ECC Shepherd 

There is one scripture that comes to mind as Gary shares his story. Psalm 37:23 says, “The steps of a [good] man are established by the LORD, and He delights in his way.” If you break it down, it reads, “The goings of a good man are secure and enduring, God delights and takes pleasure in his [my] journey.”

The continuity of Gary’s life has been ministry and mission. He grew up in a pastor’s home and comes from a long line of faithful servants. The seeds of full-time mission work were planted in Gary when he was in his late 20s, when he participated with Mexico Outreach through Azusa Pacific University. Gary helped lead two youth teams. In 1997, he began a five-year experience as a staff mission pastor in Oregon. This step began the foundation building of what Gary sees as his life’s work or calling—helping build Christ’s Church across the expanse of His commission at home, regionally and to the nations.

Gary met Dave Graffenberger of OMS International in 2000, went to Africa and soon after joined the work of Every Community for Christ (ECC). In 2004, Dave asked Gary to be his personal assistant, and in 2006, he was commissioned as the Northwest Region director. As a complement to Gary’s mission career, he has been assigned as an ECC shepherd for Rwanda, Burundi and Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (Great Lakes Region, Africa). It’s been an incredible journey, one step at a time!

Regional work is unique in that it offers a broad base of opportunity to influence, mobilize and build “the church.” Gary is a team-building leader; therefore, OMS has a growing Northwest Region team. His passion and the team’s passion is to partner with God to help believers take that next step, and in doing so, recognize the delight and good pleasure of their loving heavenly Father.

Gary considers it an awesome privilege to serve God through OMS in the Pacific Northwest…and in the nations!

Missionary Account #802272