Gary Edlind Sr., Director of Visitation Ministries, graduated from State University of New York at Stony Brook with a degree in Engineering Sciences. He and his wife, Carolyn, raised their family in Napa Valley, California and Warrenton, Virginia. Gary retired in 2003 from an engineering career with the U.S. Navy and they moved to Harrisonburg to be central to their 5 children and 5 grandchildren. As an elder, Gary visits sick and shut-in church members, reaches out evangelistically to church visitors and new residents and encourages others to do the same.