GAYE AHLERS, WORSHIP LEADER

​​Surprising Tidbit: My great-great grandmother was a seamstress for Mary Todd Lincoln.  

Salvation Story: I was brought up Catholic. As a teen, I lost interest in religion. in 1978 when I was a junior at ISU, there was a young woman from the Navigators who wanted to do a Bible study in my dorm room. The Bible studies were from the Gospel of John, and we learned about how Jesus related directly to people. I realized that I really needed a real relationship with Jesus Christ. So I bowed in my dorm room on Tuesday, December 5th, 1978, and gave my life to Jesus.  

Education: I have an Associate's Degree of Science in Biology from Lincoln Land Community College, a Bachelor's degree of Science in Medical Technology from Illinois State University, and a Master's Degree of Arts in Individual Option - Science Museum Education from University of Illinois - Springfield.   

Influential People:  Dr. Bob and Pastor Pam's  teachings, prophetic voice, and prayers for me have encouraged and challenged me to continually mature in Christ. This has resulted in me being more responsible with the things of God and  my position in the Church. Pastors have always exhorted me towards excellence in worship, leadership, prayer, learning the deeper things of the Word, and ministry.  

Member Since: I have been planted at Living Water Church since December 31, 2001. 

​Leisure Time: I like to go fishing because I enjoy the peacefulness of being outdoors.  

Line of Work: I work as a service technician.  

Salvation Story: I was saved on April, 1, 1996. I had been thinking about Jesus' love and my need for a savior for some time. One day I got home from work and the reality of my fallen state and Jesus's gift of life became very real for me. I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior that day.  

Member Since: I joined Living Water Church in 2001. I had been out of church for a while and some people invited me to a meeting at LWC with Dr. Leon. I recall coming into the house of God and immediately feeling at peace and at home in my spirit. That day, Dr. Bob, the senior pastor, came and talked with me for about ten minutes. I liked what I heard and stayed.    

Smile Worthy: Little children laughing.

Family: I have been married to my beautiful wife, Barb, for 48 years. We have four children, three boys and one girl.  

Leisure Time: I really like watching the History Channel, old westerns, and war movies.  

Line of Work: I am retired. I worked in the grocery business for 40 years. I started as a cart pusher and worked my way up to management.  

Education: I earned an associates degree in accounting from Lincoln Land Community College.  

Member Since: In October of 2003, my family and I had been seeking God for a church home. Our daughter found Living Water Church in the phone book, so we decided to visit. We were drawn in by God's tangible presence, the freedom to worship God, and Pastors' ability to encourage the giftings and callings God has placed in His people.   

Family: I adore my loving, God following parents. I am the youngest of three brothers and have two adorable nephews and two sweet nieces.  

Surprising Tidbit: I learned sign language in the second grade. In college I studied to become a deaf education teacher. Though I changed my mind about being a deaf education teacher, I still have all my signing books from college, and I still use ASL to worship God.  

Best Advice: Be who God made me to be, and stop trying to be perfect.   

Smile worthy: Knowing Jesus loves me.  

Line of Work: I work for a local bank as a mortgage administrative assistant. 

​Family: I am the oldest of 4 children raised in church by godly parents.   

Surprising Tidbit: I have been on 7 mission trips that I remember and one when I was too young to remember - several out of the country and a few within the United States.     

Line of Work:  I work as preschool teacher in an at-risk public Pre-K program.  

Smile-worthy:  Young children or animals being cute or silly  

Salvation Story:  When I was six years old, before bed, I asked Jesus into my heart.  As a teenager, I became uncertain of my salvation and responded to salvation alter calls on a regular basis.  One of my youth ministers discerned this and gave me a prophetic word that assured me that I could walk in confidence of my salvation.  Shortly after that, the Lord filled me with His Holy Spirit at a youth convention.  

​Salvation Story: In 2004, I was lying on the floor of my mother's home having a pity party in my head for the way my life was going. The Holy Spirit so kindly and confidently told me I had a hope and a future in Christ - I stopped wallowing and starting seeking God from that moment on.  

Member Since:  I joined Living Water Church in October of 2008. During late summer of that year, I found myself needing a Spirit-filled church home, so I googled it.  God's presence, power, authority and peace was evident from the first service at LWC that I attended. I think I "visited" for about two months prior to joining. During this time, I'd received several confirmations from Holy Spirit regarding joining the Living Water Church family.  

Influential People: Dr. Bob and Pastor Pam significantly influence my life through their consistent demonstration of love, kindness, wisdom, faith, diligence, and integrity. Their Christ walk and leadership continually aides in my walk with Christ.  

Education: I have a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Illinois at Springfield and  Master of Arts in Special Education from Concordia University - Chicago.  

Leisure Time: I love to cook, travel, and read. All three activities encourage  my love of creativity. 

Family: I am the only child.  

Leisure Time: I enjoy cycling. When I am on my bike spending time with the Lord, I become alive, energized and free.  

Surprising Tidbit:  I was deaf in my right ear and partially deaf in my left ear. The Lord healed my right ear completely.   

Line of Work: I am a merchandise replenishment manager. I have 30 years of management experience.  

Education:  I have a Bachelor of Science from Culver-Stockton College in Accounting - Computerized Business Systems and a diploma of theology from Global Ministries and Relief.