Originally from Southern California, Gary was an undergraduate at the University of California, Riverside, and The American University of Beirut, Lebanon. He attended Fuller Theological Seminary and King's College, The University of Aberdeen, Scotland. In Scotland he studied with I. Howard Marshall earning a Ph.D. in New Testament. He served on the faculties of King College (Tennessee), North Park University (Illinois) and after 25 years at Wheaton College (Illinois) he joined the faculty of Calvin Theological Seminary (Michigan) in 2017.

Gary speaks widely in churches and conferences both in the United States and in various countries. He has traveled extensively, particularly in the Middle East. He is ordained in the Presbyterian Church, USA, and served as a military chaplain (USNR). For over 15 years he was a regular teacher at Willow Creek Community Church in S. Barrington, IL. 

• Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes
  https://www.amazon.com/Jesus-Through-Middle-Eastern-Eyes/dp/0830825681
• Jesus the Middle Eastern Storyteller
  https://www.amazon.com/Middle-Eastern-Storyteller-Ancient-Context/dp/0310280451
• The Bible and the Land
  https://www.amazon.com/Bible-Land-Ancient-Context-Faith/dp/0310280443
• A week in the life of a Roman Centurion
  https://www.amazon.com/Week-Life-Roman-Centurion/dp/0830824626/