Pastor Jeff Gates
Jeff Gates is the Youth Pastor at Chilliwack Baptist Church. He and his wife Cheryl joined Chilliwack Baptist in the fall of 2002.
Jeff Gates, oldest of four boys, was born January 8, 1973 to a Christian family in Livonia, Michigan. Following high school he obtained an engineering degree from Calvin College (Grand Rapids, Michigan) and worked in the automotive industry as a product engineer for three years in Livonia.
Cheryl Gates, only girl of three children, was born February 1, 1973 to a Christian family in Chatham, Ontario. After high school, she earned an Elementary Teaching degree from Calvin College and moved to Japan to teach English for two years. After returning, she completed her Master of Arts in curriculum and instruction at Calvin College.
After meeting Cheryl at Calvin College, Jeff chased her around the world to win her heart, and they were married July 11, 1998. Throughout college and his time as an engineer, Jeff loved volunteering as a youth leader in his local church’s youth ministry. After their marriage, Jeff and Cheryl felt God’s call to prepare for full time youth ministry and moved to Denver, Colorado to attend Denver Seminary.
Following three years of part time youth ministry at New Hope Community Church in Aurora, Colorado and completing his Master of Divinity degree, Pastor Jeff began as Youth Pastor at Chilliwack.
Jeff and Cheryl are the proud parents of two sons. Jack born November 8, 2005 and Gabriel born August 17, 2007.