The Rev. Dr. Gary Blaine was born in St. Petersburg, FL. He graduated from Florida Southern College (1970) with a B.A. in History, and with a double minor in government and religion. Gary earned his Master of Divinity degree from Emory University (1975) and the Doctor of Ministry (1982). His doctoral thesis was entitled, Diakonia: The Servant Ministry of the Church in Theory and Practice. Gary's first love in ministry is preaching and teaching. He enjoys offering Christian Education to adults and is an adjunct instructor at Phillips Theological Seminary from time to time. A strong advocate for Biblical literacy, Gary is a member of the Jesus Seminar. He has published several articles, essays, short stories, and poems over the years.

Gary and Mimi were married in 1991 and have a daughter, Emily, who is ten years old. Also living with them is Wes McClellan, Mimi's son, who is a student at Hutchinson Community College. Gary has four older children and two grandchildren. Mimi is a substitute teacher in Hesston, KS. They live on a small ranch, "Soggy Bottom," outside of Walton, KS, raising horses goats and chickens (for eggs and meat).

Hobbies for Gary include horseback riding, fly fishing, and photography. He enjoys most genres of music from folk to rock n' roll. Mysteries, biographies, and history make up his reading lists, along with technical theological and biblical books. Some of his favorite authors are J. R. R. Tolkien and Wendell Berry. An avid reader of poetry, Gary's most often re-read poets are R. S. Thomas, Emily Dickinson, and Mary Oliver.