Gary Ewer, Director of Membership and Ministry Connections

Email Address: garye@vbconline.org

Life verse: Proverbs 3:5-6 – “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Testimony:

I was baptized as an infant in the Lutheran Church. I primarily attended services on Easter and Christmas. Growing up in the church, I heard about God’s love and Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. However, God seemed very distant, impersonal, and unapproachable to me. In fact, I often felt overwhelmed by guilt because of my life-style and actions. I had no peace with God and could not see anyway to possibly please Him. My only hope was that someday my good works would eventually out weigh my bad ones.

While serving in the US Navy in 1972 a fellow crew member presented the Gospel to me and told me that I could have peace with God through Christ. He also said that I could have a personal relationship with God. As we read the Bible together that day my heart was struck with God’s love and grace towards me as an individual. I prayed and gladly trusted Christ as my savior. My relationship with God continues to grow today. God has greatly blessed my life since I put my trust in Him.

I served as an Assistant Pastor and K-12 Christian School supervisor at Temple Baptist Academy in Olympia, WA, during the early 1980′s. In December of 2000 I accepted a part-time role as a Ministry Director at Village. I enjoy working with our people and helping each person discover and use their spiritual gifts to serve our community.

Who are the important people in your life? My wife Robin, our three sons, and their families.

What is your day job? Director of Education for Platt Electric Supply – I direct a corporate university, training 900 employees in six western states.

What do you like to do in your free time? Reading, astronomy, gardening, and fishing.

What do you love to do in ministry? Help people identify and use their God given gifts, talents, and abilities to serve others.

What is something most people don’t know about you? I am passionate about leadership development and as part of my graduate studies I recently attended the Disney Institute in Anaheim California.

How did you first come to Village? Why did you stay? Robin and I first visited Village in 1990. We found the Bible teaching and worship to be very meaningful and fulfilling. We have now been at Village for 20 years and are very excited to see God’s leading as we grow into a multi-ethnic and multi-generational church.

What’s on your reading list?

  • Blackaby, H., and Blackaby M. (2004), What’s so spiritual about your spiritual gifts?  Multnomah Publishing, Sisters OR.
  • Buckingham, M. (2008), The truth about you. Thomas Nelson Publishers
  • Buckingham, M. (2007), Go put your strengths to work.  Free Press: New York
  • Hillman, O. (2005). The 9 to 5 window: How faith can transform the workplace. Regal: Ventura CA.
  • Hybels, B. (2004), The volunteer revolution: Unleashing the power of everybody. Zondervan: Grand Rapids, MI
  • Lucado, M, (2005), Cure for the common life: Living in your sweet spot. Thomas Nelson Publishing: Nashville TN
  • Maxwell, J., Graves, S., and Addington, T. (2005). Life @ work: Market place success for people of faith. Nelson: Nashville TN
  • Ortberg J. (2010), The me I want to be: Becoming God’s best version of you. Zondervan: Grand Rapids MI
  • Wanseman, A., Clifton, D., and Liesveld, C. (2004), Living your strengths: Discover your God given talent and inspire your community. Gallup Press: New York
  • Warren, R. (2002), The purpose driven life: What on earth am I here for? Zondervan: Grand Rapids, MI.