Rev. Sven Verbeet Pastor Emeritus
Pastor Sven Verbeet is the founding pastor of Gateway of Hope Church. Born in Kaiserslautern, Germany his family moved to Pasadena Texas when he was still a child. Through a bus ministry he first heard about accepted Jesus as his Savior. He received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit while in high school and after completing his studies and receiving his ministerial credentials began to serve as Children's and Outreach Pastor at a large Assembly of God church in Pasadena. In 2002, after years of struggling to reconcile who he was with his faith, Pastor Sven resigned his postion there. After searching he found Community Gospel Church in Houston, where he found a place where he could love and serve the Lord and His people, and where he was accepted for who he really is, and not for who people wanted him to be. Pastor Sven served there for 10 years as an Associate Pastor and in March 2012, along with a small group of people, feeling led of the Lord, birthed Gateway of Hope Church to continue to work of bringing all the gospel to all the people. Pastor Sven married his husband Jay in March 2018. In March 2024, after 12 years as Senior Pastor of Gateway of Hope, being led of the Lord, stepped down from his pastorate in order to pursue an opportunity to bring the good news of Jesus to his native Germany. He remains a committed member of Gateway of Hope and continues to serve at GoH in various capacities as his schedule permits.
"I am more convinced than ever, that God's heart and God's plan has not changed. He still desires to pour out His Spirit on ALL people, and I am deeply honored and very humbled to be able to have a small part in this work." --Rev. Sven Verbeet
