Dana Gray, Deacon of Finances
Email: dana@gcceugene.org
Family: my sweet and amazing husband Tony, 3 adult kids, 4 adult "bonus" kids, 12 grandkids and 1 great grandson.
Testimony: I was raised in a very dysfunctional non-Christian home. I attended church at the age of 14 in 8th grade with my best friend and immediately grasped the "bad news" — that I was a sinner and needed a savior, and the "AMAZING news" that God loved me, wanted me to be His child and sent Jesus as my Savior.. Though I learned that the "wages of sin is death," (Romans 6:23), it was truly God's kindness and love that lead me to repentance. (Romans 2:4, John 3:16). How amazing was and IS His love! Even so, I put God on the back burner for my high school years, dating and marrying an unbeliever at 17, just after graduation.
However, God's call on me was irresistible, and I rededicated my life to the Lord at 19, was baptized, and never looked back spiritually. Though I loved the Lord deeply, I was pretty legalistic and a perfectionist for much of my early Christian walk. But, since attending GCC (starting in 2016), I have been able to "cease striving" for perfection, and instead, daily live out the freedom of applying the gospel to my life — it is ALL Christ! God truly has been my light and strength in good times and bad (including a difficult 39-year marriage that ended in divorce), my comforter, the forgiver of my sins, and my redeemer. Two of my favorite hymns, "In Christ Alone" and "It is Well with My Soul" describe the joy and peace I have experienced in my walk with Christ.
Evidences of Grace: God gave me a set of fellow "young mom" friends in early in my 20's in answer to a plea/prayer out of loneliness. These friends and I still meet monthly, and they are dear to me to this day, some 45+ years later! But the biggest "evidence of grace" is that in my "senior years" I get to experience a wonderful marriage with Tony.
Favorite book(s): The book that transferred my relationship with Christ from performance to grace was "Classic Christianity" by Bob George, and the one that helped me to know and understand God better was "Knowledge of the Holy" by AW Tozer. And, the first book that made me cry was "Sounder" by William H Armstrong around 7th grade. Still a favorite!
Favorite movie(s): The movie version of "Sounder" (see above!), "Fiddler on the Roof," and a stupid movie with no redeeming qualities other than that it always makes me laugh: "The Jerk" with Steve Martin.
Hobbies/interests: I am teaching myself watercolor (it's HARD!!). I love to travel near and far. AND, I will literally google ANYTHING given an excuse, as I love research and gaining new knowledge.
Obscure facts/secrets: When I was 62 years old, I finally found out, via Ancestry.com, who my birth father was...AND, that I am 50% Jewish! Long story...
I want my GCC family to know: I SO LOVE this church family! I love getting to know our "GCC peeps" and building relationships and community. I am blessed that God has allowed me to serve using the personality and financial/administrative skillset He's built in me over the years. As "Deacon(ess) Dana of Finance," I am excited to help and watch our church family grow in generosity, financial stewardship and freedom.