A friend, a student, a legacy
Mark Greenwood offers a personal tribute to Gary Gibbs, who retires this year
This month, Gary Gibbs, Director of the REACH department, will retire. When I say ‘retire’, I’m not sure evangelists ever really retire, but he will move into a new season and will no longer be the Director of REACH, Elim’s evangelism and church planting department.
I wanted to take this opportunity to write something to express my gratitude to Gary and to acknowledge the impact he has had, not only on myself, but on Elim and the broader body of Christ.
A friend
There are people you get to work with in life and it feels more like you are with a friend than with a colleague. That’s Gary Gibbs. I have had the privilege of working with Gary on the REACH team as National Evangelist for coming up to six years, although I have known him for much longer than that personally. I first met him in the early 90s at the Evangelists’ conference which was organised by the Evangelical Alliance.
There has been much banter and laughter, and occasional tears, as we have travelled together through ministry life. We have chatted, reflected and sought to put the evangelism world to rights – all sorts of issues surrounding evangelism and mission and evangelists. We have loads in common but we have some differences of opinion too and we respect those in each other.
Gary has been an amazing line manager but at the same time treats me as an equal. He has never pulled the ‘I am the boss’ card out when we disagree over things.
He has been a remarkable friend, or to use a word you will often hear when Gary and I are talking, he’s been a ‘mate’ and for that I am truly thankful.
A student
If you spend any time with Gary you will quickly realise that he is well read in the area of mission, evangelism and church planting, both in terms of history and also where we are now. He lectures at Regents and I know his teaching is very much appreciated there.
Gary has great ability to read, digest and communicate really well. He manages to fuse together being a student of evangelism and being a doer of evangelism. He is a genuine Ephesians 4 evangelist and has been so for decades.
A legacy
I still meet people today that Gary led to Christ, as well as others where he played a significant part in their discipleship journey, including seeing the potential in people and releasing them. This has been a consistent lifestyle for Gary. He really has left a legacy.
There are many churches planted today where Gary has significantly helped, none more so than Elim’s city church plant in Wolverhampton, where he and his wife Sally have served alongside Simon and Dee Woodward. I know they have appreciated the investment and wisdom Gary has given there.
So whilst he’s retiring from paid ministry, Gary isn’t retiring from evangelism. He’s entering a new season and I would encourage you to book him to come and minister in your church. Whether it’s evangelistic, or equipping, you are sure to learn something from a man who has so much to offer the body of Christ.
“Gary, thank you for staying faithful to the gospel and the gift of the evangelist. Gary, you are an example to us young ones (am I young?!). You have left a real legacy – thank you.” Mark Greenwood.
Gary remains a minister in the Elim family and will still be available to serve our churches. Find out more at garygibbs.org
This article first appeared in Direction Magazine. For further details, please click here.
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