Category: Be Inspired

“My heart’s desire is for all those who have been hurt by our past teachings and legalistic practices to be healed and to forgive, and for there to be reconciliation,” says Bob Regazzoli, pastor of GCI churches around Brisbane, Australia.

Bob grew up on a sugar cane farm in Ingham, North Queensland in Australia. “Growing up on a farm was a great start to life—the outdoor life, work and family being able to do so much together was a good grounding for the future.”

Bob was quite young when his father responded to a “Why Were You Born?” advertisement in Reader’s Digest and started listening to the Radio Church of God program in the early 60s. “The nearest congregation to us at the time was in Brisbane, 1500 kilometers away, so for the first seven years of our church life, the only contact we had was at the annual Festival and a ministerial visit every three or four years. Our parents were conscientious and we had regular Bible studies at home.” Bob said these family studies paid off. “Our immediate family, including my mother, two brothers and wives are still active members of GCI. My father died a number of years ago.”

When Bob was 16 years old, his family sold the farm and moved near Brisbane so they could attend church services. “During my last year of high school, I applied for Ambassador College and went to Bricket Wood, England as a 17-year-old. After two years there, I was transferred to Pasadena and graduated in 1974.”

Bob met his wife, Kathy, at Ambassador College. They married right after graduation. They have now been married 38 years and have three children. “We have two sons, Jonathan and Mark, who live in Brisbane, and a married daughter, Katie who with her husband, Andy, live in Frisco, Colorado.”

Bob was hired as a ministerial trainee after graduation and he and Kathy began their pastoral life in Melbourne. “After a year there, we were transferred. We have pastored in Ballarat, Bendigo, Perth and Sydney—and for the last 19 years in Brisbane and surrounding congregations.” What Bob enjoys most about pastoring is being involved in the members’ lives. “I find it a great privilege to be invited to share life experiences with our members—the joy of births, weddings, baptisms, as well as being there through the difficult times. I really enjoy the teaching aspect of the pastor’s role.”

Speaking of his wife, Bob said, “Kathy has been a great support in my ministry and has a real love for all our members and contributes in a number of areas in our congregation. Her professional life is as a teams coach with Medicare, and she has a strength in helping people utilize and develop their gifts.”

Bob’s most memorable moment as a pastor came in the midst of WCG doctrinal changes. “The most significant turning point in my ministry was in the midst of the major doctrinal changes in 1995 with all of the questions and turmoil, both internally and externally. It was then that the lights came on for me. It was a time of much study and prayer, and then the realization of what the new covenant was truly about, and then the ongoing understanding that this has led to, and our being ministers of the new covenant.”

When asked about being a part of GCI today, Bob said, “I believe that we are now at a wonderful stage in our journey as a fellowship. After 50 years of involvement with this fellowship, we have experienced the most remarkable changes. I wish the many who were part of our fellowship in the past could also come to experience the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit as we are being led to see and experience. Today we have many wonderful, mature Christians in our fellowship, including younger members who are enthusiastic about their life in Jesus.”

Bob said he considers the apostle Paul his greatest mentor. “I have found the epistles of Paul the most helpful guidance in pastoral ministry. In his writings we find the Holy Spirit’s expression through his heart and mind.”

When does Bob feel closest to God? “There are various times and locations, but coming to the Lord’s Table is no doubt the highlight. I love the lyrics by Getty and Townend in the song, “Behold the Lamb.”

James Newby, pastor of GCI churches in Joliet and NW Chicago, Illinois has been married to Karen for 19 years. They have six children: a son James (15) and five daughters: Jessica (13), Jemma (11), Josianna (9), Jade (7) and Jennifer (4). James affectionately refers to them as J1, J2, J3, J4, J5 and J6.

James grew up in Connecticut. “I was an adventurous, only child who rode his bicycle everywhere, including on a paper route. I saved my money, and by the time I entered college I had just enough to cover the $1900 down payment. It seems that ‘squeaking by’ is how I move into the next thing.”

James began attending WCG with his dad in the middle 70s. His mother followed later. “It was my first brush with formal religion. My mom was a non-practicing Catholic and my dad a disgruntled Scottish Presbyterian. They got married agreeing to believe in God but to not get entangled with church.”

In 1981, when Ambassador College reopened the Big Sandy campus, James moved to Texas to be a student. He finished his education in Pasadena. “After an extended college experience I moved to the United Kingdom, taking advantage of dual-citizenship and there became a ministerial trainee. After one year I was sent to Kenya for nearly three years, then returned to the UK. In 1995, after the doctrinal changes began to take a financial toll on the church, I was ‘let go’ (with the intention of staying in the UK as an unsalaried elder). But the opportunity opened to relocate to the US—and the Chicago-land area is where we’ve been since.”

For James, pastoring is where God led him and where God wanted him. “It was the course God laid out for me; from the time I went to college my prayer has always been ‘your will be done’ and I had a passion for working with our youth and camp ministries during my college years.” He has continued that passion by focusing on his neighborhood and immediate community. “I may not have the greatest ‘skill set’ and I may sometimes lose focus, but I want for nothing more than to see the good news transform my neighborhood—our Jerusalem—then Judea, Samaria and the world.”

