Category: Be Inspired

Growing up in the restaurant business, Larry Hinkle learned an important principle: “My mother taught me from her many years of hard work in food service to always tip waitresses well. ‘That’s what put you through college,’ she would tell me.”

Larry grew up in the Chicago area and his mother ran a soda fountain-restaurant at the back of a drug store in Winnetka, Illinois. “I recall one of my first job responsibilities was peeling and cutting potatoes down in the basement of that establishment.”

Love of sports influenced Larry’s choice of college. “My interest in sports ultimately led me to majoring in physical education. I began bowling in junior high school and on through the high school years worked in a bowling alley from where I participated in national tournaments. Although I have come close to bowling a perfect 300 on several occasions, that is still my goal. I also loved playing baseball and basketball and later played college-level baseball. I also developed a love for the Spanish language in high school and went on to minor in that subject in college.

Larry, pastor of GCI congregations in Port St. Lucie and North Broward, Florida, first became interested in the WCG/GCI in 1960. “As a teenager I began to listen to the church’s radio broadcast and was intrigued by the strong admonitions to believe the Bible. I diligently studied the church’s literature including the Correspondence Course.”

It wasn’t until his senior year in college that Larry started attending WCG church services in Louisville, Kentucky. “After graduation from a college in Indiana, I attended Ambassador College in Pasadena for one year. Since I held a teaching license in the Spanish language, the next year an opportunity to teach Spanish at both Imperial High School and Ambassador College was presented to me. In 1968, I became a faculty member in Pasadena and worked in that position for approximately 10 years. In 1976, a Spanish church was started on the Ambassador campus. The experience of serving in that congregation and travelling to serve various Latin American congregations made me aware of a calling to serve in full-time ministry. In 1979, we moved to Puerto Rico to serve in the Caribbean regional office under Stan Bass. From there I was called into full-time pastoral ministry serving various congregations in the New York City area including a Spanish church in Queens.”

In 1990, Larry and family moved to North Carolina where he served three congregations for four years. In 1994, they moved to Florida where Larry has served several congregations and now serves as the district pastor.

Larry and his wife Joanne just celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary. They have two children. “Our daughter, Christi and our three grandchildren, Coty, Warren and Elizabeth live in North Carolina and our son Glen currently lives near Salt Lake City, Utah. Both my wife and my daughter have worked for many years in the field of physical therapy and my son in the area of computer programming.

When asked what he enjoys most about being a pastor, Larry said, “It is the opportunity to be a change-agent in people’s lives, helping them to know God’s love and to learn to enjoy all of his benefits (Psalm 103).”

Larry is excited about GCI. “What I enjoy most about being a part of GCI is witnessing the dynamic changes that God has brought about in our fellowship through our doctrinal understanding of God as Trinity. I see God’s sense of humor in bringing us full circle from a disbelief in his triune nature to fully embracing that reality. In the context of this doctrinal position it is exciting to see and to experience the many new pathways that have been opened up for us to participate in Jesus’ ministry.”

This love of pastoring and love for our understanding of the Trinity has formed Larry’s passion. “My passion is to help people come to know God better and to experience him more fully in their lives. This is the goal and purpose of the ministry that I’ve founded, Odyssey in Christ, Spiritual Formation for Leadership (OdysseyinChrist.com). This ministry continues to grow in scope and provides a way for those hungry for more of God in their lives to be exposed to means through which they can be spiritually filled and satisfied.”

Larry’s most memorable moment as pastor? “What comes to mind is a time when we had been about four years into our denominational changes and some Christian communities were doubtful that our transformation was for real. Upon being introduced to the ministry of the Walk to Emmaus in Florida, the church and I were fully accepted and welcomed with loving and open arms into that community. This experience and our church’s participation in that spiritually-focused fellowship over the past 12 years have been a highlight of my pastoral ministry.”

Asked when he feels closest to God, Larry replied, “I feel closest to God when walking in the morning hours enjoying his presence and peace through the beauty of his creation, and also when offering spiritual direction to individuals and to groups.”

