About Us
Our Story
Pt. 1
In 1999, a messianic Jewish family, the Rudolph’s, followed the call of God to move to the Troodos Mountains in Cyprus and started building the foundations of a very impactful discipleship training center by simply giving themselves to daily worship and prayer. Over the following 20 years, hundreds from the nations came to Gateways Beyond, and were radically changed, built up, discipled, and sent out into the world. The marks left by a lifestyle of radical obedience, devotion to prayer and worship, and a healthy connection to the Jewish roots of our faith, are still visible in many people around the world.
Those same marks deeply impacted Norman and Kerstin Heidel as they participated in the Gateways Beyond Training School in 2003 after serving in Israel. In 2004, they joined the ministry as staff, serving in all manner of areas, from maintenance to kitchen manager, to worship leader, and so on. Around that time several couples and families had felt the call to join this growing expression of the Kingdom, and a community formed that lived in real connectedness.
In 2010, Norman joined the leadership team of Gateways Beyond Cyprus, serving as Director of Operations and leading the internship program with Kerstin. With the heart of a shepherd and a love for the nation of Cyprus, the desire to connect to the people of the island and to develop community life grew in both of them.
Our Story
Pt. 2
In 2017, a major transition took place. God moved the leaders of Gateways Beyond, and with it all the members of the founding family, to the USA, calling Norman and Kerstin into full-time leadership of the ministry and community in Cyprus.
In early 2021, after Covid lockdowns, our community felt the leading of the Lord to move all of the offices and hub of ministry activities to a 4-acre piece of land that was purchased in 2006.
This land has become the focal point of learning to steward agriculture and creation, a home for Community life, as well as a tool for discipleship, creating a place for the peaceful presence of Jesus that is healing and restoring. In 2015 we received a vision to build a round stone house in the center of our land that was to be dedicated to God. For the past years this chapel has become our altar of daily worship and prayer, stewarding His precious presence. This place was given the name ‘Mahanaim’.
In 2024, the leadership team heard the call for a transition of the local ministry structure, and with that adopted ‘Mahanaim’ as the name for the ministry and community.
Over the last years, we have had the privilege to be a place of refuge for many people from the nations as they join in our community rhythm, encountering the healing, restoring love of Jesus, and reigniting a love for the land.
We have given ourselves to impact the island of Cyprus with the lived-out Gospel message in simplicity and authenticity, and at the same time, we have been sent forth into Israel and the Middle East to serve and to love.
This mandate we will continue, as we fuel all of what we do in worship and prayer.
