A community that is Christ-centred, Kingdom-focused and People-connected.
Like Jesus, we extend our hands and hearts to all people seeking God (Matt.11.28).
Like Jesus, we minister healing and restoration to the whole person - spirit, soul and body (Jn.5.7).
Like Jesus, we are kingdom-builders (Mk.1.15).
Like Jesus, we seek to restore and repair broken lives (Isa.61.4).
Like Jesus, we get people into heaven and we get heaven into people! (Jn.3.16; 10.10)
CiTiGATE Church commenced its ministry in Footscray on 19 July 2008. After much prayers and seeking God's heart and mind in 2007, the Lord directed Michael to pioneer a church in Footscray where he lives with his wife Janet. They started CiTiGATE Church as a house group meeting for prayers and Bible study every Wednesday night for 4 months before they moved into the Footscray Church of Christ building at 252 Gordon St Vic 3011.
The Lord placed a specific burden in Michael and Janet's hearts to see people come back in relationship with Christ as Lord. The Lord's instructions were 3 fold to reach out to those who have walked away from the church, to minister to those who have walked away from Him and to reach out to those who are not yet followers of Jesus Christ. In short, it is "to get people into heaven and to get heaven into people". Michael has the burden to see God restore many lives and all that he does and lives for is focused toward this end.
Hence, the theme of CiTiGATE Church is the place where you find your destiny... and this theme was inspired by Isaiah 61. From Isaiah 61 the Lord impressed clearly to Michael that CiTiGATE Church was to see people become more passionate for God, to become more aware of God's presence, be more purposeful in living, be more knowledgeable about the Triune God, be more intent in following Christ as Saviour and Lord, be more clear about their God given identity, be more transformed, to know more of God's love and to give His love to all people.
From Isaiah 61, the Lord impressed upon Michael's heart that the destiny of God's people needed to be restored so like His promise to the returned exiles of Israel, broken and wounded people would once again, be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor. (Then) they will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated;(then) they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations. (Then) Aliens will shepherd your flocks; foreigners will work your fields and vineyards. And (then) you will be called priests of the LORD, you will be named ministers of our God. You will feed on the wealth of nations, and in their riches you will boast. Instead of their shame my people will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace they will rejoice in their inheritance; and so they will inherit a double portion in their land, and everlasting joy will be theirs.
The name "CiTiGATE" was prayerfully chosen to reflect the geographical and spiritual location of the church in Footscray. Footscray is located in the inner west of Melbourne. Geographically it is a strategic entry and exit point into and out of Melbourne City and the beautiful Western Suburbs. As a gate into and out of the city, CiTiGATE Church is called to stand in the gap and spiritually fight for and protect the inner west and the Western Suburbs against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms (Eph.6.12)
As a church, CiTiGATE prays daily for a Holy Spirit awakening, refreshing and renewing in Footscray and the Western Suburbs. We pray daily that God will turn the heart of every person in the West to know, to love and to walk with Him. You are invited to join us in prayers and to see the Kingdom of God established in the beautiful West.
The six core practices of CiTiGATE Church (B.E.C.T.A.r) with the aim of encountering God in a real and tangible way:
1 Belonging = the experience of caring and nurturing in a safe community.
2 Empowerment = the experience of contributing in serving God and others in a serving community.
3 Celebration = the experience of celebrating life and worshipping God in a satisfying community.
4 Transformation = the experience of growing and seeing personal changes in a stable community.
5 Adventure = the experience of impacting lives in a significant community.
6 Reality = the experience of encountering God in a supernatural community.
Ps Michael Sim started full time Christian ministry in 1989. Michael was an ordained minister of the AOG in Australia (1989-2006) and is now affiliated with the Churches of Christ (in Victoria and Tasmania). Michael has extensive experience in pastoring, church-planting, training and Bible College lecturing. He was formerly the Principal of Southern Cross Bible College (Melbourne, Victoria) and has taught in several colleges.
In 2002, Michael established the Basileia Institute (a college without fees and exams) to encourage and to promote Christian growth and service for the Kingdom of God.
In 2008, Michael and Janet pioneered a church-plant in Footscray, with the hope of restoring lives and helping people find their identity and destiny in Christ Jesus and bringing them into a meaningful relationship with Jesus Christ.
He is currently the passionate pastor of CiTiGATE Church along with his wife, Janet. They have 2 lovely married children. Michael and Janet's interests include reading, walking, movies, eating out and spending time with family, friends and strangers alike.