"That kind of ministry took patience, consistency, and a great deal of heart. Judy remembers children arriving on campus angry, guarded, and resistant, then slowly changing as they experienced real love and care." 

When Uriel Gehring, the third administrator of Gateway Woods, and his wife, Judy, came from Iowa to Gateway Woods in 1983, it was a much smaller campus and a more intimate ministry. There were only two homes, East and West, for a long time, and the work felt more like just living as a family. Uriel was a constant presence for the children he served; after a full day of work, he would then go back out after supper to play ping-pong and basketball and spend time with the kids. That kind of relationship gave the children something steady to hold on to. 

Uriel was also an impactful voice for the ministry beyond the campus as he stepped away from the administrator's role to work as the Public Relations Coordinator. Judy remembered him as “a passionately influential minister of the Apostolic Church,” someone who would talk about Gateway Woods wherever he preached. He was outgoing, persuasive, and deeply loved by people, but what made him remarkable was not just his gift for speaking — it was the way he carried Gateway Woods in his heart wherever he went. Through his preaching, travel, and public witness, he helped build awareness and trust around the ministry. 

At the same time, Gateway Woods itself was growing. During those years, the third house, New House, was built, the office was added, and the school was operating in the basement of the administrative building for a season. Those changes marked an important chapter in Gateway’s history, as the ministry was expanding while still holding on to its personal, family-centered roots. Judy was part of that transition, watching the campus develop while keeping the heart of the work focused on the children. 

What stands out most in Judy’s memory from her 43-year tenure, either on staff or in a support role, is the relationship side of the ministry. She said it plainly: “We were just a family.” That was not just a sentimental phrase — it described the way the homes actually functioned. The children knew the administrator, the house parents knew the kids well, and the adults in their lives were present in ordinary, everyday moments. Judy’s role as assistant houseparent was not only to help run the houses but to love the children, support the staff, and help create a stable environment where kids could begin to heal. 

That kind of ministry took patience, consistency, and a great deal of heart. Judy remembers children arriving on campus angry, guarded, and resistant, then slowly changing as they experienced real love and care. Some stayed long enough for trust to grow deeply, and years later, they still came back, called her, or hugged her at church. Those moments became living proof that what happened at Gateway was never wasted on anyone. 

A legacy that still speaks 

Judy’s story also carries the weight of a challenge. She remembers one of the hardest moments in Gateway’s history — the accident that left a boy unable to walk again. It was the kind of event that could shake a ministry to its core, and yet Judy and Uriel kept going, trusting God through the pain. Their faith was not built on easy days, but on the decision to stay faithful through difficult ones. 

That is part of what makes their legacy so powerful. Uriel and Judy were not simply present for a season; they helped shape Gateway Woods as a ministry that valued long-term love, faithfulness, and personal connection. While the ministry has changed over the years, along with the needs of the children it serves, its enduring mission can still be seen in the lives it has shaped.  

A word for today 

For today’s staff, Judy’s story is both an encouragement and a challenge. “Keep Gateway Woods true to its principles. Stay faithful to God. Love the children well. And remember that the most lasting work often happens in the quiet, ordinary moments — the conversations after supper, the games with the kids, the faithful support of house parents, and the steady presence that tells a child, — You matter here!” 

That’s the Gateway Woods of Judy and Uriel’s time, and it remains a legacy worth carrying forward. 

"One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts." – Psalm 145:4 

"A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children." – Proverbs 13:22