On December 8, 2024, the congregation exuberantly elected Gary Wilmer to be its next Senior Pastor. He brings a full compliment of seminary education, ministry experience, character, leadership, teaching/preaching, and shepherding abilities to serve the congregation of Hunt Valley Church. He will become a full-time employee on February 1, 2025, serving as Senior Pastor Elect. While he awaits ordination in the PCA system, he will be a contributing guest at Session meetings and will participate regularly in the Sunday worship services. Gary will provide coaching and support to HVC elders, staff, and the congregation during this time.

To fully enter and be ordained into the Presbyterian Church in America, Gary will need to meet some study requirements of the PCA and regional presbytery. This process will likely last 6-9 months, beginning in January of 2025. The end of that period will lead to formal examination by the regional Presbytery. Once the ordination process is complete, Gary will transition from his title of Senior Pastor Elect and be formally installed as the Senior Pastor of HVC.

Gary's Background

Gary was born and raised in Baltimore and attended the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. After finishing college with a history and education degree, Gary married Debbie and moved to Frederick Maryland to become the Area Director of Young Life. After serving in Frederick for eight years, the Wilmer’s moved back to Baltimore when Gary was asked to become the Metropolitan Director for Young Life. In 2002 Gary become the Senior Regional Director of Young Life for the Chesapeake Bay Region where he currently serves today. This position's oversight spans three states, a large staff, and hundreds of volunteers. During his early years on Young Life staff, Gary received a Master of Theological Studies Degree from Chesapeake Theological Seminary.

Gary and Debbie have three wonderful adult children and one grandchild. His oldest son Matthew and his wife Kelsey live in Frederick County. His daughter Caroline and her husband Ryan live in Towson and have a five-year old daughter, Lillian. Their youngest son, Josh is currently attending the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore.

Kelsey & Matthew • Josh • Debbie & Gary • Lillian, Ryan & Caroline

His Faith Journey

Gary shares...
I was born into a family that did not attend church. I am the youngest of five children and the only Christians I knew were my grandparents on my mother’s side who attended church and read the bible daily. Their lives created a spiritual curiosity within me and planted a seed that would grow as I entered my middle school years.

My oldest brother invited me to attend Young Life when I was in eighth grade. Fortunately for me, the meeting was held at my house where I had no option but to attend under the watchful eye of my big brother. I heard the Gospel for the first time and felt drawn to the Lord. Over the next few months my thirst for deeper meaning and life grew whereupon I prayed to God and asked Him to take up residence in my life. I knew for the first time I was loved by God as demonstrated by the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

I received my first Bible from my brother Mike and immediately began growing in my faith. Over the course of the next few years, all of my siblings began a relationship with Jesus. Our house in Reisterstown transformed into a place where Christians were constantly coming and going for Bible study, prayer, and Young Life gatherings. I started attending church at Liberty Reformed Presbyterian Church in Owings Mills MD and began to grow in a broader understanding of God and His word. My parents were impacted as well by the Gospel. My mother became a Christian late in life.

I met my wife Debbie through Young Life and we married after college. We have served together in ministry our whole lives and have seen the Lord reach thousands of young people with the Gospel. We are especially blessed to have three children who love the Lord! Debbie and I want to serve the Lord in full-time ministry for the rest of our lives and have a huge heart for the Baltimore community. We see the opportunity at Hunt Valley Church as a means to continue using our gifts and impact the community we love.