Gary Sutliff

I really love talking to people about the Scriptures and science things. It has been a passion for a long time. A summary of my background is as follows:

I was raised in a loving and stable Christian family, and I received the Lord as my personal savior giving my life to Christ at a summer camp at the young age of 13. Being born and raised in San Diego, California, I spent much of my time outdoors and at the beach, with a surfing type lifestyle typical of the 50’s and 60’s. At the age of 15, I had the blessing to be personally mentored by a church pastor, was one of many in the “Jesus Movement” of Southern California (of the 60’s) and was very active spiritually.

At Capernwray Bible College in England, right after high school, I met the beautiful and talented girl who was to become my wife. We were married 4 years later, lived in San Diego and raised a family of two girls and one boy. Today, all of my children are married and along with my wife Kay have 5 grandsons and one granddaughter. Spending time with family is a big part of our lives, aided by the fact that all three of the families live in our local area.

Professionally, after graduation from California State Polytechnic University: San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly SLO) with a degree in Aeronautical Engineering (structures and mechanical emphasis) I worked as a structural design engineer at General Dynamics Convair working on the Space Shuttle mid-fuselage program, cruise missile and several classified efforts. After 6 years, I joined a small research and development group doing high tech classified military projects, progressing from lead engineer to engineering manager to engineering director to company chief engineer. The company was acquired by McDonnell Douglas and relocated to Arizona in 1996 and Gary assumed responsibility of a small research team of 20 people. Boeing purchased McDonnell Douglas a few years later and Gary continued in a senior manager position leading an advanced research and development group chartered to advance the technology state-of-the-art in a unique area of classified research.

I took and early retirement from Boeing in 2012 and began working as the Executive Pastor of Ministries at Mission Community Church in Gilbert Arizona which has been my home church for the past 16 years. I really love working with this awesome group of staff and church which is led by my good friend, Mark Connelly.

God has given me a passion to study the scriptures, which with God given opportunities, have been able to diligently apply over the years. Early on, I attended home bible studies while growing up and upon graduation from college; then began to teach the scriptures in small group settings. I have taught numerous bible studies and adult Sunday School classes throughout my life covering subjects from books of the bible and topical studies including science and the bible and various end times subjects. I am very committed to the God given charter of the local church serving in many ministry areas over the years.

Using my leadership gifts, I have served on elder boards for the past 30 years and have been chairman of the board for most of those. I have participated in 5 church building programs, leading the last two, which include a $12m church campus expansion including a new worship center seating 1,500 people.

Other current interests include woodworking, golf, backpacking and mountain climbing.

In continued pursuit of a God given passion, I have formally studied the scriptures through Louisiana Baptist University (LBU). From LBU I received a Masters Degree in Biblical Studies and a PhD in Biblical Studies. My doctoral dissertation was “Hyperspace and the Spiritual Realm.” I am also a teaching assistant with Dr. Chuck Missler’s Kononia Institute where I continue to take on-line classes. I received their Silver Medallion in February 2011 and am slowly working towards a Gold Medallion.

Gary anticipates further ministry opportunities as God enables him to do so; looking forward to new adventures God will be bringing in his life, his family and his church