Frank Howard is likely the only GCI pastor with a 40-year-old pair of Chuck Taylor Converse All-Star sneakers. He loves to collect things. “I am not a hoarder of stuff. I enjoy collecting coins, stamps, bills, etc.”

Frank, the bi-vocational senior pastor for 24-7 Community Church in Newark, New Jersey, is the youngest of 10 children. “I grew up in the segregated South during the 1950s and 60s in Williamston, North Carolina, population approximately 5,000 at that time. At the age of 11, I participated in Freedom marches for Civil Rights in my hometown. I felt it was the right thing to do for me and for others.”

Frank speaks highly of his parents, the late John and Vernice Howard: “My parents taught us to love God and people, honor and respect the elderly, get a good education, and help those who are in need. We were raised up in the Lord, and I was baptized at the age of nine.”

In 1966, when Frank was in the eighth grade, he and his fellow male classmates participated in a special program. Frank shares, “all the young men in my class at E.J. Hayes School (including myself) were taken to the “Advancement School” in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. This school was for young men only. We were to be there for three months. When we arrived with two of our own teachers, each of us was assigned a white roommate to live with for the three months. I knew this was going to be very interesting, and it was; but it was all good. Both black and white young men were given the same educational tools and opportunities to be a success at the Advancement School. As a result, the young men’s (both black and white) performance in academics and sports excelled. It proved that when given the same tools and opportunities, it doesn’t matter what your race is, you can be a success. I will never forget that experience.”

While in high school, Frank had the opportunity to have Coach Herman Boone (portrayed by Denzel Washington in the movie “Remember the Titans”) as his physical education instructor. “He encouraged his students and teams to persevere and never give up. Under Coach Boone’s leadership, E.J. Hayes High School Football Team won two State Championships during the 1960s. In 1974, I received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting from North Carolina Central University. In 1984, I received the Master of Science Degree in Human Resources from New Jersey Institute of Technology. I received the Advanced Diploma in Christian Ministry from Grace Communion Seminary in 2012. Over the years, I have worked for General Mills, Inc., Minneapolis, Minnesota, New York State Department of Labor, New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, and currently for the United States Department of Treasury.”

As a result of occasionally watching The World Tomorrow TV program from 1979 through 1982 and reading the church’s literature, Frank began attending the WCG Manhattan Church in New York City in 1982. “Because I lived in New Jersey, I started attending the Union, New Jersey congregation in 1983 and became a member in 1984. There I met my lovely wife to be, Leslie (Hall).” Leslie and Frank have been married for 27 “blessed and lovely years. We have a daughter, Chantell, 33 and a son, Frankie, 25. We have two grandchildren, Nia, 8 and Jaiden, 5. Leslie is an author of two books, Sister With S.A.S.S. and Love Letters From God. She is also a Christian life coach.”

Frank became the interim bi-vocational pastor of 24-7 Community Church in December 2000 due to the untimely death of Ronald Robinson who had served as the senior pastor for only nine months. Frank became the new senior pastor in October 2001. Of Leslie, Frank says, “she is valuable to me and to the ministry in so many ways. She is a ministry leader over Safe Center, which connects the church with other organizations and churches in the Newark area. Safe Center also provides food and other items to the needy. Leslie also teaches a group of young ladies in the community called Daughters of Imani (Daughters of Faith). She supports me in the ministry and gives constructive criticism when necessary. She gives sermons and occasionally assists me with counseling. I am truly blessed to have a wife with a passion for God and for doing his work.”

As a pastor, Frank says he enjoys the unique qualities, gifts and personalities of people that God brings into his life, and to the congregation. “I am amazed how he uses those gifts to transform people lives as well as my own life. I also enjoy how he allows the congregation to be able to reach out to others. We have a monthly church service at the largest youth detention facility in New Jersey to reach out to incarcerated young men and women. We also have a monthly church service at the New Community Nursing Home in Newark where we reach out and comfort the residents with the Word of God and fellowship. I enjoy participating with Jesus in these settings. I enjoy seeing the youth at church praising the Lord and developing into leaders. I enjoy seeing the singles, married couples and the elderly praising the Lord and participating in Christ’s ministry. My assistant pastors, David Robinson and Lawrence Evans, and the rest of my leadership team have all been exceptional.”

