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Written by Sparky Pritchard Saturday, 24 July 2010 05:17

Twenty-six years ago – it was November 28, 1984 – Gary and Deby Wiley joined Immanuel, coming to us from Mesquite Bible Church in Mesquite, Texas.  Through the years we watched their children – Paul, Sarah, Leah, and Joel – grow up before our eyes.  Gary’s passion for the gospel and for the lost led him into the ministry as he served with Good News Jail & Prison Ministries locally and was supported by the church as one of our missionary families.

In the fall of 1992, as Gary and I enjoyed a lunch together, the possibility of his joining our church staff was briefly mentioned.  That was followed up with further discussions and on October 28, 1992, the Wiley family became part of the church staff with Gary serving as our Pastor of Christian Education and Missions.  Deby willingly served alongside her husband in the Nursery, Sunday School, Church Time, Wednesday Clubs and Vacation Bible School.  Together they gave of their time and energies to provide direction for the training of our children in the Word of God.

In becoming our first Missions Pastor, Gary assumed a role in which he would be greatly used of God.  Our missions budget for 1992 was $309,764.  Last year our budget for missions was over $500,000.  There were 31 families or individuals listed on our roster in 1992 including the Wileys.  Today there are 44 missionary families or individuals that we support.  Those who have been commissioned or have been added under Gary’s tenure include:

Rev. and Mrs. Cam Abell                                         Rev. and Mrs. Charles Furrow

Mr. and Mrs. Richard Acquaye                                Mr. and Mrs. Lindsay Gilliam

Rev. and Mrs. David Andersen                                Mrs. Charles Haines

Dr. and Mrs. Henry Baldwin                                    Mr. and Mrs. Tim Harold

Rev. and Mrs. Brian Barton                                     Mr. and Mrs. Terry Jones

Mr. and Mrs. Steve Battaglia                                    Rev. and Mrs. Scott Ogburn

Mr. and Mrs. Ron Benoit                                         Mr. Richard Olson

Rev. and Mrs. Peter Bowers                                     Mr. Gary Powell

Rev. and Mrs. David Brown                                    Mr. and Mrs. Eric Seidlitz

Miss Sabrina Chan                                                   Mr. and Mrs. Larry Smoak

Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Conley                                   Rev. and Mrs. Matt Van Gorden

Rev. and Mrs. John Corcoran                                  Mr. and Mrs. William Willaford, III

Rev. and Mrs. Harold Dimmitt                                 Mr. and Mrs. David Zinn

Mr. and Mrs. Eric Froelich

That represents 27 new families or individuals who are serving the Lord.  But all of our missionaries have benefited from Gary’s faithful work in assisting them and in keeping us informed as a congregation regarding the needs of our missionaries.  Gary has brought to the table new ideas and has directed the development of our Missions Oversight and Missions Partnership Programs.  He has personally visited numerous missionaries on their field of service to offer encouragement.  Every week Gary has kept us up to date through our “Missionary Prayer and Praise Calendar” in the bulletin and through the church website.

There is so much more to say, but space doesn’t allow it.  The one thing that must be said is that the Wiley family has blessed us through their family, their sacrifice, their example, and their faithfulness.  We will miss them.  I will miss them.  And I “commend [them] to God and to the word of his grace which is able to build [them] up and to give [them] an inheritance among all those who are sanctified” (Acts 20:32).

With gratitude, from Sparky and All God’s people at Immanuel