Gary Linton

My first experience with Jesus came as a young man but I did not go on to live for him. He never left me and I was always aware of his presence in my life. My rebellion may have been due to a lack of discipleship, or just my sinful nature (Isaiah 53:6).

As a teenager I began to drink heavily and continued to do so until I dropped out of school at the age of sixteen. Shortly thereafter I joined the army where I began to use and sell drugs. In the fall of 1974 I was arrested for selling narcotics, and in April of 1975 was sentenced to five years in prison where I fully dedicated my life to Jesus.

I was miraculously released in the spring of 1976 and then started attending Bible college. In less than a year I was working for Youth for Christ. After finishing school I worked for two other parachurch organizations, one of which I pioneered.

Shortly after I started two youth outreach centers. My goal was not only to introduce the youth in the area to the gospel, but to see them join a solid church where they could grow in their relationship with God.

Unfortunately, the local churches in the area would not follow up on these young believers – and the frustration of this led me to plant our first church.

What’s next? Our primary ministry currently involves speaking to churches across the U.S. and abroad, writing and publishing ministry related materials, and the maintenance and development of Ministrymaker.

Our prayer is that we will continue to be used to advance the kingdom as we draw closer than ever to the return of Jesus. Please pray for us as we enter the next stage of our lives and ministry.