A Texas megachurch has opened a new campus in a maximum-security prison for their brothers and sisters in Christ.
Pastor Robert Morris of Gateway Church in Dallas surprised his congregation Sunday with an announcement about the church’s newest campus. To a rousing standing ovation, he announced the newest site would be in the state’s largest prison.
“We welcome you guys!” Morris said.
More than 650 inmates attended the megachurch’s first service in November at the Coffield Unit in Anderson County, which is located 90 minutes outside of the Dallas/Fort Worth area and houses over 4,000 criminal offenders.
Morris told Fox News, “At Gateway Church, we’re all about people because God is all about people. Many of the men and women inside prison have been forgotten by society, but we want them to know we love them and God loves them, and they are our brothers and sisters in Christ.”
The Gateway Church Coffield Campus runs like any other campus, with inmates serving as greeters, ushers, operating the sound, video, and audio as well as the worship team for the service with a focus on discipleship.
Since launching the new campus has seen over 500 men make decisions to follow Jesus.
Gateway plans to open more prison campuses within 100 miles of existing sites so members of the church can serve and volunteer at the Gateway prison services on a regular basis.