The church had to use its overflow room to accommodate the number of attendees, Floyd said during the service.\u00a0<\/p>\n
During his sermon, Floyd told congregants he understood the weight of the moment.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a significant day. It\u2019s a day where we turn the page and we begin to write a new story. But it\u2019s also not the day that we erase previous chapters,\u201d Floyd said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI just want you to know that your prayers aren\u2019t wasted,\u201d he added.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Floyd\u2019s message touched congregants like Debra Narvarte, 57. While her main church is in Cedar Hills, she has been attending Gateway\u2019s Saturday services since long before Morris resigned.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI was disappointed in the whole situation, but I know God is good, and I know God can take anything and make good out of it. And I knew that was going to happen,\u201d Navarte said.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/0816-GatewayDanielFloyd-06.jpg\")
Daniel Floyd addresses Gateway Church for the first time in the role of pastor on Aug. 16, 2025. (Maria Crane | Fort Worth Report\/CatchLight Local\/Report for America)<\/p>\n
In June 2024, Gateway Church members were rocked when decades-old child sexual abuse accusations against Morris were made public.\u00a0<\/p>\n
After the allegations were revealed, the congregation faced a series of exits by leadership.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Robert Morris\u2019 son, James Morris, was set to assume the role of Gateway\u2019s senior pastor in spring 2025 but resigned<\/a> the month after his father. He has since started his own congregation called Passage Church.\u00a0<\/p>\n A number of elders and employees who knew of allegations against Morris prior to his resignation were removed from their roles in November 2024. In the fallout, attendance at Gateway campuses dropped by more than 20%<\/a>, from about 25,000 people each weekend to about 19,000, according to The Dallas Morning News.\u00a0<\/p>\n In June 2025, Gateway Church leadership announced<\/a> it would lay off staff members due to a \u201csignificant drop\u201d in financial giving. Last month, the congregation said it was canceling<\/a> Saturday services at all campuses except for Southlake.<\/p>\n Over the past year, a number of lawsuits against Gateway also came to light. In October 2024, a group of Gateway congregants filed a lawsuit<\/a> alleging the church engaged in financial fraud when leaders falsely promised members that a portion of their tithes would go toward foreign missionary work.<\/p>\n Cindy Clemishire and her father filed a lawsuit<\/a> on June 12, 2025, against Morris and his wife along with current and former Gateway Church leadership for defamation and failing to report the alleged abuse.\u00a0<\/p>\n Gateway Church also filed a lawsuit against Morris on May 13, 2025, after refusing his request for millions of dollars as part of his retirement<\/a> package.\u00a0<\/p>\n Morris is also facing five counts<\/a> of lewd or indecent acts with a child in a criminal case filed in Osage County, Oklahoma. He made his first court appearance<\/a> May 9.\u00a0<\/p>\n A court hearing<\/a> is scheduled for Sept. 4. Morris has entered a plea of not guilty.<\/p>\n Throughout the series of events that began in June 2024, the congregation saw a series of familiar and new faces join the Southlake church.\u00a0<\/p>\n Max Lucado, a Christian author and San Antonio pastor has been serving in an interim teaching pastor<\/a> role. He was joined by Joakim Lundqvist, a pastor for Word of Life Church, a previous guest speaker for Gateway. During the Aug. 16 service, Lundqvist announced in a video that he would continue serving the church until the end of the year.<\/p>\n Nic Lesmeister<\/a> was appointed<\/a> as Gateway Church\u2019s executive pastor in July. In 2019, he spearheaded the church\u2019s Gateway Center for Israel.\u00a0<\/p>\n Oscar Morales, Brad Moore, Randy McFarland and Mark Mueller joined the church\u2019s elder board for an interim period beginning in January 2025. Gateway Church elder Tra Willbanks told attendees during the Aug. 16 service the four men would remain on the board moving forward.\u00a0<\/p>\n The elders underwent a \u201cthoughtful and thorough\u201d interview process in search of their new lead pastor, Willbanks told congregants during the service. Floyd was interviewed by the entire board. Daniel and Tammie Floyd met the church staff in March. By April, the decision was unanimous, Willbanks added.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cPastor Daniel is the leader we believe God has appointed to guide Gateway into this new chapter, and in the coming weeks, he will be sharing a fresh vision for the church,\u201d Willbanks said.\u00a0<\/p>\n Looking ahead, Floyd plans to visit all Gateway Church campuses. \u201cIt\u2019s going to take all of us to do what I believe God wants us to do,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cOur best days are not behind us,\u201d Floyd told the church. \u201cOur best days are in front of us.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Marissa Greene is a Report for America corps member, covering faith for the Fort Worth Report. You can contact her at marissa.greene@fortworthreport.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here<\/a>.<\/p>\n \n\tRelated\n<\/p>\n Fort Worth Report is certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative<\/a> for adhering to standards for ethical journalism.<\/p>\n Republish This Story<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/0816-GatewayDanielFloyd-03.jpg\")
The congregation of Gateway Church in Southlake sings to worship music on Aug. 16, 2025. (Maria Crane | Fort Worth Report\/CatchLight Local\/Report for America)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/0816-GatewayDanielFloyd-05.jpg\")
The congregation of Gateway Church lay hands on Pastor Daniel Floyd during his commissioning service on Aug. 16, 2025. (Maria Crane | Fort Worth Report\/CatchLight Local\/Report for America)<\/p>\n
![\"Creative](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/1750614464_36_cc-by-nd-4.0.png\"\/)
<\/a><\/p>\n