listen, I have to fire you because I like you. Can we go out?” So it worked out well. AT GATEWAY, MY WIFE AND I don’t feel any tension being an interracial couple. We never feel like people treat us differently. Pastor Robert has really done a great job cultivating an environment where racism and prejudice aren’t an issue. We just love all people. And I feel blessed that the Lord has allowed me to pastor and lead people, young and
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old, of all different races and help be a part of race reconciliation in this region. I’m also connected with several other churches, and it’s been great to have conversations with them about what we do at Gateway. It may look different at their churches, but the principles transfer. I (NOT SO) SECRETLY WANT TO BE AN ACTOR. I love the performing arts. My wife and I are always at Bass Hall or the Dallas Arts Center. We both love to go to the symphony or some type of production or concert. I played the violin and the piano as a kid, so I think that’s why I have an appreciation for symphonies and the performing arts. MY MOTHER WAS A FANTASTIC WOMAN, and she was instrumental in developing humility in my life. One of my favorite stories was when my mother called me up to do a prophetic dance in front of the church when I was a teenager. I’ve never recovered. But when I worked in children’s ministry, I was in a place where you do what you have to do to reach kids. So I’ve been known to dress up in costumes. Part of it is passion for performing arts, and part of it is just being able to laugh at myself. I PLAYED COLLEGE FOOTBALL, and in my last semester in college, when I was trying to figure out what I wanted to do with my life, I worked as
NATURE IS REALLY REFRESHING TO ME. I had hip surgery earlier this year, and I couldn’t walk or go outside or do much of anything for about six weeks. And I remember going outside after the six weeks and being able to walk around the park. I felt like I could breathe again. Creation reminds me of my beautiful Creator. I’M AN INTROVERT. And my wife is definitely an extrovert. I think it has to do with where we are fueled. People often think because of my personality that I’ve got to be an extrovert because I talk to everybody. But I’m refueled by alone time. It’s really crucial. I love to read books. I love to go to movies by myself. I love to go out to eat by myself. I love to walk around the park. I could literally spend hours upon hours just by myself.
For more about our Gateway pastors and staff, visit staff.gatewaypeople.com.