BIOGRAPHY:  Rev. R. Todd Gates

R. Todd Gates is the new pastor of our church.  He came here at the beginning of July 2008 to start his 16^th year of ministry.  He is experienced in rural church ministry and excels in focusing on personal and church outreach, or as he likes to say “Jesus calls us to move from the church into the world”.  Todd has experienced firsthand, the joy and peace of finding Jesus, and that informs everything he does.  “The most significant thing that ever happened to me was a specific experience of God’s presence.  This powerful event left me convinced that God knows, cares about, and seeks the best for all people.  My calling is to tell folks they are loved by God and that following Christ in service to others is the true path to happiness.”

Over his ministry Pastor Todd has shown that in many ways including leading missions to Haiti, Mexico, Appalachia, Urban Cincinnati and the Navajo Reservation.  Also, there have been many creative community projects in which the church has taken the lead such as building a playground for a Head Start program and holding chamber music concerts to raise money for the elementary school library.  He is a licensed volunteer firefighter and also served as chaplain to the Lindsey Volunteer Fire Department.

Pastor Todd grew up in Northern Columbus where he attended Northland High School (’77).  He attended college at Bowling Green State University where he achieved a Bachelor of Science in Education, ('83).  He also played on the Falcon Football team from 1977-1980 where he was a first team All MAC, Sporting News All American (Honorable Mention).  And another valuable award “Of all the awards I ever received, I’m most proud of being selected by teammates as the BGSU football team’s Most Valuable Player in 1980”.  Todd also spent the summer of ‘81 in training camp with the Philadelphia Eagles but did not make the final roster.

A second career minister, Todd has previously taught Marketing Education in public schools where he also coached football.  He taught corporate education in Dubai, United Arab Emirates where he created and taught western hospital personnel how to live and thrive in a cross-cultural environment (Arabic/Muslim).  He also worked for Ohio Industries for the Handicapped (OIH) teaching marketing and sales to sheltered workshops throughout Ohio.  He taught business classes part-time at Southern Ohio College while working for OIH.

After his career in public, corporate and higher education, Pastor Todd attended Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky.  He received a Masters of Divinity degree (M.Div., 1996).  There he was a student pastor, ministering in a 2-point rural charge near Portsmouth, Ohio.  He also founded and served as three year editor for the student journal “The Asbury Witness”.  He was selected as one of 3 senior class preachers and had the privilege of preaching at the last chapel service of the year during graduation week in historic Estes Chapel.

Pastor Todd is married to Ginny who hails from Dayton and is a graduate of Ohio University.  She has been a long-time stay at home mom, Group Home Coordinator, and most recently a Middle School Health and Physical Education Teacher.  She has always been active in church affairs.  “She is an important partner in ministry,” says Todd, “she has a wonderful ministry with young people and is a terrific organizer and leader in her own right”.  When Pastor served as associate pastor in a large Cincinnati church, Ginny was asked ,during a staff change, to fill in as the temporary Christian Education Director.  The church was so comfortable with Ginny in that role they comfortably took nearly a year to find a new CDE.  We’re blessed to have her as well.

The Gates family is rounded out with Lucas (19) who is a sophomore at Otterbein College in Westerville studying Psychology and singing in the Otterbein Choir.  Mitchel (17) will be at Hi Point JVS for half day and Ben Logan High School for half day.  He is in the special education program at Ben Logan.  Clayton will be in 10^th grade at Ben Logan HS.  He is in the Band and loves to play Jazz Saxophone.  He also is in his 4^th year of wrestling.  Chloe, is a 7^th grader who is heavily into art and clarinet.  She also enjoys and hopes to work with animals, especially horses.

Rev. Gates says, “My philosophy of Ministry revolves around my United Methodist ordination to Word, Sacrament, and Order.  I strive to preach the historic gospel in a way that helps people find Christ in all the ways that are important to them.  I’m honored to offer the sacraments and all means of grace to those in need of them.  And I seek to help the local church create a healthy body that is faithful to the Great Commandment and the Great Commission.  In all things, I seek the Lord’s leading.”

We invite you to come hear the Word of God preached at our worship services by our minister, Pastor Todd Gates.