Leadership

Born and raised in Rockford, IL, Gary came to Christ through the faithful teaching of the Bible at Maywood Evangelical Free Church.  In his early twenties, while serving in the church and on the leadership team of a singles ministry, Gary met his wife, Shawna.  They were married in June of 1990.

Gary received his associate degree from Rock Valley College and continued on to get his bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Illinois State University.  At the encouragement of the leadership of his church, he went on to earn his Master of Divinity degree from Trinity International University.  He later served as an intern for Maywood Evangelical Free Church, working in Children and Family ministries.  

From August 2001 to August 2014 Gary served as the senior pastor for Carney Evangelical Free Church in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.  During that time Gary served on the board of directors for Lake Lundgren Bible Camp and was invited to speak at various youth and adult camps.

Gary and Shawna expanded their family while in the U.P. of Michigan, welcoming their son, Jonathan, in August of 2007.  The family enjoyed exploring the beauty of the Upper Peninsula during their 13-year tenure in Carney.

In the spring of 2014 Gary and his wife felt God calling them in a new direction and moved to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin to take positions at Lake Geneva Youth Camp.  Gary served as the Guest Services Manager where he met, and prayed with, many of the local pastors and leaders of youth and family ministries in the area.  One such meeting resulted in serving as the Interim Pastor for Lighthouse Bible Church in Lake Geneva, WI. 

In 2021 Gary responded to the dual calling to be the Pastor at Lighthouse Bible Church and a journeyman press setup/operator at Brunk Industries. He is a blue-collar pastor reflecting the value that all work is a sacred calling from God. This fulfills the command to do all things to the Glory of God.  

Gary’s passion to see faith lived out in practical ways and Christ proclaimed, is reflected by his expository preaching and teaching through entire books of the Bible.