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A Power Couple Led To Share Jesus
Gary and Melissa Larson have been married since 2003, and they make their home in the Southeast Kansas community of Neodesha. The couple have 6 kids and 15 grandkids.
The call from God to step into ministry came to Gary and Melissa in 2006. After years of coaching, spending time in the business world, and medical field, the couple opened their hearts to a new direction in life and the pieces of the puzzle started to come together for God's plan, not only for their future but the future of their entire family.
The Beginning Of Ministry
The first ministry stop was the start-up of a Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) Huddle in their local high school. Also, at this time, the GML Ministries vision was first planted, but that would be put on hold. While leading the FCA Huddle in the Neodesha School District, Gary began getting invites to speak at area churches and events. The passion for sharing Jesus and being a light in a dark world began in some small locations with young and old sitting in the crowd. Melissa spent a lot of this time period as a 'behind the scenes' part of the ministry. She was a full-time surgery nurse during this season of life so her schedule between surgery and ministry was a balancing act.
The Call to Full Time Ministry
In 2009, FCA approached Gary and Melissa with a new vision and a new opportunity. A full-time staff position was offered and accepted, and Gary became the Southeast Kansas (SEK) Area Representative for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA). Since that start in 2009, Gary has moved from the position of SEK Area Rep to SEK Area Director to Eastern Kansas Area Director and then back to the SEK Area Director position. Depending on the need from the Kansas FCA office, Gary has covered as many as 27 counties and now covers 16 Southeast Kansas counties. After many years of being behind the scenes on the SEK FCA Team, in 2022, Melissa joined the SEK FCA Staff as the Southeast Kansas FCA Administrative Assistant. This was a perfect fit and a perfect time for Melissa to step away from the world of surgery and put all her focus on ministry.
The Planting Of A Church
Another big part of the journey God has taken this power couple on came in 2020. Right in the middle of the Covid shutdowns our country faced, Gary and Melissa purchased an empty church building on Main Street in Neodesha, Kansas and began the resurrection process of bringing the old building back to life. In July of 2020, the doors to Neodesha CrossRoads Church were opened for the first Sunday Service. This small non-denominational church, as it prepares for its 5-year anniversary in July of 2025, now has around 180 people, young and old, seeking a relationship with Jesus. As co-pastors of this church, not only has Gary and Melissa's faith and trust in God grown, but so has their hearts for sharing Jesus. So, following the 'Great Commission' call from Jesus in Matthew 28 to go into the world and share the news, became a new prayer for their journey. A prayer that led them back to a vision birthed in 2006.
Back To GML Ministries
With hearts on fire for Jesus, the vision of GML Ministries from 19 years earlier became a renewed focus for Gary and Melissa. Two specific Bible verses became a foundation for the beginning of this new ministry journey:
1. Exodus 9:16..."But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth."
2. Esther 4:14b..."You have come to the Kingdom, for such a time as this.
During this prayer time over these two verses came two revelations:
1. A purpose to proclaim victory and the truth of the Gospel.
2. To further His Kingdom during this time we have on earth.
Thus became the launch of GML Ministries.
A mission of sharing Jesus with as many people, in as many places as possible. Our vision and dream is to speak the truth, share the hope, and lead people to a relationship with Jesus, as well as see generations of families changed. To see generational curses be broken, and for marriages, families, and even entire communities to step into the glory of a relationship with Jesus.
The Last Piece Of The Puzzle
In the midst of this God inspired journey came a surprise in 2012. With 5 of their kids being either out of the house, or finishing up their teen years, along came a huge blessing from God. In the spring of 2012, Gary and Melissa welcomed their 6th child into their family. Hope Larson came into this world with the blessings of God surrounding her. She completed the family in the perfect way, and it was apparent from an early age, God had plans and a purpose for her life. Throughout her life, Hope has been around ministry through FCA camps and events, traveling to hear her dad speak, and helping out with numerous chores at the church. Hope also has a love for music and is blessed with an amazing voice. This has led her to her own ministry mission: praising and worshipping through song has become her love. Hope has sang at several events and continues to grow as a singer. She is now working on learning the guitar and writing songs. Hope has become the final piece of the GML Ministries Team...a vision that began 6 years before she was born.