Our History

On May 5, 1966, Harry W. Branding, Superintendent of the Missouri District of the United Pentecostal Church International, appointed a committee to explore the possibility of a Bible school.  This committee consisted of Guy E. Roam, W.C. Parkey, W.I. Black, Roy E. Gerald and Oliver Spencer.  On July 13, 1966, this committee recommended to the Missouri District that a college be started and the Missouri District passed a resolution creating the college.

The General Conference of the United Pentecostal Church International endorsed the college on October 24, 1966, in New Orleans, Louisiana.  In January of 1967, bylaws and guidelines for the school were chosen and the name "Gateway College of Evangelism" was accepted by the Missouri District.  W.C. Parkey was chosen as the first president and a site for the school was purchased at 3155 Charbonnier Road near Florissant, Missouri.  Gateway College of Evangelism was formally opened on September 13, 1968.

On September 8, 1969, after having raised money for the college and having made final provision for the housing of the students, Harry Branding suffered a fatal heart attack while driving home from the college.  His place as chairman of the board of directors was taken by Guy E. Roam.  In 1971, a new campus was purchased at 700 Howdershell Road in Florissant.  These facilities had formerly been the St. Stanislaus Seminary, the oldest college campus west of the Mississippi River.

True to its purpose of being a college of evangelism, Gateway College continues to reach out to the apostolic fellowship with expanded programs of service and to the lost with trained workers who carry the whole gospel to the whole world.