Tom Garrelts

Following graduation in Business Mgmt. from Wichita State went to work for IBM Corp.; then started and Insurance agency; the draft board pursued me, so I enlisted in the US Air Force and became a Communications Officer strationed in Alaska; Started the Achievement Company with Success Motivation Institute in Anchorage while in the USAF & following; attended Bible College in Anchorage and became its Admiistrator & a teacher. Was ordained in 1974 and came home to Wichita in 1975 to pioneer the Wichita Christian Center, with a Christian school, & Bible College.
Took many ministry, leadership, educational, and legal seminars & courses. and got my Executive MBA from Wichita State also.
Pastored 2 churches & started a Christian school in the Seattle area.
In Wichita - also started New Beginnings Christian Center & Academy, was principal of Word Of Life Traditional School (2000), and started City Church and City Church Academy. (2002 -current)
President of North Wichita Optimist Club.

I was a recruiter for Snelling Search and opened their recruiting office in Wichita and also in Seattle for about 4 years while Pastoring also. I still help people do resumes and coach in finding jobs.
I have been a member of the North Wichita Optimist Club for 15 years, haveing served as its President a couple times, still on the Board and am their Chaplain.
I love planting trees, bushes, flowers gardening, & landscaping at home and our churches. I am always fixing up things.

I am doing my "bucket list". I feel so fortunate and blessed to be doing all I do. I have an incredible wife, my best friend, that we celebrate life together daily. I love preaching, teaching, playing drums and worshipping - the whole church life experience and want to keep doing it all as long as possible.
After my heart attack November 2012 (stented) I have to slow down a bit and count my blessings even more!

I loved my High School experience and am so grateful to have been brought up in our generation and at MHS. I am so grateful we had "Teen Town" as a wonderful meeting place, plus the whole "May Day" experience. I loved to dance at teen town and in the May Fate.

BBA & Executive MBA from Wichita State U
Attended much additional ministry training
Ordained, Assembly of God, pioneered 3 churches, 4 Christian Schools, a Bible College, was a director or principal for several others. Pastored 2 great churches in the Seattle area. Pioneered 3 churches in Wichita.
Absolutely love the Lord, my family, the people I serve, and what I am called to do. Living a very blessed life!