Leadership

Zack has served as the Lead Pastor of Gateway Church since 2021. He has been married to his high school sweetheart, Stephanie, since 2012, and together they have six children. Serving the church has been at the heart of their relationship since their teenage years. In fact, aside from a brief time as a restaurant magician, Zack has spent his entire career in ministry.

More than a job, Zack and Stephanie deeply love the church. They believe the church is not just “like a family,” but truly a family. They firmly believe that the Church is God’s plan to reach the world. Zack has a deep love for God’s Word, which is evident in his teaching each Sunday morning. His desire is to equip the church with a deeper understanding of Scripture and to cultivate a genuine love for it, not just as head knowledge, but as truth that transforms hearts and shapes the way we live. Above all, Zack is passionate about making and multiplying spiritually mature disciples of Jesus.

In their free time, you can find the Hart family playing hockey, building LEGO projects, and enjoying the outdoors as they take full advantage of life in Southwest Florida.

Stephanie serves with a deep passion for children and families, shaped by both her background in nursing and years of ministry experience beginning in her college years alongside her husband, Pastor Zack. She grew up in the Fort Myers and Fort Lauderdale areas and is a proud wife and homeschooling mom to six children ages 0-10.

She is passionate about helping children understand and apply God’s Word at every stage, from early childhood through elementary, and about equipping parents to lead and disciple their families well.

Stephanie brings both compassion and intentionality to her role, with a heart to see strong, Christ-centered homes flourish. In her free time, she loves to run, explore new playgrounds and be outside with her family, or enjoy a quick trip to Disney. She and her family are grateful to be part of Gateway Church, a community they are thankful to call both their place of ministry and their extended family.

Sam and his wife Elizabeth have been doing ministry together since they were teenagers, and 20 years later, they're still side by side, leading worship and serving the local Church. Married for 14 years, they are parents to three kids, Caleb, Josiah, and Hannah, and share a deep passion for helping families live with health, purpose, and generational impact in mind.

Sam serves at Gateway Church as both Associate Pastor and Worship Pastor, overseeing volunteer and serve teams, Sunday services, and special events. His background is in family ministries, with over a decade spent walking alongside youth, young adults, and their parents.

You won't have to be around Sam long before you hear him talk about the joy he finds in serving Pastor Zack and Stephanie. He has a deep love for their family and is passionate about helping serve them in any way he can!

Mark serves as the Youth and Young Adult Pastor, where he is passionate about discipling the next generation and helping students grow in their faith. His heart for ministry was shaped through his own experience in youth group, and he has spent over a decade serving in youth ministry.

Mark and his family also spent several years serving God in the Middle East and love taking the Gospel to the unreached and equipping others to do the same. Mark is a proud Texan and a graduate of Baylor University, as well as a Texas Rangers fan. He and his wife Taylor, married since 2016, have three kids—Nora, Annie, and Miles—who keep life fun and full. As a family, they love all things Disney, exploring their new home in Florida, and tracking down great BBQ.

Amy is a devoted wife to her husband, Jim, and a proud mom to their amazing 16-year-old daughter, Sophia, who keeps life lively, hilarious, and wonderfully unpredictable. Together, they are a close-knit trio who genuinely love being together, whether laughing, relaxing, or simply enjoying the everyday moments that make their world feel full.

Amy has been serving at Gateway Church since 2010, and it has become one of her favorite places to invest her heart. She thrives behind the scenes, finding joy in helping things run smoothly. Whether it’s preparing a task, meeting a need, or organizing a space, Amy is in her element. Known for her reliability and loyalty, she brings a steady, simple, and meaningful approach to everything she does.

Above all, Amy serves for His glory. Supporting others isn’t just something she does, it’s what she loves. She is always ready to step in and help wherever she’s needed.

Chelsea and her husband, Brian, have been attending Gateway Church since 2015 and have since established deep roots within the church. They were married at Gateway and are now raising their three young children (with one more on the way!) there, and are so grateful to be part of it.

Chelsea serves in a variety of capacities, but her favorite ways to serve are as a Youth Leader and co-leading a Life Group with her husband, as both have a direct connection to discipleship. Her passion for making disciples- and equipping others to do the same- is what first drew her to Gateway Church. As a staff member, whether posting on social media, creating graphics, or helping communicate what’s happening around the church, she strives to filter everything through Gateway’s mission: Love God, Love People, and Make Disciples