Team
Student Ministries Team Leaders
Gary Hale
Student Ministries Pastor
Gary grew up in sunny, Southern California (Ventura). Up through his early 20's, Gary was all about 2 things – hockey and the rock band he played in. That soon changed when Gary experienced the life change that comes with believing and following Jesus.
Soon after, he made the trek up to Seattle, WA in 2004 to go to Seattle Pacific University. It was there that his passion to serve within the local church came alive through various courses at SPU and his involvement in the local church. Gary never thought he'd be a “church” guy, but God has radically changed his life by calling him into leadership.
Ever since graduating from SPU in 2006, Gary has been working with teenagers and loving it. The summer of 2009 brought quite the adventure when Gary moved to Puyallup to join the staff at High Pointe and married his bride, Lindsay, a month later.
E-mail Gary
Jordan Mirk
Student Ministries Staff
A native of Puyallup, Jordan was born in 1991. He grew up with his Mom, Dad and two sisters at Auburn Church of the Nazarene. In 2007 His family began attending High Pointe Community Church. Jordan attended Stahl junior high and eventually graduated from Emerald Ridge High School in 2009.
Running was a major part of his life growing up and because of that, Jordan was given a scholarship to run Cross Country at Western Oregon University. After a frustrating injury, Jordan ended up moving back home and attending Pierce Community College. He then met Gary Hale and David Day who helped plug him into the Student Ministry at High Pointe. Being a musician, Jordan got plugged into the band and began to think more about doing full-time ministry as a career.
After a few big changes in life, he knew ministry was where God was calling him. Short after, he changed his major to pursue a ministry degree and is now attending Liberty University through Distance Learning, and is majoring in Religion with a Minor in Worship Ministry.
E-mail Jordan
Robby Plasencia
Junior High Program Lead
Robby Plasencia, born in 1989, was raised in the suburbs of Cleveland, Ohio. He moved from there at the age of five to Billings, Montana, and then to Puyallup, Washington at the age of ten. As a child, he never really attended church until coming to High Pointe in 2004. He attended Rogers High School and graduated in 2009, being active in both Cross Country and his hardcore band Swinglow.
Robby became a Christ follower through the youth group at High Pointe when he was in the eighth grade. However, as he approached the end of high school, Robby found that the stresses of getting into college and having a job were taking a toll on his faith. Then about a year ago, Robby was approached by his friend Trevor to help him volunteer with the youth ministry at High Pointe. He took his friends advice and got connected with Gary, and was able to help out with the youth.
After spending a year with the youth, Robby was able to rekindle his love for God and become more committed to his faith. He plans to change his career focus from Engineering to working in youth ministry.
Lindsay Hale
GroupLife & ParentLife
Lindsay has been in Washington for most of her life. She grew up as a camp director/youth pastor/teacher’s daughter, so hanging out with students is in her blood. She started attending youth group the moment she was allowed in the doors and hasn’t stopped since then.
Through a committed mentor who met with Lindsay throughout high school, she learned what it meant to follow Christ with her whole life and began to explore the possibility of vocational ministry. God works in super cool ways, and after a few years at the University of Washington she fell for an uber-hott youth pastor named Gary. They got married and have loved being on-mission together ever since. Baby Hale is expected to join the party May 2012!
Lindsay is passionate about developing community and stoked to be on staff at High Pointe.