Today we’d like to introduce you to Benjamin Gilmore.
Hi Benjamin, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Starting a church was about the last thing that I wanted to do. While living in Dallas-Fort Worth at the end of 2016, God spoke directly to my heart: “I want you to start a church.”
I didn’t want to start a church because I studied entrepreneurship enough in my MBA program to know that it was hard starting something new, and I had been serving in ministry both in my local church and internationally long enough to know that starting a church would be even harder.
As the years passed, those words, “I want you to start a church” were confirmed over and over again until my wife and I understood it to be an undeniable call on the life of our family. The story of how we got to San Diego from Texas was full of miracles, a new baby, a doctorate, and more, but long story made short, we arrived in San Diego a the end of July of 2023.
Today, we gather with our small church community in University Gardens Park on Sundays at 11am. We attempt to create a space for everyone to genuinely connect with each other and with God. We want to know God and be known by Him. We worship together, eat amazing goodies, discuss topics that impact our lives, and learn how to follow Jesus well.
Periodically, we take hikes through Torrey Pines State Nature Preserve to pray and contemplate during “The Wilderness Journey.” We set times to meet at La Jolla Shores to make prayer available to whomever would like it during “La Jolla Prays.” It’s our desire to live in impactful community.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
To be honest, starting a church is hard. It’s no secret that there’s a fairly common lack of trust when it comes to organized religion. Painful personal stories combined with hidden secrets made public and tragic scandal bring many to say, “I’m just going to find faith on my own,” or, “I don’t need that.”
I view “church” as a community of believers in Jesus Christ who are walking together with and toward Jesus. To be honest, everyone needs community, and everyone needs Jesus. Bringing people together may seem like a recipe for hurt, but it also has the potential to allow people to be seen, heard, and cared for. When community comes together around Jesus Christ, we find salvation, healing, freedom, and hope in Him.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
North Gate Church doesn’t exist to perpetuate religious effort or to get people to pretend perfection. We exist to help people to know and be known by God. We believe that He wants to see people find their source of hope, freedom, comfort, and purpose in Him. We believe He wants to see people following Jesus Christ and learning from Him in deep, significant ways. We believe that God wants to see people healed completely: body, soul, and spirit. We believe that He wants to see people giving of their lives for one another to show Him love.
If my wife and I were to look around us some years from now, I hope that we can say that we are surrounded by people who have come to know God, follow Jesus Christ, and are empowered by the Holy Spirit to live a life that honors Him and others.
Religion is human effort directed toward the goal of reaching God. It impacts every area of life. It serves as our filter of truth. It informs how we walk through this life. Sometimes people ask me, “what’s your denomination?” Jesus is my religion. He impacts every area of my life. He is truth. He informs how I walk through this life.
“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me” – Jesus (John 14:6)
What was your favorite childhood memory?
From time to time, I would go fishing on lakes in Texas with my grandfather in his silver and red boat. The quiet hum of the trolling engine filled my ears as my thoughts wandered. When a fish came on the line, it was a surprise bonus. Being present with my grandfather, saying little, impacted me.
He was a father, grandfather, outdoorsman, university professor, and he served God in every space he stepped into. I remember his strength and his certainty. I remember the graham crackers he and I would eat from my grandmother’s pantry.
My grandfather was one of several men (my father included) who served as examples of what it looks like to follow Jesus as an imperfect but good man.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.northgatepeople.com
- Instagram: @northgatepeople
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-gilmore-03340031/