Speaking about GCI, Frank said, “It’s comforting to know the Holy Spirit is using Dr. Joseph Tkach and the GCI team to lead us. GCI is not perfect, (no denomination is), but over the years, under Joe’s tutelage, we’ve grown to understand so much about grace. It helps us reach out to others in love, when spreading the gospel with genuine concern for the physical welfare of those in need.”

Frank’s most memorable moment as a pastor came during one of our nation’s greatest tragedies. “God allowed me to safely exit the World Trade Center after the first plane struck Building One on 9/11/2001. I was moved when many 24-7 members gathered the next evening to pray for the families of the victims and for those who were injured.”

Several mentors have helped shape Frank’s life and ministry. He speaks fondly of Mrs. Bessie Mobley, his first Sunday School teacher who encouraged him to go to college. He remembers an eighth grade teacher, Mr. Walter Harris, who not only taught him academics, but how to deal with practical life issues. He has deep respect for the late Pastor Ronald Robinson, who was a great leader and visionary. “He and I would go to New York City once a month to the Empire State building to meet with other clergy in the New York and New Jersey area. Those train trips over and back from New York gave us the opportunity to share thoughts and concerns about the new church plant (24-7 Community Church) and about ourselves. Little did I know, that God would allow Pastor Ron to die nine months after the church began. During those nine months, he shared a lot with me and his example taught me many lessons that have helped me to shepherd the flock that God has entrusted to me. Thank God for his example!”

Frank says that his passion is “serving God and people and having a closer relationship with Jesus Christ. I love God and I love people. I feel closest to God in prayer, Bible study and meditation. There are times when I am on the express bus coming home from work that I am in deep prayer with the Lord.”

Frank shares a final thought: “When I reflect on my life I see Jesus’ loving hand in every aspect. His hand has been over my family, over GCI and over the 24-7 Community Church from its inception. Through it all, I have learned three important lessons:

1. Pray! Pray! Pray!
2. Wait on God to make his will and purpose clear.
3. Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain (Psalm 127:1).

The Howard family came to Kansas in the 1850s as farmers and John Howard’s parents were both raised on farms. “After getting married, my parents moved to town and had seven children, of which I am the fourth. My dad was a concrete-truck driver until he retired.”

John was born in Lawrence, Kansas and went through school there, graduating from Lawrence High School. “Since my family came here the 1850s, I don’t enjoy moving around. I like to be around my relatives and hope to stay here the rest of my life.”

John started work at an early age. “My profession was always connected to the printing industry my entire life, mostly spent in the bindery and the press area. However, I started delivering newspapers at age 11 and continued to work my way up in the local newspaper in Lawrence and then into the printing industry and retired as a pressman at the University of Kansas.”

John and Nancy Sue (Thomas) married in 1960 and have been married for 53 years. “The highlight of my life was when a friend asked me to go on a blind date and that was the girl I married 13 months later.” John and Sue have two children, a son John Jr. (deceased) and a daughter, Sandra. They also have five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Sue had a great influence on John’s walk with Christ. “I became a part of GCI (WCG) in 1967, mostly through my wife and her family, especially by her example as a believing wife.”

John, who now serves GCI’s Topeka church as its pastor, was ordained an elder and commissioned as a bivocational pastor in November 2002. “Our minister left and I was asked to be on a three-person pastoral care team. But questions came up about my not being eligible to conduct communion since I was not an elder. Later I was ordained and attended pastoral training in Dallas.” Since then, John has received a diploma in Christian Ministry from Ambassador College of Christian Ministry (ACCM).

John says this about his wife’s involvement in ministry: “Sue is very supportive of the ministry I do. She is a lady with many abilities who is dedicated to serving Christ. I use her as a sounding board in some instances. But I do not always get the answer I want, because if I do not want the truth I don’t ask her. That last sentence is a joke but it is true.”

John says he’s a “pretty open person—what you see is what I am.” What he loves about GCI is “the friendliness of the leaders of GCI and the continuing education I have been given.” He credits retired district pastor Ray Meyer as someone who was a good mentor to him and helped him in ministry.

