Gary was raised in a “Preacher’s home.  His father, Thomas (who went Home to be with His Lord last year) and his mother, Carole taught their children to love and serve the Lord.  Pastor will be quick to tell you mom and dad loved the Lord.

Pastor Shockley, his wife, Edie (Heaton) and their three girls [Emilee (Jimmy) Douglas, Karen (Alex) Bruns and Angie (Nate) Dodson] moved from Wilmington, OH to Shelton Beach 23 years ago. The Lord has blessed the Shockley Family—six Grandkids with two on the way!  Grandchildren range in age from Kendall, 13, Tyler, 11 Edie and Gary have been married 37 years and have been privileged to be in full-time ministry for 34 of those years.  2008 marks the Preacher’s 25^th year as pastor with nearly 23 of those at Shelton Beach Road Baptist Church.  Pastor comes from an educational background.  Graduating from Eastern Kentucky University (1972) he went into public education and then to Christian schools (Middletown Christian School, Middletown, OH).  After receiving his MEd from Xavier University (Cincinnati, OH 1977), he helped found Heritage Christian School where he served as principal as well as Associate Pastor.  After being led of the Lord to leave school work he was called to pastor the First Baptist Church, Sligo, Wilmington, OH.

Pastor received his DMin from Covington Theological Seminary in 2005.  Pastor Shockley will be quick to tell you, he loves his people and feels God has blessed him by permitting him to pastor a “ Great Church”. 

He is currently Chairman and National Rep for Alabama to the Baptist Bible Fellowship International.  He also is an Honorary Alumnus of Baptist Bible College, Springfield, MO.