GCI’s transformation has renewed James’ passion. “I enjoy our renewed vision—the redeeming work of our Shepherd Jesus, who has taken us on a journey toward missional discipling. I am grateful for his grace and patience and his revelation of the wonderful mystery of his triune nature and the power of the gospel which tells us we are included in Jesus’ life and love. I am grateful for the opportunity to declare that Jesus didn’t die ‘only’ to deal with our ‘sin problem’—rather he dealt with it so that we might have wholeness through fellowship with the Father, through the Son, in the Spirit, and with all of the redeemed. Sinde I began to believe it, the good news became even better!”

James’ passion is to see the church be the church. “I weep and ache and am learning how to work to see the redeemed—the reconciled, the included, the disciples—be on fire for the gospel, to live as community within the community, in the power of the good news. I long to see the reality of the church living loved and living sent, on mission with Jesus. I know this sounds like the new religious, in-speak, jargon of the decade, but I don’t see this as a passing fad or the church program of the moment. In our ‘landing on’ the Trinitarian truth of who God is and why he made us, I think we’ve landed on our calling—summed up in our mission motto: Living and Sharing the Gospel. I want to see the church be the church.”

When asked about a mentor, James said many have stood in the gap for him. “Many have been inspirational and have had mentoring roles along the way; some are no longer with us because of doctrinal differences, but even from within our old doctrinal paradigm, there were those who did an amazing job of mentoring me. In the last decade, it was Dave Fiedler who had the greatest impact on my ministry as an older-brother/father in the faith. He encouraged and championed and fought with determination to see the grace of God transform the pastors under his care. His impact will always be remembered as stalwart, passionate and compassionate.”

James says that his most memorable moment as a pastor was baptizing four of his six children. When asked when he feels closest to God, he replied, “Right now!”

Glen Weber, pastor of New Hope Christian Fellowship, GCI’s congregation in Eagle Rock, California was active in 4-H during his high school years. “One of my areas of focus was raising, showing and judging poultry. During my senior year I was the Wyoming State champion poultry judge. I guess that taught me the importance of being aware of details!”

Glen grew up in southeast Wyoming, “where we raised Hereford cattle and wheat with our family, my grandparents and my father’s sister and her family. It was a wonderful, Christ-created foundation upon which to build my life.” Glen’s parents began studying the Radio Church of God’s Bible Correspondence Course in 1955. “They were baptized on a baptizing tour in 1958 in the Laramie River when I was seven years old. I remember that day clearly.”

Glen said that the solid foundation of his his parents’ marriage has proven to be a blessing to the entire family. “Just before my father died recently, my parents passed their 63^rd wedding anniversary. They had known each other since first grade. They raised six children who have been married 38, 38, 37, 35, 24 and 13 years, respectively. When including the grandchildren who are married, and when we have all passed our anniversaries in 2013, we will have 343 years of marriage and one grandson joining in marriage this year—with no divorces! A testimony to what Christ can do in a family!”

After graduating from high school, Glen went to England to attend Ambassador College in Bricket Wood. “I spent four years as a student and one year as an intern in the ministry in England—and loved it. Upon completion of my one year of ministry internship (we called them Ministerial Trainees back then), I was hired into the ministry in Canada.”

Shortly after moving to Canada, Glen married his wife of 38 years, Connie. “Our families were both founding members of the Denver GCI congregation in 1959. We were married after I moved to Canada. While in Canada we added two sons to our family, Dennis and Paul. Dennis and Carolyn have one daughter, Sophie, who is 16 months old, and Paul and Katie have two children, Mollie (5), and Anderson (3) and a baby due this month. This will be my parents’ 24^th great grandchild.”

Pastoring is a dream come true for Glen. “From the age of about ten or twelve I felt called to ministry, even though I didn’t really understand what that meant. This June will be my 40^th anniversary of serving in ministry. Upon beginning ministry I was blessed to serve with four wonderful pastors in Northern England; Glasgow, Scotland; Belfast, N. Ireland and Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. After Kelowna, I was sent to plant a church in Castlegar, British Columbia as my first pastorate.” Glen and Connie spent 21 years pastoring in Canada before moving to the Spokane, Washington area where they pastored for 11 years. They then “moved to the Portland, Oregon area and three years later were invited to pastor New Hope Christian Fellowship in Pasadena (meeting in Eagle Rock), California.”

Connie is an integral part of Glen’s ministry. “I’m not sure I would have had a ministry for forty years without Connie’s support. Perhaps it is “prophetic” that I was hired for a start date on June 10, 1973, Connie’s 20^th birthday—even though we had not seen each other since we were in elementary school. In the years up to our sons’ leaving high school, Connie was full-time in ministry with me on visits and most church work. When our younger son graduated, we moved to the US and she went to work full-time out of the home to help us recoup financially, send sons to university and careers and save for retirement. She continues to be a vital part of my ministry and is loved by the members for her wonderful spirit. She also continues a card ministry to literally hundreds of people every year for birthdays, anniversaries, Thanksgiving, Christmas and more.”