John’s most memorable moment as a pastor was “when I was asked to baptize a young couple who grew up in the church.” He also has several passions: “My family, preaching the gospel and playing music.”

John noted that he feels closest to God, “in the morning before everything gets involved in daily activities—my head is not clouded then by all that goes on the rest of the day.”

While attending confirmation classes for the Lutheran church, David Gilbert felt God impressing on his heart to become a pastor. “Shortly thereafter, I attended a campaign featuring David Wilkerson, author of The Cross and the Switchblade. At that meeting I went to the front of the auditorium and confessed Jesus as my Savior. After that, I began reading as much material on the Bible as I could get my hands on. That’s where literature of the Worldwide Church of God comes in.”

That impression on his heart proved to be a calling and Dave now pastors two GCI congregations: New Covenant Community Bible Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Grace Christian Fellowship in Kenilworth, New Jersey. He also serves as a district pastor for GCI in the New York City to Philadelphia corridor.

Dave grew up in western Pennsylvania where his dad was a general contractor, building homes and churches. “I first attended WCG in 1969 after having been interviewed for Ambassador College by longtime minister Jimmie Friddle.” David was accepted to AC and attended from 1969 to 1973. “After graduation, I returned to Pittsburgh, where I held a number of jobs, including route sales, insurance sales, construction and finally personnel manager for an electrical distributor.

I served in the Pittsburgh church as an elder and was called into full-time ministry in July 1984. We moved to Ohio, where I served as Assistant Pastor under Dave Fiedler in the Toledo-Findlay circuit. In 1988, we were given our first solo pastorate in the Waterloo-Mason City, Iowa circuit. We moved back to Pennsylvania in October 1994, serving in the Philadelphia church. In 1999, I graduated with a Masters in Ministry from Biblical Seminary. Shortly thereafter, I began pastoring the Lehigh Valley congregation in addition to Philadelphia. In 2012, Lehigh Valley closed and I took on Kenilworth, New Jersey in addition to Philadelphia.”

Dave and his wife Hinka have been married for 37 years. They have two sons, David, who is a high school principal near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and Nathan, who is studying pre-med and medical technology at the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia. They have one three year old granddaughter, Esther, born to David and his wife Anna.

Of Hinka’s involvement in ministry, Dave says, “Hinka is the quintessential pastor’s wife and has always been actively involved in children’s ministry, women’s ministry and being an encouraging ear for members and pastors’ wives.”

Dave enjoys hunting, the outdoors, archery and firearms, but his passion is “to help mentor a new generation of leaders in my churches.”

When asked what he enjoys most about being a pastor, Dave said, “Studying and teaching the Word of God and loving the people God has entrusted to me.” About being part of GCI, Dave said, “GCI is the only denomination I know of that gives genuine hope for humanity (Trinitarian theology).”

Dave gives credit to Don Lawson who was “always affirming and helpful to me as my pastor in Pittsburgh” and to David Fiedler who Dave calls “a very balanced pastor.”

Dave’s best moments as a pastor and with God revolve around his family. His most memorable moment as a pastor was when he baptized his own children. And when asked when he feels closest to God, Dave said “I have a wonderful marriage and I feel closest to God when I’m close to Hinka.”

Dewey Peterson, pastor of GCI’s church in Crossville, Tennessee, tells his story:

I was born in Jamestown, New York in 1937, the second of six children. Both my mother and father enjoyed the rural life and when I was seven years old the family moved to a small farm just outside the small town of Busti, New York. As a youth, I helped with the farm work and each day milked (by hand) some of our dairy cows before going to school. I hunted, trapped and harvested crops for neighbors to make a bit of extra change. I graduated from Southwester Central High School in 1955.

My wife Georgia and I were married in Ithaca New York in 1958. We have four children: three sons, Scott, Michael and Joel; and one daughter, Jennifer; and seven grandchildren. Three of our children attended Ambassador College. Two sons have PhDs and our daughter and youngest son, both AC graduates, went on to earn MBAs.

