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The Rev. Russell Church Burchard is the Pastor and head teaching Elder of The Church of the Apostles - Dawsonville. Russell has exercised leadership in churches in New England and Virginia. He has been married to his wife Cheri for more than 35 years and has two grown children and two grandchildren. He began his public ministry in 1971 at the age of 27. Russell holds a B.A. in Government from American University (1968), a Masters Degree in Public Administration in the Field of Urban and Regional Planning from George Washington University (1974) and a Master of Divinity degree from Virginia Theological Seminary. He has been an ordained minister since 1979. Best known as a Bible teacher who "rightly handles the Word of the Truth", Russell has a reputation for being able to take complex biblical truths and present them with clarity and powerful simplicity. This ministry has taken place within his role as pastor in several local churches from New England to Southern Virginia. In recent years Russell has has studied and taught with an increasing emphasis on the Person and Work of the Holy Spirit as God works to gift ordinary lives in extraordinary ways. He has written "The Spiritual Gifts Workbook" published in 1999. He is our team leader for adult discipleship
Gil Meredith Gil is a native of Atlanta, Georgia where he graduated from The Westminster Schools. He attended the University of Georgia, earning a Bachelor of Business Administration and Doctor of Law degrees. Gil was engaged in the private practice of law for ten years, but has primarily been involved in several businesses that he has founded. He currently owns a real estate investment brokerage company and is an advisor to, part owner and board member of Tab Safe, Medical Services, Inc. Gil has been a member in the Baptist and Episcopal denominations. In 1987 he was one of the founders of The Church of the Apostles, in Atlanta with founding Rector Michael Youssef. He served on the Vestry and as its its first Senor Warden. When that church withdrew from its denomination in 1989, Gil served on the new Vestry and on the board. In 1993 Gil was one of the founders of The Church of the Apostles - Dawsonville where he serves as Elder. Gil and his wife Bonnie haven been married for 38 years and have two children and four grandchildren. Gil is our team leader for our relations with other churches in the area.
Gary Gambrell Gary was born in Jones County Mississippi on a cotton farm. He grew up and graduated from a high school in southeast Atlanta and after WWII graduated from Oglethorpe University. He is a retired engineer from Bell South. Gary enlisted in the Army Air Corp and served with the 344th Bomb Group in Europe as an aerial gunner during WWII. After being discharged, he returned home and married Doris. They have been married for 56 years and have four children, eight grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. His son was killed in a motorcycle accident in 1974, an event with which he and his wife still struggle. They currently reside on a farm in Murrayville, Georgia. Gary has served such organizations as Scouting, Hall County Library Board, Coalition of Concerned Citizens, Georgia Right To Life, Tres Dias, Atlanta Christian Cursillo and various civic clubs. He is an active member of Gideons International and serves on the Juvenile Citizens Review Panel of Hall County Juvenile Court. He has made mission trips to the Ukraine, Russia and Ecuador. Gary and his wife joined The Church of the Apostles - Dawsonville in 1994. Gary is our team leader for the ministry team for justice and mercy.
Bill Burt Bill was born in Adel, Georgia and attended the University of Georgia where he earned his BBA degree. He served 3 years in the Air Force as a pilot then joined the Air Force Reserves for another 8 years, and left the military in 1965 as a Senior Pilot and flight instructor with the rank of Captain. He retired in 1994 as Executive Vice President of Bank of America. Bill and his wife Harriet, were married in 1955 and have 3 children and 3 grandchildren. In the community, Bill received the Distinguished Scouter Award for 25 years of service to the Boy Scouts of America. He has served the United Way, in the Downtown Kiwanis Club of Atlanta, and as President of the Dawsonville Lions Club. Bill was named a Melvin Jones Fellow for dedicated humanitarian service by Lions Club International. He also helped found Young Life, a Christian Ministry for high school youth, in Dawson County, serving as Committee Chairman for 3 years. Bill is presently serving as an Elder.
Larry Baldwin Larry was born and raised in Neapolis, Ohio. After graduating from high school he attended Milligan College in Johnston City, Tennessee, then Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio and ultimately The University of Toledo in Toledo, Ohio from which he graduated with a BBA in Accounting. He and his wife Rosalyn (Daisy) were high school sweethearts, married in 1961 and have two children and 4 grandchildren. Larry spent 31 years with the IBM Corporation as a financial/administration manager retiring in 1992. He then spent 3 years as a church administrator at Dunwoody Baptist Church, Dunwoody, Georgia and then went back to the corporate world for 8 years with Spherion Corporation finally retiring at the end of 2003 as a Regional Vice-President. Larry and Daisy reside in the Gold Creek sub-division in Dawsonville, Georgia.
Larry’s passion is the local church and these various moves have allowed him the opportunity to serve in capacities such as Youth Sunday School teacher, Sunday School Superintendent, Church Treasurer, Deacon, and Elder in such denominations as Methodist, Baptist and PCA Presbyterian in locations such as San Juan, Puerto Rico, San Francisco, California, Washington, D.C. and, of course, the Atlanta area. Larry is our team leader for the ministry team for Evangelism.
Paul Morris
Paul was born and raised in Palestine, Texas. He graduated from Texas A & M University and served with the U.S. Navy, including duty in Viet Nam. Paul and his wife Andrea met at age 10, were best friends and later married in 1969. They have 4 children and 7 grandchildren. They make their home in Dawsonville since Paul retired from New York Life Insurance Company in 2005. Paul made his profession of his faith at a young age and has always been involved in the church. He first served as an elder in the First Christian Church in Hurst, Texas and was an elder in Grace Church in Duluth, Georgia. Paul enjoys teaching and sharing God’s Word.
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