When asked what he enjoys most about being a pastor, Glen said, “I enjoy preaching and explaining the Word of God ‘so a farm boy can understand it.’ Close behind preaching would be counseling young couples and performing marriages. However, I enjoy the wide variety of service within pastoral ministry. I could count on one hand the days I have wondered why I was a pastor.” This ties right in with Glen’s passion, which is, “Serving God’s people—especially those in my immediate family.” A highlight of Glen’s was when he was able to perform his son’s wedding ceremonies.

Glen feels thankful to be part of GCI. “Our growth in spiritual understanding has been amazing! I have found it a tremendous challenge and joy to read, study, teach and practice all that we have learned through the years. I also enjoy serving alongside our denominational leadership who are humble, serving men and women who are friends and ‘helpers of our joy.’”

Glen is currently working on his Master’s Degree at Grace Communion Seminary and he hopes to graduate this summer. After that, he may start playing horn again. “One day I plan to pick up the trumpet again. It’s in the closet; all I need is the time!”

Asked when he feels closest to God, Glen replied, “I am deeply moved by contemplative worship and prayer in corporate situations with pastors or congregations. Those are the times when I really hear the Holy Spirit speaking through the Scriptures and through other believers, and then as the Holy Spirit expresses the heart of God directly to my heart.”

Larry Wooldridge, who pastors GCI churches in Meriden and Stratford, Connecticut, was born in Buena Vista, Georgia, a farming community of about 1500 people. “It was very much an ‘Andy of Mayberry’ type existence. Our town was built around a square with the courthouse, which looked like an old antebellum home, at the center. Family-owned businesses surrounded it. There were mercantile stores that were a combination of food and clothing, a barber shop, two pharmacies, movie theater, bank, drycleaners, law office, three hardware stores, a furniture store, two car dealerships and a cotton gin. A couple of churches were just down the street.”

Larry’s dad was a pharmacist and Larry worked in his store after school and during the summer. “I loved horses and owned several growing up. When I had the chance I would ride, sometimes for hours, over the fields and valleys in the countryside. My parents never worried about where I was. They knew I’d always be home in time for supper. One thing that comes to mind when I look back is how safe it was. Everybody knew everyone and we looked after each other. Many people left the doors of their homes unlocked and keys in their car. I look back on those days with fondness and appreciation.”

It wasn’t all work and horseback riding for Larry; he became interested in the Bible and the “fascinating news concerning Christ” as a young child. “I’ve always been interested in history and the historical record of Israel, and Jesus was a strong attraction for me. When I first discovered what Jesus said in John 5:39, that the Scriptures are a testimony of him, the Bible became even more fascinating to me. To this day, over 50 years later, I have never tired of reading the testimony of Jesus in the Old Testament scriptures.”

Larry began listening to the World Tomorrow program and eventually applied for Ambassador College. He was accepted and attended in Big Sandy, Texas, where he met his future wife, Joan Mulley. “We married in August, 1972 and eventually moved to New England where she was from. I love this area and have had a long relationship with the churches here, even after her death in 1992. I stayed in this area because of its natural beauty and my love for the brothers and sisters in Christ I know here.”

Larry has been married to Connie for 15 years. “We met while she was working at GCI’s headquarters after the death of her husband. My first wife, Joan, had died in 1992 from breast cancer. Joan and I had two children together, Kathryn and Lester. Connie has one daughter, Janelle. Together, Connie and I have three grandchildren, Crystal, Derek and Madison.

While attending Ambassador College, Larry was asked to accompany pastors on local church visits. “I also began to speak in area churches, my senior year. Toward graduation, I was told the church wanted to hire me to go out into the ‘field’ to serve fulltime as a ministerial assistant. That was over 41 years ago. I was ordained on Pentecost 1973.”

That wasn’t the only event Larry celebrated that day. “My daughter, Kathryn, was born on the day I was ordained into the ministry. Both were a surprise. Kathryn had to be born at home in the evening and the next day was our Pentecost service. I asked the pastor if I could stay home with Joan, but he wouldn’t let me. His mother-in-law stayed with Joan instead and I had to go to church. I didn’t understand until being surprised with ordination. It was a whirlwind day!”

When asked what he enjoys most about being a pastor, Larry shared that his passion is seeing people grow in Christ. “I love the people whom I am privileged to serve. It’s a wonderful experience to see them embrace Jesus and let him work in their lives. I’ve seen them in their good times and their bad. I’ve baptized many of them, officiated marriages, buried their loved ones, been with them at the moment of death, celebrated with them their successes and shared in their sorrows. I just love to see people prosper spiritually and physically. My personal mission is to help them along the way.”

Larry loves to study the Bible and preach, but he considers himself more of a teacher than preacher. “I look at our worship service as a ‘meal out’ for the members. They’ve been ‘eating’ at home all week. Sunday worship is a time to go out, have a good meal and enjoy fellowship. I have two congregations that have a solid foundation on Jesus Christ. They expect to be ‘served’ Jesus when they come. He is the only thing, the manna, which keeps us going in the spiritual wilderness of this world.”