My post-secondary school education was accomplished primarily at Cornell University in Ithaca: BS 1959, MS 1963, and PhD 1963. My focus was on the engineering aspects of food manufacturing with Dairy Science as my primary area of study with minor studies in Chemical and Mechanical Engineering. Upon receiving my PhD I accepted a position with the Kellogg Company in Battle Creek, Michigan in the Research Department. I advanced through a number of positions in both the US and Canada and finished my career in 1997 as Vice President of Corporate Affairs for Kellogg Canada Inc.

While living in Michigan we attended the Grand Rapids WCG church and later the Kalamazoo church where I was ordained a deacon before moving to Canada in 1973. My wife was first drawn to the church after listening to The World Tomorrow broadcast. As is often the case, I was not convinced. However, when Georgia demonstrated such solid faith, conviction and determination, I was reluctantly dragged along and after a period of study was baptized in 1968. Her example was a major milestone in our married life.

After working at Kellogg’s for ten enjoyable years in Battle Creek, I was transferred to Kellogg Canada to head up the Research and Development function. This was especially rewarding since that company had recently purchased Salada Foods. Resettling in Canada was a challenge, especially dealing with the Canadian immigration folks. Because of the high price of housing in metro Toronto we built a home in King City, Ontario, a small village about 20 miles north of Toronto. All our children graduated from King City High School. We lived in Canada for 23 years and attended the Toronto West church the entire time. While there I served as deacon, YOU advisor, director of one of two Spokesman Clubs. In 1987 I was ordained an elder by Neil Earle.

After my retirement in 1997, Georgia and I moved to Fairfield Glade, Tennessee where, at first, we attended the Cookeville, Tennessee church. Prior to our move to Tennessee we received a postcard from the matriarch of a long-standing Church family. Such a warm greeting made Georgia and me believe God inspired our move. While attending the Cookeville Church an opportunity presented itself to start a church in Crossville. After attending a ministerial orientation conference, I became the Crossville church pastor in January 2002. I am still serving as the volunteer pastor of that congregation, New Beginning Fellowship Church. It is interesting how one arrives at a given place in life.

We are a small church but I am ever impressed with the faithfulness and loyalty of our members. Both Georgia and I have learned to love and respect our Tennessee native church friends. Our congregation is much like many GCI churches, we are getting older and some are in failing health. Because of the distance some of our members travel to services we have organized to combine our Sunday worship service with a Bible study at our rented facility, which has turned out to be a blessing.

The strain of leadership in a small church is exemplified in our congregation. Some of our early leaders have had to stop participating. As a consequence, my wife and I have had to pick up the slack. Georgia and I conduct worship services, she on the piano and I lead songs. She also serves as our treasurer.

Aside from my church responsibilities, I am secretary/treasurer of the Cumberland County Ministerial Association. Georgia and I help Habitat for Humanity. I served the local chapter as its second president. In 2011, the Crossville mayor appointed me to the Board of Directors of the Crossville Housing Authority. Both Georgia and I enjoy gardening. Georgia cares for the flowers and I take care of the vegetables. We thoroughly enjoy Tennessee and do not miss the fast-paced life of Toronto.

With October being Pastor Appreciation Month in the US and Canada, it’s nice to hear that one of our own elders has been honored for an achievement that has global impact.

If you know John Meyer who lives in Tracy, California, you know him as an interesting, yet humble servant. What you may not know is that John, now retired, has played a significant role in developing a technology that affects literally billions of people around the world.

Originally from New Zealand, John earned a degree in physics before entering Ambassador College in Bricket Wood, England. In his junior year at AC, he was assigned to work in the college press. At the time, The Plain Truth magazine was just beginning to use color pictures. The press manager asked John to develop the best color separation methods available. While doing so, John came to recognize the limitations of existing methods, which were cumbersome and time consuming. John envisioned a process by which color photographs could be electronically scanned and displayed on a television screen then adjusted to appear as they would when printed. We take this process for granted now—many of us do it routinely on our own computers. But in 1966 this technology did not exist—John was well ahead of his time.

After graduating from AC, John went on to get his Ph.D. in physics and to begin a career at Hewlett Packard Labs where he played a major role in developing the technology that turned his vision into practical reality.

