Our History

The Calvary Chapel Movement of churches began as a work of the Spirit under the leadership of Pastor Chuck Smith many decades ago. More info can be found at the Calvary Chapel Affiliation website which is www.calvarycca.org

As for the history of Calvary Chapel Gateway, we began meeting together in faith as an outreach Bible study on a Tuesday evening at a rented room within a school just to see what the Lord may want to do.  Pastor Tony, though contently pastoring Calvary Chapel York, PA for many years, had also previously held a burden in his heart for the Atlantic City and surrounding shore area for many years. He had even travelled from PA with members from the church, on a few occasions, to do some outreach ministry in Atlantic City. A few years before the actual Bible study began, Tony sensed the Lord may be indicating that he was to help start a new work in the South Jersey shore area, but was not sure what that would be. This thought was therefore just prayed about for quite some time while periodic outreaches were also done in the area to see if this was part of this internal prompting.

Then in fall of 2011, a few leaders from the Calvary Chapel churches in this area asked Tony if he would be willing to start an outreach Bible study at the South Jersey shore to see if the Lord wanted to plant another Calvary Chapel church. Tony sensed this request, directly asking for him to do this, was a clear open door from the Lord in answer to prayer. A room was rented and Tony started traveling back and forth with a few members from CC York, PA to lead this new midweek Bible study in Egg Harbor Township. Months later, after seeking the mind of the Lord, it was decided that Tony should turn the leadership of the Calvary Chapel York, PA over to one of his assistants and move his family to NJ to give full dedication to this new church plant. The Montemurro family transitioned to NJ in summer of 2012. Calvary Chapel Gateway’s Sunday morning church services began shortly afterward. After our church renting space for a season in schools where we set up and tore down for each meeting, we were finally able to obtain our own permanent meeting facility in our current location.