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Local Reach
Gary and Linda Casady serve in The Dalles, a rural city in Oregon with around 15,000 residents. The city is on the banks of the Columbia River, with mountains nearby. The agricultural industry in this area is thriving, but more job opportunities have risen out of the establishment of a community college, medical center, and Google Data Center.
Oregon is one of the most unchurched areas in the United States. The youth in general bear a hopelessness as they look at lack of authenticity in the local church, family unit, and government system. The greatest need is to break the cycle of generational, dysfunctional families.
At the end of 2020 the succession plan to turn the Y.E.S. over to new leadership was implemented. Although they still maintain contact as volunteers, the current staff and board are doing a great job of continuing this ministry.
The Casadys are overseeing the facilitation of The Marriage Course Online with a team of facilitators they have recruited. During COVID more than 50 couples took this course. Half of those taking the seven-week course were non-church people.
They also oversee the outreach course The Alpha Course. A group of 13 took the first course in 2021 and another 15 took the second course offered. These people have all come to faith in Christ or renewed their commitment to Him after some years of wandering away. A core group of these are primed to take over this ministry and expand it significantly in 2022 with the next course beginning March 7, 2022.
There are between 1.6 and 2.8 million runaways in the United States each year, and youth ages 12-17 are at a higher risk of homelessness than adults. (Office of Juvenile Justice, Journal of Public Health)
After seeing this reality among youth in their own community, the Casadys founded the Youth Empowerment Shelter (Y.E.S.) in 2014. The shelter was created in order to provide youth in crisis a place of physical and emotional safety in the Mid-Columbia area of Oregon. After almost two years, Y.E.S. was excited to open its doors to youth 10-17 years of age who are experiencing difficulties at home and have or are at risk of leaving home. Centrally located in The Dalles, the shelter helps its youth develop perspectives and life skills that will enable them to become contributing members of their communities.
The shelter also provides a place for the facilitation of family restoration, mentorship, and parenting classes. As Gary and Linda live out the gospel message on a day to day basis they are able to connect on a personal level with youth and their families as practical needs are met and hope is provided.
The Casadys have served as InFaith field staff since 2015.
Gary and Linda met at Colorado State University, where they were pursuing degrees in biology and special education. Shortly after their marriage in 1969, they moved from Colorado to Portland, Oregon, where Gary attended Western Conservative Baptist Seminary. Following seminary, they moved to Klamath Falls, Oregon, where Gary was an associate pastor of CE and youth. In addition to the normal duties of such a position, Gary was director of Mountain Lakes Bible Camp. In 1977, the couple moved to Corvallis, where Gary served as an associate pastor of CE and youth. While there, they also helped found the Corvallis Youth Center. During their ten-year span of church ministry, Linda supported Gary in every way, and raised their family. They are currently reaching the community through facilitating marriage courses and conflict coaching for couples.
In 1982, the Casadys felt the call of God to serve in Africa with AIM. During their 18+ years there, they were involved in education in schools, Bible schools, and theological education by extension (TEE). After spending nine years in Kenya, their focus was on working with teams among unreached people groups (jointly with AIM and Scripture Union) in Lesotho, Tanzania, and several other African countries. They first focused on learning language and culture and then upon the needs of the particular group among whom the team lived.
Gary and Linda settled in The Dalles, Oregon in 2000, where they have been involved in a variety of outreach and church ministries as volunteers. They were attracted to InFaith because of its strong emphasis upon reaching and teaching the lost to know and serve Jesus.
The Casadys have three adult children and eight grandchildren.