The digital photography revolution came about when a low-cost option for consumers to print out their pictures at home became available. John played a leading role in this revolution by helping to develop thermal ink jet printing and helping solve color communication problems that carried over into the camera domain. These advances resulted in the rapid adoption of digital photography.

John remembers his 28-year career at HP Labs as a wonderful adventure in realizing what was once a rather fanciful vision. His pioneering work revolutionized printing and radically changed the way we take photographs.

Last September, the Royal Photographic Society in England recognized John’s achievements by awarding him the prestigious Davies medal. This medal is awarded for significant contributions in the digital field of imaging science.

On a personal note, John says, “I see this as a blessing from God in that I left physics to come to AC; and, with my wife’s encouragement, returned to complete my graduate degree, such that when I was looking for a job there was a company called Hewlett Packard that was looking to employ someone who knew both printing and physics. Everything that I had turned away from, God gave back to me tenfold.”

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For further details about the Davies medal, click here.

Harry Kall, who pastors GCI’s church in Cicero, Illinois, grew up in the Chicago area. “It was interesting for a Greek boy, born of immigrant parents, to grow up in a predominately Italian and Mexican neighborhood. As I reflect on what brought me to where I am today, I can only say that it was God’s mercies.”

Harry and his wife Ruth have been married for 30 years. “My loving wife has been a fabulous mentor to me. She is a member of my ‘jury of peers.’ She has great vision, compassion and patience.” Harry and Ruth’s daughter Marissa (25) is an orchestra teacher. “We still attend her performances; pretty awesome!”

Harry became part of GCI on June 22, 2003. “Our entire church was added to GCI. Prior to that, I was ordained by and affiliated with the North American Conference of the Evangelical Church of God. The president of that conference was Lorenzo Arroyo (now a GCI regional pastor). All of us in the conference had been members of the Church of God (Seventh Day), headquartered in Denver. In 1996, 32+ churches left that Sabbath-keeping group to form the independent conference led by Lorenzo. Later that year, Lorenzo met with GCI president Joseph Tkach and seven years after that many of our congregations became part of GCI.”

“The short version is that theological reasons led to these decisions,” Harry shares. “Interestingly, GCI was moving on a parallel track; away from Sabbath-keeping and toward the gospel of grace.” Harry adds: “Leaving wasn’t an easy or quick decision. I don’t believe anyone should leave a church or conference unless it is for theological reasons and that is what we did.”

When they joined GCI, Harry was ordained a GCI pastor. He loves being a pastor. “Weekly we gather with other believers who place their trust in us; and, we have the privilege of talking to them about what God is doing in our lives and that of his church. Amazing isn’t it?”

Becoming part of GCI proved to be a great blessing to Harry and the others who joined GCI with him. “Until you have had the feelings of isolation and being a ‘lone wolf’ you cannot imagine the joy I feel being part of GCI and its support system—from its extensive website to its regional conferences and associated activities that occur regionally and nationally. Did I mention our theology?”

Harry, who said the one thing people may or may not know about him is that he gets moody when he’s hungry, and one of his big passions is music. “I’ve never been a person driven by a single passion, but I must say that I love all sorts of music: jazz, blues, concert, bluegrass and most operas. Oh yes, you will also find me gardening in my free time and looking for travel deals.”

When asked about a mentor, Harry shared the following: “There have and continue to be five or six people I trust where I can check out an idea with them. When in doubt, it’s always best to have what I call ‘a jury of your peers.’ Having three to five people who can ‘weigh in’ on a question of interest or concern is a great way of keeping you grounded and puts in check pridefulness or self-righteousness.”

Harry recently retired from being a GCI District Pastor and says the experience was something he will never forget: “I had the awesome and amazing privilege of ordaining elders and deacons. I thank God for allowing me to do that through the years.”

When asked when he feels closest to God, Harry said it is when he is preparing a sermon. “During that time, I am always reminded by him of how much he loves me. When I am in the Word is when I am most reminded that God really, really loves us, that he saved us and that he has given us an everlasting relationship with him.”

Rannie Childress recently was named senior pastor of GCI’s congregation in Attalla, Alabama (he will be installed in a ceremony in October). GCI ministry developer Ted Johnston interviewed Rannie and Bob Miller, the congregation’s former pastor and Rannie’s mentor. The video below excerpts that conversation, telling Rannie’s story—an amazing testimony to the goodness and power of God.

