The Rev. Gary Wayne Denning Obituary (1949

The Rev. Gary Wayne Denning age 65 of Madison, Indiana was born in Madison where he grew up in a Christian home. He was the loving son of the late, Fred Earnest Denning and Pauline Anderson Denning Mason who survives. Gary was a 1967 graduate of the Madison Consolidated High School where he was a long distance runner on the track team. He was active in the American Baptist Youth work and served as State President for the Indiana youth during his first two years of college. He studied psychology at the University of Louisville, Kentucky. While there he served as a youth director at a local church. He studied theology at the International Baptist Seminary at Rueshilikon, Switzerland, and did graduate studies in Old Testament and Egyptology at the University of Zurich. Gary was ordained in 1986 and served as an Associate Pastor for Pastoral Care and Evangelism at the First Baptist Church, Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He served as Interim Pastor in 1991 and was installed as pastor in 1992 at the First Baptist Church of Pittsburgh. Gary had worked as a volunteer on archeologial digs at the site of ancient Kinneret on the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee several times since 1983. He communicated his love of archeology when he used his experiences to teach about life during the times the books of the Bible were written. As he said, "The thrill of touching pottery and other objects up to 5000 years old has been a wonderful experience, and helps me to appreciate the cultures which we read about in the Bible." He had great interest in our children and the children of the surrounding community. He worked very hard to establish a Vacation Bible School and a weekly evening program for children. Gary said that his guiding verse from the Bible is probably 2 Corinthians 5:19 and the entire section of verses 17-21. He said, "The notion that Christ's work of reconciling the world to God calls us to be Ambassadors of reconciliation, says to me that our work is to help remove barriers, and trust God to create new life. I have seen that in my own life, and have rejoiced in the lives of others who found new ways to healing and life, because another Christian helped pave the way to reconciliation." He believed that the toughest challenge to our church is to be relevant within the community around us. We are in the midst of university complexes and a world class hospital system. We have as our closest neighbors one of the richest and one of the poorest populations of Pittsburgh. We have a real challenge. He declared: "The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the most powerful life sustaining force our community could imagine, and my desire is to do what Jesus said in John 6:39 - lose nothing that has been entrusted to us, but rejoice as Christ's love raises people into new life." Gary retired as a Pastor in October 2013 due to the effects of a stroke he suffered that June. He spent twenty three out of forty years of faithful ministry at the First Baptist Church of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Gary returned home to Madison and was active in the West Fork Baptist Church. He enjoyed doing for others, traveling, was very witty, enjoyed writing and was proud to have written a book about the First Baptist Church of Pittsburgh. Rev. Denning died on Thursday, April 23, 2015, at 11:52 a.m. at the King's Daughters' Hospital in Madison, Indiana. Click Here for Funeral Service or Tribute Video A LOVING FAMILY Rev. Denning will be missed by his loving two daughters, Tiffany Pemberton & her husband: Jim of Harrison, Arkansas, Cathy Denning of Evansville, IN; grandson, Will Moss; three sisters, Margaret "Margie" Sparks of Madison, Indiana, Rhonda Pemberton & her husband: Joe of Harrison, Arkansas, Sandra Demaree & her husband: Carl of Madison, Indiana; several nieces, nephews and other relatives. He was preceded in death by his father, Fred Ernest Denning; his step-father, Lloyd Mason; and his sister, Donna Bradford. Rev. Denning will also be missed by the many friends that have become his extended family from all over the world. MEMORIAL SERVICE Funeral services will be conducted Sunday, April 26, 2015, at 3:00 pm, by Pastor Harold Carter at the Morgan & Nay Funeral Centre, 325 Demaree Drive in Madison, Indiana. VISITATION Friends may call Sunday from 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. at the Morgan & Nay Funeral Centre, 325 Demaree Drive in Madison, Indiana. MEMORIAL EXPRESSIONS Memorial Gifts can be sent in Rev. Gary's name to: 1.The Student Scholarship Fund Academy of Christian Training and Service (ACTS) C/O Mrs. Carolyn Frischkorn, Treasurer 15 Wild Rose Lane, Mechanicsburg, PA. 17050 2. Burundi Refugee Youth Cornerstone Church Rev. Dr. Michael Guthrie 129 Belleview Road Pittsburgh, PA. 15229 3. Kenya's High School For The Blind C/O Jenna Baron 741 North Beatty Street Pittsburgh, PA. 15206 Secure Payments To send a flower arrangement in memory of The Rev. Gary Wayne Denning, please click here to visit our sympathy store.