Staff and Leadership
Gary Cech – Lead Pastor
Pastor Gary grew up in Flint and was a 1972 graduate of Flint Southwestern High School. After nearly 20 years as a performer and having the opportunity to travel and entertain all over the world, God began to change his heart 1989 – a difficult change that would take another 3 years to complete. Having performed in numerous musicals, TV appearances and many years with Walt Disney Productions, it was his 10 years as the bass singer for The Diamonds (hits of “Little Darlin’”, “The Stroll”, etc) that he left his mark – but it came at a price.
A broken man through two divorces by 1989 was bad enough, but a head-on car crash in 1991 caused him to refocus his life.
The next year, God began to change a relationship with a close platonic friend from high school and later in 1992, Gary and Luanne were married.
God took Gary through a process of humbling before he was convinced that God could use a broken vessel for His glory. Gary returned to college to earn his BA in Management & Communications from Corban College in 1997 and then a Masters of Arts in Theological Studies from Moody Theological Seminary of Michigan in 1999.
Gary & Luanne served at Midland Christian Church in Midland MI from 1999 to 2005. In May 2005, God was making it clear that after 6 years, a more than triple sized growth and two successful building expansions – “It’s time to go.” Once again God was calling the Cech’s to “Walk by faith, not by sight.”
After almost a year of searching for God’s plan and seeing the spiritual need in Flint MI, the idea of GRACE was presented to Randy Penwell, then Director of New Churches of Christ Evangelism (NCCE) and the rest is an ever growing history of God’s blessing.
Between them, Gary & Luanne have four sons and three daughters-in-laws; Chris & Catherine, Jeff & Theresa, James & Jessica, and their fourth son Joshua is 22, plays drums and attends Mott Community College studying Media Arts. Gary and Luanne also are grandparents to 9 year old Cael (James & Jessica) and 6 year-old Anika (Jeff & Theresa).
Please feel free to contact Pastor Gary at GaryC@Grace247.org.