On YouTube at http://youtu.be/HtONous96LM.

Marty Davey, who pastors GCI congregations in Jacksonville, Florida and Woodbine, Georgia was born in North Carolina but spent much of his early years moving between Florida and Tennessee. “This was due to my mother having open-heart surgery several times, beginning when she was age 30. My parents had to depend on proximity to their parents since I was one of four kids and our mother was usually ill. She was one of the original patients of Dr. Michael DeBakey in Houston who pioneered open-heart surgery. His surgeries were successful and my mother lived to be 67. She died in 2004.”

Though Marty grew up in a Baptist family, he shared that “we did not often attend worship or practice our beliefs. After struggling through my high school life with troublesome behaviors and relationships, I left home in Tennessee at 17, moved in with my grandparents in Florida and there began turning to Jesus to straighten out my life. I started reading the Bible during my senior year in high school and started worshipping with WCG in Gainesville, Florida in January 1976. I was baptized in June 1976.”

Marty went to Ambassador College in 1977 and there met Australian native Yvonne Verwater. They graduated from Ambassador College in 1981 and were married in August that year. They just celebrated their 32nd anniversary. They have three children, Amanda (Rick) Larson, Michael and Michelle.

Hired upon graduating from AC, Marty and Yvonne began their ministry in Houston, Texas. Since that time they have served as assistant pastor or associate pastor in Charleston, West Virginia; Cincinnati, Ohio; Mount Poconos, Pennsylvania; Muncie and Richmond, Indiana (their first assignment as a senior pastor) and since 1995 in Jacksonville, Florida and Woodbine, Georgia.

“Sharing God’s love and Jesus’ beautiful teachings with others,” is Marty’s favorite part of being a pastor. His most memorable moments include, “baptizing my three children and coming to see Jesus more clearly in his New covenant.” What he loves most about being part of GCI is, “being around the sincerely committed members and ministers as, together, we live out our new life in Christ.”

Speaking of Yvonne, Marty says, “Yvonne has been and still is, the perfect pastor’s wife: always faithful, deeply caring about the parishioners and serving others with a wonderful spirit of teamwork and humility. She presently coordinates the preteen children’s Sunday school program in our Jacksonville church and is a great encourager and source of wisdom. While she is active and supportive in church ministry, she maintains her own identity, interests and relationships, which help her to have a balanced and healthy outlook on life and ministry.”

In his free time Marty loves to fish. “I like fishing for real fish almost as much as I like fishing for disciples, but I’m not very good at either—yet.”

When asked about a mentor, Marty said, “I have learned many good things from all six of the pastors under whom I’ve served. Probably the most helpful mentoring came from Hal Baird, the first pastor who trained me. He was one of the kindest, warmest and most caring pastors one could imagine. His approach showed me what true ministry looked like.”

Marty says he feels closest to God “when prayerfully reading his word, or when peacefully observing the beauty of nature around me.” Regarding his passion, Marty said, “I like everything good in life and hope to stay around as long as possible in reasonable shape. I really like being human, so far, though I am excited about the new model as well!”

Mark Mounts, pastor of Community Christian Fellowship in Houston Texas, grew up in Quinter, Kansas, population 900. He became interested in WCG at age 17 and then attended Ambassador College where he met his wife, Debra. They celebrated their 29th anniversary in May. “We have been blessed with two children, Ryan and Courtney. They are adopted and are biological brother and sister. That’s rare and their story would be a book in itself. They have been a light in our lives; I can’t imagine them not being around.”

Mark’s life story centers around several key events. “I have one sister named Tamara. She was born with moderate cerebral palsy. Because of this we had to travel over an hour to a specialist for her weekly treatments until I was around nine years old. I believe this made me somewhat sensitive to the needs of others. I saw how my sister struggled and in spite of her physical deficits made the best of what life dealt her.”

