Feature: Church family
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Family goes beyond the confines of genetic ties. For Gary Gerstenberger ’84, youth pastor at Indianapolis Westside Church of the Nazarene, the Olivet influence has spread wide in his church family.
In his 23 years as a youth pastor at different churches, Gary has helped send approximately 100 of his youth to Olivet. In addition, next year, Gary and his wife, Renee (Gray) ’85 will send their son, Jordan, to Olivet. His own positive experiences with this institution have prompted him in helping his students find the best place possible to continue their spiritual growth beyond high school.
“I believe in what Olivet stands for and the experience students will receive when they spend four years on the campus,” explains Gary. “I believe Olivet is the place I want my students to check out first when they are seeking God’s will for their lives after high school graduation. Olivet is a wonderful place to get an education, grow spiritually and make lifelong friends.”
Gary graduated from Olivet with a double major in Christian education and psychology. He didn’t enter Olivet with those degrees in mind, however. He understands firsthand how God can alter career goals.
“I came to Olivet as a business and accounting major but God called me during my sophomore year to fulltime youth ministry,” he recalls.
Gary pours himself into the ministry of teaching students God’s word, and mentoring them in making wise decisions that will affect their future.
“It’s my calling to help them grow spiritually through the junior and senior high years. It’s my goal to get them to Olivet to continue the spiritual process,” he says.
His own Olivet experiences were full ones. “I found … spiritual growth, lifelong friends and a career that God can direct and a calling to be a good churchman and serve the kingdom,” remembers Gary.
Olivet stands out to Gary when he assists students in navigating the quagmire of college choice for a number of reasons.
“I believe Olivet provides the right atmosphere that has helped my students in the decisions they will make that will affect the rest of their lives. The difference for them is not education alone, but a lifestyle of putting God first in their lives,” says Gary.
As nearly 100 students that Gary has ministered to have attended Olivet, the fruit that he witnesses from their adult lives is inspiring.
“I have observed students who are serving God in ministry, as evangelists, pastors, pastor’s wives, teachers and businessmen. Some of the amazing fruits are hearing from these students and what they are doing in their local churches for the kingdom,” he begins.
“I’ve enjoyed watching students get involved in leadership at Olivet. I’ve witnessed them lead student government, serve as class presidents, and [participate] in athletics, public relations music groups and spiritual leadership roles on campus.”
“I’m proud of all of them, and have seen firsthand how Olivet helped them to grow as individuals. I am blessed to now have some of my [former] students return back to Indianapolis [after college] to mentor and nurture our local students at Westside.”
Despite the vast numbers of students Gary has been instrumental in sending to Olivet, this is no numbers game. He simply lives obediently; viewing each individual student as sent on their way to a lifetime lived for God, and to him, that’s a ripple effect worth celebrating.