Paul Gunther
Position
Pastor of Next Generation Ministries
Family
Wife, Melinda Gunther
Anna, 13
Kevin, 12
Emma, 10
Yulisa, 6
Interests
Traveling and seeing the world
Reading and Writing
Speaking on LIVE LOVE
The music business
Creating entrepreneurial ministries
Running
Stories
Being Outside
Favorite Books
The Three Questions, Jon Muth
The Giving Tree, Shel Silverstein
What Men Live By, Tolstoy
The Chronicles of Narnia, CS Lewis
Actually... ANYTHING by CS Lewis
Crazy Love, Francis Chan
The Lord of the Rings, JRR Tolkien
Barbarian Way, Erwin McManus
Blue Like Jazz, Donald Miller
Velvet Elvis, Rob Bell
Children's Chapter Books
Favorite Food
Anything THAI
Sushi
Chimichangas with extra sauce
Food from street vendors in foreign countries
Popcorn with butter
Favorite TV Shows
Lost (although it's getting a bit mental)
24 (especially season 4)
American Idol (but it's on too much)
Little House on the Prairie (Yes, I just said that)
Extreme Home Makeover
Sports... all of them
Background
Paul Gunther, Jr. is a storyteller with a penchant for world travel. He has owned several businesses, visited 25 countries, written two books; a Thai cookbook and “Cheap Black Bracelet” a book about a homeless man named Carlos and how he taught Paul the power of embracing moments, and doing something BIG with your life for God. In the early 90s, He started a ground-breaking grass roots marketing company, SPY Promotions, which helped propel entertainment giants like Veggie Tales and P.O.D. to success, and promoted Sixpence None the Richer for its platinum album in 1999. He has also worked as a home-builder (owning and running his own construction business), paperboy, and private chef.
The grandson and son of missionaries to Thailand (where, incidentally, his Grandfather was captured by the Japanese during WWII, and was among the first prisoners exchanged during the war), Gunther has lived much of his life overseas—from the Far East to Central America. He has also spoken to youth audiences in Guatemala, Malawi, Spain, Thailand, and throughout the United States. More recently, he started Live Love, a non-profit organization committed to equipping humanitarian initiatives throughout the world with the tools—both financial and logistical—to be more effective in their relief efforts.
Blue collar, white collar, cook, paperboy, pastor, world traveler—Gunther continues to live at the cutting edge, but with a purpose—to leave his world better off than when he entered it. With an enduring affection for Thai cuisine, new hairstyles, running half-marathons, and reading children’s books, he brings a vibrant, entertaining mix of stories, reminiscences, and oddball slice-of-life.
Philosophy in Ministry
I'm just one guy who is flying through life, making the most of every opportunity. I believe that each of us are placed here on this earth for a purpose and too many of us don't ever reach this potential. Life verse - 1 John 3:18. Life theme - Live Love. Live in such a way that you change the life of every person you meet...everything matters.