of Gateway Church reacted with feelings of hope, comfort and excitement as the church’s elders announced during Sunday service that they had chosen Virginia megachurch founder Daniel Floyd to serve as senior pastor.
Floyd and his wife, Tammie Floyd, will leave their roles as senior pastors of Lifepoint Church in Fredericksburg, Va., a megachurch they founded about 20 years ago that now has five Virginia locations. The Floyds, who have four kids aged 6 to 18, plan to start their new chapter at Gateway around August, according to the church.
Gateway Church in Southlake has been without a senior pastor for nearly a year. Its longtime senior pastor and founder Robert Morris resigned last June after being accused of sexually abusing a child in the 1980s. Morris was indicted in March on five counts of lewd or indecent acts to a child in Oklahoma and made an initial court appearance in Osage County court May 9. Morris’ preliminary hearing is scheduled for Sept. 4.
“It was important that we get this right, not get it fast,” elder chair Tra Willbanks said of the pastor search process as he took the stage Sunday. Willbanks also thanked Max Lucado and Joakim Lundqvist and their spouses. Lundqvist and Lucado have served as interim teaching pastors at Gateway for the last year.
“At our time of greatest need [as] a church, these couples rushed to our side, and we will be forever grateful,” Willbanks said to applause.
Floyd, 48, didn’t attend service in-person Sunday. Earlier Sunday morning, he told Lifepoint Church that he was leaving to lead Gateway. Kyle Kramer, chief of staff at Lifepoint, told The Dallas Morning News through a Gateway spokesperson that the couple received a standing ovation from their congregation after their announcement that lasted several minutes.
Daniel and Tammie Floyd did address Gateway through a pre-recorded video that played after Willbanks’ announcement. In the video, Tammie Floyd said a “special hello” to each of the church’s campuses by name.
“We can’t wait to meet you, hear your stories, serve alongside you to advance God’s kingdom,” Daniel Floyd said in the video. “We’re filled with anticipation, and we truly believe the best really is yet to come.”
After that video played, Nic Lesmeister, executive pastor of global outreach at Gateway, thanked the church’s elders. He said Willbanks “always knew the exact days it had been since our crisis kicked off.”
“I just want to congratulate you — it’s been 345 days, and you can stop counting,” Lesmeister said to applause.
“We could not have been here without the prayers; prayer works,” Willbanks responded.
Following the new pastor announcement, Lucado preached his last sermon at the church. His message, themed “You, Unleashed,” focused on the importance of the Holy Spirit and the value of spiritual gifts.
After service, Ana and Frank Moreno told The News they had been attending Gateway for about 10 years. Ana Moreno said she had been praying for the church’s new senior pastor just last week. “This is the answer,” she said.
“Him and his wife seemed like genuine, really good people,” Dominick Moreno, the couple’s son, said of the Floyds.
“I was looking for youth in a pastor: a younger pastor, with just vitality, energy — a visionary,” said Frank Moreno.
Chris and Julie Sims have been attending the church for about 12 years, and said they saw Daniel Floyd’s educational background as a good sign. Floyd has a doctorate in ministry from Southeastern University and two master’s degrees from Liberty Theological Seminary. Tammie Floyd also has a bachelor’s in education from Liberty University.
“We liked that he’s from Liberty University,” Chris Sims said of Floyd. “Because of that, I’m very comfortable.” Due to that educational background, Sims said he trusted that Floyd would adhere to conservative principles and doctrine, and would value civic engagement with the wider community.
Liberty University is an evangelical institution in Lynchburg, Va., founded by Jerry Falwell. Falwell was known for his conservative political advocacy and founded the Moral Majority, a political organization that helped establish the religious right as a force in American politics, according to Encyclopaedia Britannica.
“I’m confident and hopeful that this is going to be a good fit,” Sims said.
Adrian Ashford covers faith and religion in North Texas for The Dallas Morning News through a partnership with Report for America.