Connie is also involved in the ministry. Larry said, “She helps me and the congregation in three important ways. First, she manages my appointment calendar, making sure I know what’s coming and preparing for it. Second she coordinates the visiting, making sure people are not overlooked, or making sure a need is met. And third she is great in giving me advice and feedback. She helps me keep an ‘ear’ to the church, which helps with sermon ideas and needs.”

What does Larry love most about GCI? “The wonderful truth, the good news of Jesus, which is the gospel we proclaim. I’ve never been refreshed so much as when we, as a denomination, gained our sure footing on Jesus. We’ve a story to share with the nations, and that story is Jesus.”

Larry said he owes a lot to his good friend and mentor John Adams, who pastored in New Jersey until his recent retirement. “John became a friend over the years and we helped each other through some difficult times. We got together often to laugh, talk theology, scripture and how best to serve our churches and each other. We had a lot in common. I’ve never had a physical brother, but John became one to me. I couldn’t speak more highly of him. He is a dedicated servant of Christ.

When asked when he feels closest to God, Larry replied: “It’s becoming all of the time, but especially when I am ‘facing’ him and not ‘turning away’ from him. By ‘facing’ I mean personal/church prayer time, singing hymns, Bible study/reflection and meaningful fellowship with like-minded believers.”

Steve Schantz, pastor of GCI congregations in Orlando and Melbourne, Florida, grew up in the rural dairy farming community of Lowville, New York. “We enjoyed fishing and gardening in the spring, swimming in the summer, football in the fall, and ice-skating, sledding and snowmobiling in the winter. I took up tennis my senior year in high school and continued with it at Ambassador College in Big Sandy, Texas.”

At age 12, a large boil on his leg got Steve interested in the church his parents had been reading about—the Worldwide Church of God. “As the boil grew and became more painful, a red line of infection traveled up my leg. My mother had a year of nursing school before marriage and recognized the signs of blood poisoning.” Steve spent a lot of time praying and his parents asked for an anointed cloth to be sent. The boil burst and the healing began. “The red line disappeared and finally so did the boil without a trace. I knew that God had healed me and I was thankful! Although the habit of daily prayer would not be part of my life for several more years, I knew that God was with me and the incident was the beginning of a personal relationship with him.”

Because they lived far from church, Steve and his family were not able to attend often. “We spent most Saturdays that first year at home until a congregation was started in Syracuse, New York. When we could not be there on a weekend it was difficult for me. I would beg to attend events and social functions even if they were hours from home. I looked for ways to tie our faith and practice (as different as it was from that of my friends) to the rest of my life. The first fall festival we attended was in Mt. Pocono, Pennsylvania in 1967 under one of the ‘big tents.’ Our family was one of many who brought tent and camping equipment that first year and ‘roughed’ it at the Mt. Pocono camp grounds.”

Steve developed a passion to understand what it means to be “the people of God.” “Even when I struggled in later teen years with my sinful nature, it was a desire to be in fellowship with ‘the church’ that motivated me to pursue behaviors and interests that enabled this special spiritual/social interaction. I think without having a name for it all those years ago, what I was seeking and still love is koinonia.”

By age 16 Steve had fallen in love with music. “My love of music and playing saxophone in the high school band found an outlet at church dances, weddings, and festival entertainment shows. During my junior year in high school we traveled to St. Petersburg for the festival and attended an evening entertainment show put on by the Ambassador College, Big Sandy band and New World Singers under the direction of Gary Briggs. Listening to African American saxophonist Johnny Griffith perform a really cool jazz riff on tenor sax during one of the band’s more upbeat numbers had me hooked! I knew I wanted to go to Ambassador College and perform with that band! But my desire and reality didn’t coincide until the spring semester of 1974 after I finished a year as a music major at Onondaga Community College in Syracuse.”

Steve met Carol Allen at Ambassador College. “We dated in our junior year while serving in student government, leading in speech club and participating in the New World Singers (I played saxophone and she sang). I proposed to her in 1977, shortly before we graduated. We were married in July—this year we celebrate our 36th anniversary!”

The denomination did not hire any graduates into full-time ministry in 1977, so Steve and Carol sent out several letters of inquiry to WCG pastors in the southeast. “I was looking for employment and opportunity to serve in a local church. I heard back from Mel Dahlgren in southeast Kentucky, who was pastoring two rapidly growing congregations (London and Somerset) and had the potential for a third congregation without any ministerial help. Carol and I served congregations in the Appalachian region of the US for the next 11 years. Our son Benjamin was born in Lexington, Kentucky in 1982 and our daughter Brianna was born in Fairmont, West Virginia in 1984.”

At the same time Steve was searching for a church to serve, he was looking for employment. “I was hired in May 1977 as Personnel Director for Bell/Whitley, an agency overseeing programs for underdeveloped communities.” Steve was then ordained by Mel Dahlgren in 1978, and in 1979 hired into full time ministry as assistant pastor in Middlesboro, Kentucky. Since then, Steve has pastored in Clarksburg, West Virginia; Ft. Myers, Sarasota and Port Richie, Florida; and now in the Orlando and Melbourne, Florida.