Another event that transformed Mark was the separation of his parents when he was in seventh grade. “My parents had been having trouble for some time, but due to my age and the fact that we didn’t talk much, this was a traumatic shock. It was then that I unfortunately became familiar with emotions such as fear, hatred, anger and resentment. I felt that if my parents didn’t care (which wasn’t true), neither did I. So, I went off ‘the deep end’ at age 11. That lifestyle lasted until I was 14 when I realized that the only one I was hurting was myself, so I came clean. A few months later my parents got back together and we moved to a different town.”

During this time of turmoil, Mark’s sister started “living a lifestyle that was disruptive to our family. Because of this, I withdrew, feeling I had to take care of myself in the middle of all this chaos. She spent 35 years in that lifestyle and has been sober for six years. It’s a miracle that she’s alive and it’s great to have her back. Through all of this I knew that I wanted to work with people. So at 14 I decided I’d become a therapist. But God had a different idea.”

Mark’s life wasn’t all turmoil. During his young years, he became interested in shooting. “My father had lost his left eye at a young age in a tragic incident. Because of this he never played catch with me. But there was one thing he could do well: shoot. So, at the age of five he placed a single-shot 22 in my hands. I’ve been hooked ever since.”

Mark’s father had been reading WCG/GCI literature for years. “When we moved closer to a town with a WCG church, he and my mother started attending but didn’t force me to. One day I asked my dad what this new church’s idea was regarding heaven and hell. My reason for asking was because of things I had done during my teenage years, I honestly didn’t have much confidence that I had any chance of making it to heaven. He explained to me that there was more than one resurrection (according to our old beliefs). Ironically, that changed my life. For the first time I perceived God as merciful and the rest is history. I’ve been attending ever since.”

After graduating from Ambassador College in 1984, Mark took a job in business. “I am so glad I had a chance to see the heart and core of the business world; it was eye-opening to say the least. Everyone thought that I would be hired into the ministry straight out of college. I’m glad I wasn’t. God’s timing is perfect.”

Mark was hired as an associate pastor in 1987. “Full-time pastoral ministry has given me the opportunity to work with thousands of people and to pursue the desires of my heart. Later I had the opportunity to obtain a graduate degree in professional counseling. I have been given the opportunity to do what I truly wanted to do since my teenage years: work with people. I am constantly blown away as I see God work in deeply intimate ways in people’s lives. Through the experience he has given me, I feel I now am able to appreciate even the smallest of things and no longer take anything for granted.”

Mark credits GCI for changing his life and soul at its core. “When we changed our doctrines, it forced me to ask myself why I would affiliate myself with a legalistic religious organization that was known as a cult by most of the world. That depth of soul-searching has been going on ever since. God has used his process of change to help me understand that change truly is my reality. I don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow, not even in the next hour. But no matter what life may bring, I know to the depths of my soul that his will is being done for something much greater than just the way I feel about it. Grace set me free and continues to do so every day.”

When asked what he enjoys doing apart from pastoring, Mark said he loves to cook and exercise. “There is just something about food!!! First I love to eat it, and I really love to see how it can bring people together—it’s just cool.” He and Deb work out and cycle at a health club and ride bikes together fairly regularly.

Mark shared his most memorable moment as a pastor: “When I had been employed less than a year, I received a call from a member whose 16-year-old daughter had given birth to a profoundly premature little boy. I had to scrub up and put on gloves and a mask to enter the neonatal ICU. When I saw that incredibly small and frail little boy, I couldn’t believe it. I prayed for him and placed my fingers on two parts of his little body that weren’t covered with tubes or medical tape. That child died and the grandmother, who was a member, basically tore up the waiting room in grief. It was then I knew I could not do this job without relying totally on God. I would learn that even more deeply in the years to come.” As a result of learning that lesson, Mark shares that his passion has become developing a relationship with Father, Son and Spirit. “There is nothing else that matters.”

Asked when he feels closest to God, Mark said, “Honestly, when I’m at my worst. I have had to learn to trust that God shows me that side of myself on his timeline. Not so that I can shame or discredit myself, but so I can be thankful that he shows me that characteristic that I know I must surrender. It brings me closer to him. It has taken me years to finally understand this principle.”

Mark shared that he and Deb will be empty-nesters this fall. Deb is looking forward to getting even more involved with the congregation and their outreach.