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Pastor Gary Hornsby
"Suit up, and show up!" The simple, yet challenging, call to service from Gary Hornsby. A pastor that serves up relevent messages each and every week from the pulpit. His graceful leadership, and passion for God's word and worship, have become the backbone of this fast-growing church.

  • Gary Hornsby had a tumultuous upbringing, that centered around a world of drug addiction, all starting at a very young age. The years of his youth would be stolen from him, as he lived a very 'adult' life.  By his 17th birthday he was engulfed in a dangerous lifestyle that included the sale and manufacturing of methamphetamines.  That road would lead him to a California state prison by the age of 20.
  • In the midst of these dark years of Gary's life, God's plan for him would show... through glimmers of light.  As he entered the court system to face the drug related charges against him, a series of miraculous circumstances would spare Gary from a possible maximum sentence of 33 years, and leave him with just under 5 years behind bars.  Just enough time for God to have His way in Gary's heart.
  • It was there at Tracy prison that Gary accepted the Lord Jesus into his heart.  The experience would birth in him a passion for God's Word, and Gary would use his incarceration to study, and rightly divide, the Word of truth.  His prison cell would become a classroom, and the California Department of Corrections would become his bible college, where Gary would earn his BA and PHD... Born Again & Pray Heaven Down!
  • Once released from prison he immediately got involved with a local church and began serving in prison ministry.  The desires of Gary's heart would be met through meeting a woman named Debbie... who would become his wife within three years of his release from prison.  The couple would start a family, that includes their three sons: Justin, Jacob and Luke.  And together they would open the doors of The Rivers Edge Church, following Gary's ordination from The International Church of the Foursquare Gospel in 1998.

  • Gary has been extremely effective in reaching out to a diverse group of people.  His life experiences have qualified him for this task as a: business owner, father, ex-con; husband; motorcycle enthusiast; political advisor; former race car driver; and pastor. 
  • His heart for evangelism has motivated him to use his various areas of influence to sow into the lives of others.  As a business owner of GNS Diesel Repair, he has given many forgotten souls opportunities for employment and exposure to a faith-based work environment, as well as speaking words of life into his customer base.  As a former race car driver, he has taken the Gospel message to the NASCAR community and acted as liaison to the Chaplin of NASCAR. As a lover of motorcycles, he has participated in numerous outreach opportunities to the outlaw biker community, as well as joining forces with Christian cycle ministries and clubs to further the Gospel. As a father he has a desire to sow into the next generation through youth retreats, and mentoring.  And as an ex-con his passion for prison ministry and opening doors for those on parole is immeasurable. All this from the measure of grace God has given him.

  • Gary sincerely believes in the extreme, life-changing, power of Jesus Christ.  He sees potential in the 'least of these' and roots for the underdogs of this life.  He is a down-to-earth man, with enough hope for several men.  He has witnessed the radical transforming power of God, and has a desire to see it working in the lives of people.  I guess you could say that he has a loving passion for all 'people'.

  • The past seven years of Gary's life have been spent planting and pastoring The Rivers Edge Church in the Southern California city of Etiwanda (Rancho Cucamonga).  This Kingdom minded pastor has brought together people of all denominations to see the Gospel furthered, with no intention of gaining credit for the mighty works of God our Father.  He is known as a man of integrity, and well respected by both church and community leaders. 

  • Today Gary's latest project is the construction of a 20 acre men's rehabilitation ranch in the quiet landscape of California's high desert.  This visionary is following God's call to build a place where men can be restored, healed and discipled, by the life-changing power of Jesus Christ, through intimate relationships with mighty men of God.  When completed, the ranch will be a place where men learn their value and find the call on their lives.  

  • Once they find their biblical place as the high priests of their homes, a domino effect will take place that trickles down to the next generation, and everyone they come in contact with.  This will result in strong foundations for the raising of children, the building of communities, and the support of mighty women of God.  This is yet another example of Gary's 'walking by faith' as he looks above for provision, partnership, and guidance in raising The Rivers Edge Ranch from the ground up.

  • Pastor Gary Hornsby can be summed up in a few of his well-known quotes... When entitling his testimony, Gary says he was, "Rescued Not Arrested." To coin a phrase for The Rivers Edge Church, he says, "Come Grow With Us."  And then there's his latest... "Together we run... together we fly.... together we praise the Lord."  You see, Gary realizes that God took what seemed to be a curse (his arrest) and used it get Gary's attention.  He invites people to come and grow with him at The Rivers Edge, because he knows that even the pastor has more to learn.  And his use of the word 'together' is all inclusive, as he reaches beyond denominational, social, and economical boundaries to see God's Kingdom built.