When asked what he enjoys most about being a pastor, Steve said, “Everything (except filling out reports!): speaking, praying, fellowshipping, studying and equipping. If pressed for one thing in particular, I’d say theology shared in everyday settings.” Along that line, Steve mentioned that what he appreciates most about being part of GCI is, “the freedom to participate in what our triune God is doing in the world and the encouraging support we receive through education and equipping conferences that help us further our ministry skills.”

When asked what he would like others to know about him that we may not already know, Steve said this: “While at the fall festival in the Poconos during my sophomore year in high school, I completed a biology class assignment by gathering leaves and berries of trees unique to Eastern Pennsylvania. The teacher awarded me an A++. Now that I am older, I still enjoy the process of finishing a project. This probably comes with the turf of pastoral ministry, where your whole life is spent aiming for ‘in process’ goals. As a result, you ache to do something with a sense of completion. So I enjoy projects around the house—tiling, wainscoting and painting. I also enjoy surf fishing along the Atlantic coast (especially when the Blues are running!).”

Steve’s passion is to “learn more about the love of God and how to discover it in the ups and downs of everyday life.” He loves to share this passion when officiating at funerals. “I treasure the experience of naming and sharing the most powerful aspects of each person’s relational sphere of influence in ways that bring glory to God and draw us closer to him through his Son and by the Spirit.”

Mel Dahlgren, who serves as the senior pastor of GCI’s congregation in San Jose, California, spent the first twelve years of his life as a Seventh-day Adventist in New England. Mel continues the story:

My parents began listening to Herbert Armstrong from a small radio station out of Wheeling, West Virginia Convinced of his message they sold our home in Massachusetts, packed everything we could into our ’49 Plymouth station wagon and drove across country to Pasadena, California, where the headquarters of the church was located. Arriving on the Day of Atonement, I wanted to fast but didn’t quite make it. I fainted in church and yelled out just before passing out. The ushers came and carried me to the water fountain for a refreshing glass of water. The next day we headed east – for the Feast of Tabernacles in Big Sandy, Texas.

We returned to Pasadena where my dad got a job as a tool-and-die maker. My parents were baptized in the pool in the lower gardens of the Ambassador campus. They gave me the option of attending a Seventh-day Adventist church. I wanted to do my own research so I took the 58 lessons of the Ambassador College Bible Correspondence Course and found myself embracing this new way of life. I attended Imperial School from grade seven to twelve.

In 1965 I was accepted to Ambassador College in Big Sandy, Texas. I met my future wife, Barbara, my freshman year while we both worked on the custodial crew. Barbara was transferred to Imperial Schools as a student teacher her sophomore year, but I remained on the custodial crew until my senior year, when I was moved to the mail reading department.

Forging a romantic relationship at college was challenging since the rules dictated you could not date the same girl more than once a semester until your senior year. I had set my eyes on Barbara, so at the end of my junior year I invited myself to her home in St. Louis to “check out her family.” They received my stamp of approval, but they were not all that impressed with me.

That did not deter my quest, so I proceeded to counsel with our dean of students about “us.” When I told Barbara my plans she said, “You can counsel if you want but just so you know – there is a ‘you’ and a ‘me’ but no ‘us.’” Undeterred by minor details, I pursued our relationship and by the grace of God, Barbara agreed to marry me. So began our 44 year adventure in the ministry.

My desire had always been to become a minister, but in college I was informed that I wasn’t ministry material. I blushed when I spoke and my voice was too raspy. Imagine my surprise when they announced that I was to be sent out into the field ministry.

Barbara and I graduated on one day, got married the next and headed to our assignment in Jacksonville, Florida. We served there for three years, followed by a year in Charleston and Parkersburg, West Virginia. Then we spent nine years in the London, Somerset, and Middlesboro, Kentucky areas. Next, we went to Tacoma and Olympia, Washington for six years and then to Detroit and Ann Arbor, Michigan for four years before ending up in California where we have been ever since. For the past 20 years we have worked with the Aptos, Salinas, Watsonville, San Francisco, San Leandro and San Jose churches. Currently we pastor the San Jose congregation where we live.

What I enjoy most about being a pastor is participating in the amazing transformation that Jesus performs in the lives of those he is calling. It is such a privilege to extend to others the incredible grace of Jesus Christ that he has so freely extended to me.

I haven’t really had a mentor in ministry, but I am deeply grateful to Michael Feazell for teaching me the true meaning of grace by his personal example in how he worked with me when I was recoiling after hearing about the changes in our church. I remember saying after our phone conversation, “Now that’s grace.” And from that point on, change became a joy rather than, “Oh, boy, here we go again.”

Being part of GCI to me is refreshing. Like Jesus, we are not afraid to tell it like it is and make whatever changes are necessary to be aligned with truth. I don’t see the favoritism and politicking in our denomination that used to be prevalent. I thank God for delivering us from all that and bringing us into the glorious light of the true gospel of grace and truth in Jesus Christ.

