Gary Harder grew up on an irrigation farm in Rosemary, Alberta, a unique town featuring a Buddhist temple, Mormon Temple, and Mennonite Church. Each of these communities had a history of persecution, which created occasions for cooperation and appreciation of each other's heritages.Gary holds degrees from Canadian Mennonite Bible College (CMBC), Goshen College, Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminaries, and St. Stephen College in Edmonton (DMin). He has served as pastor at Waters Mennonite Church in Lively, Ontario; Yellow Creek Mennonite Church, Elkhart, Indiana; First Mennonite Church, Edmonton, Alberta; and Toronto United Mennonite Church. Gary has served on numerous boards including CMBC, the Leadership Commission of the Conference of Mennonites in Canada, and local ecumenical ministerials.Gary and Lydia's partnership has been important to them from the time they studied Greek together in College and discovered that they had many common interests and commitments to church and ministry. They were married in 1964. Besides co-parenting their three children, they have had opportunities to teach together in Asuncion, Paraguay, and also at CMBC, AMBS, and CGUC. They also spent six months in Cairo with MCC. A particular highlight in their retirement was serving as intentional interim co-pastors in three congregations.Gary and Lydia live in Luther Village in Waterloo, Ontario. They delight in their three children, nine grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
