The Gathering

January 6 - Pete Alwinson

Senior Pastor - Willow Creek Church

Pete was born in Pomona, California and spent all of his childhood in the Long Beach area. He is a graduate of Biola University, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and Reformed Theological Seminary. In 1986, Pete accepted the call of "Church Planter" in the Orlando area wih the goal of starting a P.C.A church in Winter Springs. From a small Bible study group in the Alwinson home to a storefront office and then to our current facilty, Pete has led the congregation of Willow Creek Church with his unique style of teaching. He also travels throughout the United States for Man in the Mirror, speaking to men at seminars. Pete and his wife Caron have three children, Joel, Jon and Jessie.

January 13 - Ron Peri

President & Founder - Radixx

Ron was born in Manhattan, and grew up in Madison, New Jersey. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ. After college, he joined IBM in systems and marketing of mainframe computers. In 1975, he left IBM to pursue full time ministry. He graduated from Biblical Theological Seminary with an M. Div. in 1978 and subsequently pastored a church until 1985. In that year, he started a consulting business, Computer Support of North America, that grew to be a major installer of Local Area Networks in the United States. He has since started two other businesses and is currently CEO of Radixx International, Inc. which provides reservations systems and hosting services to thrity airlines on five continents.

Ron speaks extensively to Bible studies, retreats, churches, and other groups. He is particularly active with ministries reaching businessmen. In 1981, he participated in starting a new interdenominational seminary in New Jersey (first in 140 years), Regional Seminary of the Northeast. Ron was president of Regional Seminary from 1981 until 1989.

January 20 - David Uth

Senior Pastor - First Baptist Orlando

David's primary responsibility is communicating vision to the body of Christ at First Baptist Orlando, and leading and teaching from God’s Word to accomplish that vision. He was born in Memphis, Tennessee, but raised primarily in Arkansas, where his father pastored several churches.

He went to Ouachita Baptist University in Arkansas, and received a B.A. in religion. From there he went to Southwestern Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, and received a Masters of Divinity in 1983. David remained at Southwestern and earned a PhD. in New Testament in 1991.

He married Rachel Leigh Moore on January 6, 1979, and they have three children, two sons and a daughter.

January 27 - David Swanson

Senior Pastor - First Presbyterian Orlando

The Rev. Dr. David D. Swanson is the Senior Pastor and Head of Staff of First Presbyterian Church of Orlando. His congregation is among the largest in the Presbyterian Church, USA, and he is an active leader in the denomination's renewal movement. He serves on the board of Montreat College, a Presbyterian school in Montreat, NC.

Dr. Swanson's preparation for ministry began through the nurture and ministry of his home church in Dallas, Texas: Highland Park Presbyterian. He received his undergraduate degree in business from Southern Methodist University, and prior to attending seminary, worked for several years in public relations for a computer software firm in the Dallas area.

He met and married his wife, Leigh, also a Dallas native, and together they moved to Austin where Dr. Swanson completed his Master of Divinity studies at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. They have three children; John David, Alex, and Kaylee.

February 3 - Jack Larson

Executive Director - Mission Emanuel

In 1995, Jack Larson, a long-time friend and ministry partner of Javier and Rosario de la Cruz, led a short-term mission team to the Dominican Republic. The missionaries brought pictures of the Emanuel School students back to the United States and soon all twenty-three children were sponsored. Soon after, Jack, Javier and Rosario founded Mission Emanuel, which incorporated the Emanuel School and sponsorship program, and established a strong a relationship with US churches and individuals through short-term mission teams. The Mission Emanuel sponsorship program has always been unique- not one penny of the money received is taken out for administrative costs. Sponsorship money is used to pay teachers’ salaries and other school expenses, and also contributes to each child’s medical and dental care. The students’ families are encouraged to contribute to the education and medical costs of their children, but students are not turned away if their parents are unable to provide financial assistance. Over 500 students are currently sponsored, and additional sponsorship opportunities are available to anyone through the Mission Emanuel web site.