My passions in ministry (which means serving) are first to my family, second to the members and then to anyone I meet. Barbara and I have three beautiful children (Shelly, Sherisa and Matthew) and two wonderful grandchildren (Sophia, 5; and Dakota, 18). Since family is one of our highest priorities, we spend as much time together as possible.

Regarding my personal life, it’s pretty much an open book entitled Zorro and Me, which Barbara wrote a few years ago. I wish I could say it was a book of fiction, but all those humorous stories are true. After devoting much of her life to supporting me in ministry, it was wonderful to see Barbara blossom as a talented and entertaining writer. She is a major blessing to me, our family, our church and everyone she meets.

In conclusion, what I am learning in our wonderful church family is how our relationship with God is an ongoing way of life. It gives new meaning to praying without ceasing, because we can feel close to God all the time as we acknowledge him in all our ways. When we forget, he has not forgotten us and we can simply run to him and know we are always accepted because of who we are as his precious children.

Bob Miller, pastor of three GCI churches in Alabama (Birmingham, Good Hope and Hokes Bluff) retired last May but continues to work part-time.

Bob started serving people a long time ago when he worked as a bellhop at a motel while in high school. “I assisted the manager in waiting on customers, ran the switch board—one with all the wires like you see in old movies. I would make beds and clean rooms. A daily ritual was to wash the glasses at the local restaurant and wrap them for the maids to put in the rooms. I turned on lights at night (screwing in the light bulb at every outside door) and shoveled snow during winter. Our business rate for a single room was $6.30 a night.”

Bob, who grew up in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, had a desire to teach from a young age, “but no real direction in my life. I have never been one to do a lot of long-term planning. I believe God has nudged and pulled me along and placed me where he wanted me to be—sometimes with me pulling a Jonah and trying to run.”

Bob started attending the then Radio Church of God in Pittsburgh when he was 16.

I rode to church with a neighbor who had taught the MYF (Methodist Youth Fellowship) I attended. Another young man, who became a WCG pastor, now deceased, Danny Bierer, rode with us—he and I attended high school together. Jimmie Friddle was our pastor and recommended us for Ambassador College. I consider him my father in the faith. As a young man I found the church’s teaching something solid I could grasp and it gave me a sense of direction and purpose in life. I found, being a teenager, a lot of encouragement and acceptance from the way the members loved and supported me.

Ambassador College gave Bob more than an education. It was on the Big Sandy, Texas campus that Bob met his wife-to-be, Ruth. “We were married at Big Sandy by Dean Blackwell on January 22, 1977.” Bob and Ruth just celebrated their 36th anniversary in January. They have three children: Lisa; Laurie, who is married to Mike; and Brian, who is married to Kristen. They have one grandchild, Jackson Miller Dewey, who is 2½ years old. Another grandchild is due in May.

Ruth has a passion for women’s ministry and has been leading a fall women’s retreat for many years. She also enjoys teaching, and is currently teaching a women’ss discipleship class in their Birmingham congregation. She also gives occasional sermons. She works full-time as church secretary for Saint Mark United Methodist Church in Vestavia Hills.

After graduating college, Bob served for a short time as a ministerial trainee in Tennessee. In 1970 he began working for a US Steel subsidiary in Akron, Ohio working in their data entry and computer department for five years. He eventually moved to church headquarters in Pasadena and was hired full time in the Postal department and ended up working in the Ambassador Publishing department all through the 70s and 80s. He also served as a deacon in the HQ congregations. “I was ordained an elder in 1988 and sent to Birmingham, Alabama in 1989 as an assistant pastor. When the doctrinal changes were introduced, we lost our senior pastor and I took his place in 1995. I have served in this area ever since.”

Bob said the best part of being a pastor is “giving encouragement and helping someone find their spiritual giftedness to serve God.” This is clear from his most memorable moment as a pastor. “I was blessed to baptize a man in prison and twenty-three years later participate in his ordination and serve with him in ministry.”

Bob and Ruth love that GCI has enabled them to be part of a worldwide family. “Ruth and I have been privileged to serve in many aspects of the denominational work and have come to know and love many dear friends. GCI has been so good to us and the way our denomination presents the gospel is the most encouraging message I can imagine.”

Bob’s hobby is gardening, but his passion is to help others understand the love of God. “My passion is to nurture and encourage others in their faith journey.”

When asked about people who have been mentors for Bob, he was quick to respond. “Two men come to mind: Jimmie Friddle and Roger Lippross. One was my pastor and the other my boss. Both encouraged me to do better and gave me opportunities to improve my life and the lives of those I love. They both set examples of faith, perseverance and a love for preaching the gospel.”

Asked when he feels closest to God, Bob said, “When struggling with life’s problems and receiving the peace of God during prayer and the counsel of my best friend and dear wife that keeps me on track.”

Lynn was born in Washington, D.C., grew up in California, married a Canadian and moved around Canada before settling in Montreal, Quebec where she now serves as pastor. That’s a short summary of a life filled with many moves, many life changes and a passion for serving God’s children.

