Dear Kingdom Partner: 

Sometime around 2015, the Lord placed it into the heart of Gail Stathis (Executive Director of European and Middle Eastern Ministries [EME]) to begin planning for a mission and ministry training center in Greece. Education had long been an integral part of our ministry in Greece, but through a series of circumstances that were largely political in nature, that impact had been taken from us. 

After receiving confirmation from prominent, prophetic voices over the coming months and years, prayers and contemplations with the Board of EME, as well as discussions with other interested partners, that heart-dream is becoming a reality. In September, 2024, it is our plan to launch the Gateway Training Center, to be located in our headquarters offices and partnering church, The Glyfada Christian Center. It will be a planned, small beginning, as we sort out the future of the program. But a beginning none-the-less. 

At the very core of Gateway Training Center is the reflection of its name. We intend to be a missionary and ministry training facilitator that can prepare people, in particular those from Western countries, to function well in a more Eastern environment. Greece sits at the crossroads, geographically and culturally, of that East/West corridor. It is a gateway. People can train here without yet being immersed in more hostile or confrontational environments, while still very much experiencing the cultural and ethnic dynamics of these lands. Practiced, capable trainers and educators will help them to prepare through both informal and formal educational opportunities, through our alliances with accredited university programs such as Veritas College International (Australia) and Vision International University (USA). The opportunity to follow up with missional activities in the region (Southeastern Europe, Middle East and North Africa) in short term commitments will be attached to the end of each training session. You can find more information in the attached brochure and our website: www.emeministries.org/gatewaytc.  

We continue to plan for a possible “test drive” of the program this Fall, September 29 – December 21, that would require more mature and ready participants (up to 8 persons total). But opportunities will open more fully in 2025 sessions, either February to May or September to December. We believe strongly that this new enterprise will offer participants a stronger, more dynamic and proficient training option than many alternatives. Our intention is to help launch prepared, committed and effective ministry into the entire region. We pray that you would join is in that pursuit. 

Thank you,

Brian van Deventer, Gail Stathis, Anton Buekes

And The Gateway Training Center Team