The Founder's BeginningsHarold and Bette Gillogly were married shortly after his graduation from the U.S. Naval Academy. Harold served five years of active duty in the Navy, and he and Bette were involved in home Bible studies with other couples wherever they were stationed. In fact, since their marriage in 1966, Harold and Bette have ministered to couples in many different settings, such as Sunday School, home study groups, and couples seeking counsel and advice. Sensing God's leading into ministry, Harold resigned his Navy commission in 1971. He graduated from Conservative Baptist Seminary in Denver, Colorado in 1974 with a Master’s degree in Christian Education. They were immediately called to a church in Thousand Oaks, California as Minister of Christian Education.
GTO’s BeginningsTheir ministry to couples expanded after they helped plant New Hope Baptist Church in San Diego, California. They approached the pastor about the need for a marriage enrichment conference and he challenged them to develop one for the church. Their first Marriage Enrichment Conference was held in 1983 with couples from their Church. With each succeeding year, the conferences for New Hope developed and grew. These were the beginnings of the future ministry of GTO (Growing Toward Oneness) Family Ministries. Healing and ConfirmationA temporary setback occurred just as the ministry began to reach other churches. Bette underwent nine months of radiation and chemotherapy to treat Hodgkin’s Disease (cancer of the lymph system). God was kind and healed and restored Bette to health. This time of sickness and healing was also a time of confirmation to Harold and Bette regarding God’s call on their life to minister full time to couples. The calling was further confirmed as He caused GTO Family Ministries to grow and expand as other churches heard of the work God was accomplishing in couples’ lives. Harold was ordained through New Hope Church and they were sent out by the pastor to minister to couples throughout the body of Christ. Enlarging GTO MinistriesSince then, they have led hundreds of conferences, seminars and counseling sessions for men, women and couples. Each year, they conduct about twenty conferences around the country, speaking to thousands of couples. They see marriages on the brink restored, relationships revitalized, husbands committing to spiritual leadership in the home and new professions of faith in Christ. They are currently recruiting and
training other couples to share in the teaching opportunities. Another part of their ministry is producing practical Biblical materials on marriage: a quarterly newsletter and marriage enrichment article for over 1500 families, a quarterly newsletter for over 500 pastors and teachers of couples, a monthly email newsletter, and articles for Christian magazines. They have written two books: Achieving God’s Design for Marriage, a marriage enrichment curriculum used in churches around the United States, as well as some foreign countries and Experiencing Oneness, an interactive Biblical study designed to help individual couples grow in their relationship according to God’s Word. They also have a tape series on sexual intimacy. TestimoniesWe have had difficulty in discussing a particular subject the past few years. We both would start blaming one another and could never come to a mutual conclusion. However, since reviewing Thot-Talk from Experiencing Oneness and much prayer, we discovered more positive ways to communicate, and have resolved this difficult issue in our lives. Michael and Tracy B., Nashville, TNThe chapter on Couple Decisions in Experiencing Oneness has been instrumental in bringing a Godly balance to our decision making process. Now we make decisions we can both own; this translates into peace and unity instead of strife and contention. Thomas and Cynthia H., Nashville, TNGTO was a major turning point in our relationship, bringing us back to God’s will for us instead of our separate worlds for self-fulfillment. Rick and Peggy S., Santa Fe, NMWhile restoring our ’69 Pontiac, we cruised the Net, looking for GTO cars. Instead we found GTO Family Ministries, ordered their sexual intimacy tapes, and found renewal for our marriage. We wish we’d had these tapes 20 years ago! Ron and Marilyn H., Headingley, Manitoba, Canada Teaching God’s WordGod has promised His Word will not return void. This truth has always been the basis of Harold and Bette’s teaching and writing. God’s principles work! And when couples obey His Word, wonderful results happen in their marriages. According to a Harvard study, the divorce rate dramatically drops to 1 in 1,287 for couples
who regularly read the Bible together, pray together and attend church together. This simply proves what God has already promised: A cord of three strands is not easily broken (Ecclesiastes 4:12). |
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