“My mother became interested in the WCG/GCI in 1962. I was the oldest child so she explained all the changes she was making in our lives to me. My siblings and I went to Imperial School in Pasadena, California, and in 1966 my father became part of the WCG. He eventually wound up being the plant manager of the Ambassador College Press.”

Lynn’s early years included tennis and singing. “I think the things I remember the most from my teen years were my dad spending likely hundreds of hours coaching me in tennis. He had this great idea that it was a wonderful game. You only needed a racket, a couple of balls and one partner! Good idea in theory until we got moved to Canada! I also loved being in the Imperial Choraliers and later the Ambassador Chorale. I also loved being close to the beach.”

Lynn was baptized in 1971 while attending Ambassador College. It was there that she met Dennis Lawrence, a fellow student. After marriage they moved to Prince George, British Columbia in Canada. “He was ordained and we were transferred regularly like most GCI pastor families. We were moved to Montreal in 1999.

Lynn continued her education after Ambassador. “I loved the chance to get my masters in education from the University of Phoenix (getting it on-line was interesting in a number of ways), then a certificate as a document technician (I’m now a school librarian), and then my bachelor of education (I know, backwards, but what can you do?). I loved all this time in school.”

Lynn states that being ordained an elder resulted from her love for children and her involvement in Canada’s Eastern Canadian Camp. “My family has a history of being involved in youth ministry (my brother is Jeb Egbert) and I also had that love. Over time the elders that were involved with camp thought I should be ordained.” Lynn served as an elder for some time before becoming a pastor. “I became a pastor through a set of unfortunate circumstances. My husband, Dennis was diagnosed with cancer. For the two years he was sick I filled in and when it became clear that he would not survive, people started looking to me as the likely successor. This has been hard as I kind of think of myself in some ways as still filling in. I know I will find my place in this calling.”

Lynn thanks the congregation for helping her find that place. “Many in my church knew I felt uncomfortable with the title of pastor and so they used it all the time. I thought that was kind of sweet. They wanted me to feel okay with the place I was in.”

Lynn and Dennis were married for over 36 years. They have four daughters (Abbie, Erin, Judith and Erika) and two sons-in-law: Pierre (married to Abbie) and Nathan (married to Judith) and one grandson (Andrew) who is six and Abbie expecting in June—the projected day of delivery is her father’s birthday.

When asked what she loves most about GCI, Lynn said, “I have been a pastor’s wife for a long time, and being a pastor is a little different, but mostly I love the people. We have been in many amazing places. I think the thing I really love about GCI is its history. We have such an amazing worldwide family. When my husband was sick we heard from people around the world, some we knew and some we didn’t.”

As mentioned earlier, Lynn’s passion has always been church kids. “I love camp (I’m now the director) and the opportunity to love the campers but also challenge them to realize that someday the beliefs need to become their own. It is so amazing to watch what God does through each camp session.”

Lynn shared other passions, but noted that time has kept her from enjoying them. “This year has kind of taken the wind out of my sails, but before this I loved to read, cook, study history, take pictures, spin wool and a zillion other things. Now I have two jobs (I’m a bivocational pastor), so I don’t have much time for all of this, but we shall see what surfaces as a passion still, or perhaps some new ones.”

Lynn shared a recent highlight for her ministry. “I just got to help with the funeral for a grandmother of our church who died at 106. She was an amazing lady and I loved being part of the celebration of her life.”

Lynn says she feels closest to God in two ways: music and nature. “I love a wide variety of Christian music, all the way from Handel to contemporary and being near water is my best place for ‘God moments.’

Howard Blakeney, a district pastor and senior pastor in South Carolina, has been part of GCI since age two. “My mom was baptized in the Greensboro, North Carolina church in 1966. She then moved from Greensboro to Charlotte, North Carolina where we attended church and that is where I grew up. I was mostly absent from church from about age 19 to 21, though I would return during basketball season and that kept up my relationship with other teens.”

Howard and his wife Wanonia Myers-Blakeney are in their 28^th year of marriage. “For me it was love at first sight. We dated in high school and afterwards for a total of four years before getting married. We have three children (Kashonta, Ladaisha and Dale), one son-in-law (Bryant, married to Kashonta) and two grandchildren (Trevon and Kaylonee). We love to spend time with our children and our grands.”

Howard was baptized in May 1988 and began serving in the Charlotte church. He was ordained an elder in 1996. “I was then asked to assist Pastor Greg Williams in the newly planted Myrtle Beach, South Carolina church. He was pastoring three congregations at that time. After one and a half years, Pastor Greg and District Superintendent Keith Brittain decided I had a call to pastoral ministry. Eventually I agreed and became the senior pastor of the Myrtle Beach congregation in January 1998.” Howard planted the Marion, South Carolina congregation in 2000.

Howard, who is currently working on a master’s degree in theology, loves the history of GCI. “I love the long road that Jesus Christ has led us on. Our journey has been humbling, yet distinct in the body of Christ. I believe it enables us to help minister to folks who are trapped in legalism and works-oriented faith. Many still do not understand the grace of God!”

When asked about mentors, Howard noted the influence of Deacon Curtis Polk, Pastor Martin Manuel, Pastor Greg Williams, District Superintendent Keith Brittain and District Pastor Paul David Kurts. “These men taught me a lot about being a pastor and a leader.”

