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 Gary Weatherly was born May 7, 1940 and raised in Kern County, in the Central California Valley, surrounded by oil fields and cotton fields. When Gary was thirteen years old, his mother and father divorced and "normal" life ended for him and his younger brother, Brian. He began to rebel against any authority and started moving toward a life of violence and crime.
At the age of seventeen he was invited to spend a summer in Dayton, Ohio with his grandfather, Earnest Weatherly. This was a turning point for his life because his grandparents were praying Christians. And because of their prayers, Gary turned away from violence and crime and began to move toward a relationship with Jesus Christ.
However, Gary didn't make a commitment to Jesus until years later, after five years of college and twelve years in the music business under the influence of money, sex, drugs, alcohol and rock'nroll. But God, in His great love saved Gary from sin and death.(Read Ephesians 2)
In Costa Mesa, California, Gary made a real commitment to Christ and began to grow as a Christian under the ministry of Pastor Chuck Smith. There, in 1974, he learned the meaning of the "Love of God." Gary began to serve the Lord by taking the Gospel wherever he could. He preached and ministered in music with Christian bands and by himself, on the streets, in Rescue Missions and prisons, visiting Juvenile Halls and convalescent homes. Gary also ministered in music & the word at evangelistic outreaches and churches.
In 1978, God called Gary to a Prison and Juvenile Hall Ministry in Napa, California. Jesus saved his daughter, Cari and son, Damon, Gary's children from his B.C. (Before Christ) days. Cari has 3 beautiful girls, Holly and twins, Kristin and Katherine. They now live in Bakersfield, CA. Gary's son, Damon and his beautiful bride, Susan, now live in Forestville, in Northern CA, with a beautiful daughter, Shelbie (12/1/92) and handsome son, Dylan (4/4/95).
As Gary served God there in the beautiful Napa Valley, he met and fell in love with dazzling Debbie Adkins, and in 1979 they were married. To support his family and the Ministry, Gary opened the Napa Valley Art Studio and Gallery with James Michael Orr, another Christian artist. Gary's "Napa Valley Scenes" brought the Gospel message to thousands of people who purchased them in the wine country gift shops: www.artofgary.com - www.myspace.com/garylweatherly
God eventually moved Gary out of the Art Gallery into the office of Pastor-teacher as he taught home Bible studies in Napa, Sonoma & Santa Rosa finally moving to Santa Rosa in 1982 and establishing Calvary Chapel of Santa Rosa.
Gary and Debbie are the parents of five children.
Their son, Matthew and his sweet wife, Kellie have a beautiful baby girl, Jessie Taylor (2/15/01) a strapping boy, Elijah James (12/22/02). Another gorgeous Girl, Alyssa Michelle (4/5/04) *** AND a big boy, Luke Aaron (7/3/06)***
They live in Santa Rosa. Matt plays guitar and sings and serves in the music ministry at Calvary Santa Rosa and other outreaches - as time allows.
Their son, David (12/26/81), is gifted by God with music, playing drums, guitar, keyboards, singing and writing. He lives in Santa Rosa. Their Son, Michael (7/11/83), is also a gifted singer-songwriter, bassist and guitarist. God has gifted him for His purposes. Their dazzling, beautiful daughter, Faith (3/27/85) graduated from Calvary Chapel Bible College in 2005. She is in our prayers and the prayers of the Church for direction in the use of her many God-given gifts. Their youngest son, Douglas Aaron (9/29/90) plays drums, & guitar to eventually serve the Lord with his talents. Gary and Debbie Home Schooled their children since 1985.
Debbie oversees the Women's Ministries at Calvary Chapel and Pastor Gary still does special music ministry concerts with the "X Outlaws" or with his family "The Traveling Weatherly's". He also maintains an on-line art gallery at www.artofgary.com in support of his ministry gifts in teaching the Word of God and evangelism.
Pastor Gary says: "We pray for the day when we will all minister together before the throne of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ."
 These are my beloved praying Grandparents sometime in the early 1960's.
Georgia Ella (Larkin) Weatherly (1874-1967) and "Ernie" Earnest Antrim Weatherly (1886-1972) |
