Gary and Lisa Zdziarski

"Once a city boy, always a city boy" describes Gary Zdziarski. He was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, and says anytime he has been away from Chicago he feels a little homesick. His pastor, Eddie Duracka, from Garfield Ridge Baptist Church, directed Gary to look into Fairhaven Baptist College. From college on, Gary sums up God's will for his life as a test of patience.

After college Gary went through an exercise of patience regarding finding a wife. It became a humorous highlight of the annual Alumni gathering to hear Gary stand up and read poems with pleas to any available prospect to please look his way. Patience proved perfect when he found Lisa Hummel, also a graduate of Fairhaven Baptist College. Lisa's father, Larry Hummel, was a pastor in Pennsylvania for several years and is now pastoring in South Carolina. Growing up as a pastor's daughter prepared Lisa for the tests of patience they were to face together.

After returning to his home church as assistant pastor for awhile, God led Gary to what he thought was the worst place on earth for him, Jefferson City, Missouri, with no people, no traffic, no noise, just the sound of crickets at night. He greatly missed city life, but God developed areas of his life there and gave him experience working in a small, growing church. When he was ready, God led him back to his "roots" in Chicago to start a church. Starting a church had its discouraging times, and Gary's patience was waning when positive developments started to happen that pointed toward a promising future. Gary now sees that each move, each step of faith, each test of patience, prepared him for the exciting challenge ahead. He will be taking the pastorate of a church in North Berwin from a retiring pastor where the people look forward to following his leadership and expanding their ministries. One area Gary sees a need is to reach the growing number of Spanish-speaking people in the neighborhood.

The Zdziarskis have four children, Joy, Anna, Daniel, and Julia.