Howard’s passion is “To raise up things that God wants raised up. To help guide and grow what God wants grown. To develop and equip members to advance the kingdom of God under the leadership of the Holy Spirit. Our congregation hosts the Myrtle Beach fall conference each year. God has also given me a great passion for this.”

Recently, Howard was appointed to serve as the district pastor in North Carolina and part of Georgia. “The thing I enjoy most about pastoring is helping people, serving people, and seeing the growth in people as they stay the course and learn to trust Jesus in their lives. If I had to choose one moment as a pastor that is most memorable it would have to be baptizing all my children, my brother’s wife, my younger brother and both my sisters. Praise God!”

When asked when he feels closest to God, Howard said, “I feel closest to God in the midst of tribulation and difficulty. He has always given me the strength and power to trust him in the storms of my life.”

Dee Bulante, senior pastor of GCI’s churches in Portland, Oregon and Vancouver, Washington, grew up in the Philippines in Metro Manila. “I grew up with the hope that one day our family would move to the US because my mom applied for a workers visa back when I was just a kid. It took many years before the US Embassy reviewed her application; I was already a college student at that time.”

Growing up, Dee was active in sports and church. “I enjoyed ping pong, tennis, basketball and golf.” Growing up Catholic, Dee’s mother wanted him to become a priest. “I served as an altar boy and a reader.” Dee’s mother got part of her wish. He’s not a priest, but he is a pastor.

Dee started attending GCI in the Philippines in 1984. “I started listening to The World Tomorrow telecast and subscribed to The Plain Truth magazine and was intrigued by the message and teaching. I was baptized in 1986 in the Philippines, just prior to our family immigrating to the United States.”

The family was supposed to live in Florida, but ended up in Los Angeles in 1986. “I attended the Reseda church in Southern California for several years before 1997 when I helped Pastor Bermie Dizon start NewLife Fellowship in Pasadena.”

Dee, who was divorced in 2009, married Lisa on March 18, 2012. “I have two stepsons, Nelson and Eli Heimsoth. Nelson is a freshman college student in Southern California. Eli is a sophomore in high school in Oregon City. My wife Lisa has been a teacher for over 20 years in the North Clackamas School District. She also serves as a union officer in the local chapter of the National Education Association.”

Dee served with Pastor Dizon at NewLife Fellowship for two years as a bi-vocational pastor. “Bermie was my mentor. He saw the passion and zeal I have for our Lord Jesus and acknowledged my sincere desire to serve in pastoral ministry.” The mentoring served Dee well. “I was hired as a full-time salaried pastor in 1999. It was during our time of transition from legalism to grace that I felt the calling of God to enter vocational ministry. I embraced our freedom in Christ through our new theological understanding and was excited, encouraged and motivated to share that amazing grace to our members and others. We were losing many of our pastors at the time, either through voluntary departure or financial difficulties. I sought a meeting with Dan Rogers to convey to him my desire to serve, in whatever capacity, the denomination during this time of transition. This meeting led to my hiring and subsequent transfer to pastor in Tucson, Arizona.”

After serving the GCI congregations in Tucson and Sierra Vista, Arizona for two years, Dee was transferred to Washington and served as the senior pastor of the Olympia and Port Orchard congregations. “I transferred to Vancouver, Washington in 2010, where I now serve as senior pastor of our churches in Portland and Vancouver.”

When asked what he enjoys most about being a pastor, Dee said, “This is easy. I love sharing in the lives of the members of our church and their families. I’m especially excited about teaching biblical doctrine and helping people apply it to day-to-day living. Secondarily, I enjoy the pursuit of knowing the Triune God and the privilege of unpacking the truth of the immense love of the Father, expressed through the grace of the Son in the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Understanding the truth of our acceptance and inclusion in the life and love of the Trinity instructs and guides me in loving the people that God brings to my circle of influence.” Dee also mentioned GCI’s fellowship and unity. “I feel at home with our churches and members in other states and countries when I have the privilege to be with them.”

We asked Dee what he would like others to know about him that they may not already know. “It embarrasses me a little bit to confirm this,” he replied, “but I do love reality TV. I was a fan of The Real World on MTV when it pioneered the genre of reality-based TV programming. It has since morphed into reality game shows and other weird shows. I currently like watching Top Chef, Survivor, and yes, The Bachelor/Bachelorette.”

While reality shows provide entertainment, Dee’s real passion is God’s Word. “I am passionate about preaching and teaching the good news of the Father’s love through the Son by the power of the Spirit.”

Dee shared an interesting memorable moment. “I was preaching with fervor and enthusiasm during one of our festival days, when from out of the audience a woman leapt to her feet, ran towards me and kissed my cheeks. At first, I didn’t know what she had in mind, but certainly appreciated that endearing gesture. It has not happened to me since. I guess it went downhill from there (smile).”

Dee finished up by sharing this: “I feel closest to God when I am worshiping him through music because I feel his love for me through the words sung and can express back to him my devotion and gratitude.”