Gary Takahashi
Pastor
Staff Elder
gary at ibcbible.org

Pastor Gary began working with youth in 1986 after completing his first year in Jr. College. At the time he was a business major, with no ambition on going into the ministry. After two years of youth ministry, his priorities flip-flopped. No longer did he have any desire to go into business, but only had the desire to work with young people. Everything he did revolved around youth ministry. He remembers in 1988, was studying for a Sunday school lesson, and refused to touch his school work until he was finished. He remembers saying to himself, “wouldn’t it be great to be able to do this for a living?” Then it finally hit him, “Why didn’t I?” This was what he had a passion for, and yet was studying for something he no longer had any desire for. However, not wanting to make a hasty decision, he decided to pray for one year concerning the matter.

In June of 1989, Pastor Gary still felt the Lord wanted him to pursue full-time ministry as his desire was ever-increasing. So, he prayed to the Lord that if He wanted him in the ministry, He would have to do two things: (1) he was only going to apply to the Master’s College, and he didn’t have overwhelming grades to get in. Also, he was past the application deadline. If He wanted him to go into ministry, He would have to get him in; (2) Even though Pastor Gary was working full-time, he didn’t have enough money to pay for school. If God wanted him to go for pastoral training, He would have to supply the funds.

Pastor Gary completed the application package, sent it off, and went to Mt. Hermon as a camp counselor. Upon his return, his mother notified him that he had been accepted to the Master’s College, but questioned what he was doing. He told her that he wanted to be a youth pastor, and explained the whole situation. She voiced her displeasure, but after talking it over with his father (who was also unhappy), both agreed to pay for his whole education. It was then that he realized that God will even use unbelievers to accomplish His will. Pastor Gary graduated with his BA from the Master’s College in 1992, and immediately enrolled in the Master’s Seminary. He graduated with a Master’s of Divinity in 1996. It was shortly after Pastor Gary started the Master’s College that he left Gardena Valley Baptist Church, and began serving at Wintersburg Presbyterian Church as the Director of Youth & College Ministries. In February of 1997, he left Wintersburg Presbyterian Church, and shortly thereafter served as the youth pastor of La Canada Korean Church. In March of 1998, he was asked to become IBC’s College pastor where he has been serving ever since.

Pastor Gary ministers with his wife Chie.