Steve & Kate Gamble, Founders
Steve Gamble
For Steve Gamble, a life of giving began right after high school, when he worked as a resident counselor for ex-convicts in Harlem, New York. That early experience of walking alongside people in need set the course for his life’s mission.
In 1988, Steve joined members of his church on a trip to the impoverished community of Cuanqua, Ecuador, to help build a house of worship. What moved him most wasn’t the construction project itself, but the townspeople who ran beside the mission bus as it departed—tears streaming, voices lifted in gratitude. That image has never left Steve’s heart, and it continues to inspire his work today.
For the next fifteen years, Steve and his wife, Kate, served faithfully both locally and overseas through their church’s Mission Committee. Their commitment deepened in 2002 when they became co-directors of the committee, overseeing the distribution of funds to more than 50 outreaches around the world.
In 2003, while leading a team of 27 volunteers to bring medical and spiritual relief to Senegal, Africa, Steve and Kate felt called to form Heartbeat International Ministries. After a decade of leadership in their church’s mission, they stepped away in 2012 to devote themselves fully to Heartbeat and the urgent needs they encountered.
Steve’s compassion is hands-on and personal. Before there was a food truck for Taste & See, Heartbeat’s feeding initiative, Steve cooked meals in his own kitchen to feed the hungry in the South Bronx. His vision and determination continue to fuel every Heartbeat ministry today.
Kate Gamble
Wife. Mother. Grandmother. Missionary. Motivational Speaker. Animal Advocate.
Kate Gamble lives her life to the fullest by giving and serving others. Having experienced the power of second chances in her own life, she felt called to help others embrace theirs, discovering hope and purpose in the process.
In 2002, Kate stepped into the role of Missions Director alongside Steve, a journey that took her into some of the world’s most difficult places. One encounter in Africa left an indelible mark: holding what she thought was an infant, only to learn that the child was nine months old but severely malnourished. Moments like these deepened her resolve to devote her life to serving the poor and vulnerable.
Kate brings her strong faith, boundless energy, and passion for teaching to her role as Co-Director of Heartbeat International Ministries. She has led workshops for women in shelters, villages, and prisons, both in the U.S. and abroad, helping others find strength and hope in their circumstances.
A devoted animal lover, Kate also extends her compassion to creation. On the family’s farm in South Carolina, she and Steve have built the Heartbeat Farm & Rescue Sanctuary, providing safety and care for abused and neglected animals.
Together
Together, Steve and Kate have raised six children and are proud grandparents to ten grandchildren. They also share their lives with a lively family of rescue animals—including horses, donkeys, goats, dogs, and more.