Welcome Associate Pastor Robert Tansill

This past Sunday evening the members of Gateway voted to call Robert Tansill to be our next Associate Pastor based on the recommendation of the Associate Pastor Search Committee. We are excited for he and his wife Joy to join us later this summer.

Robert Tansill grew up in Charlotte, North Carolina. After receiving an A.S. in Bible from Montreat College, Robert worked in the business field, but God had different plans for him, calling him to pursue a career in ministry. Robert became a student at King College, receiving a B.A. in Bible and Religion. While there, Robert also met Joy, who would become his wife the same year he graduated from King College. Joy hails from Brazil, and is the daughter of Presbyterian missionaries. From there, they would head to Massachusetts where Robert would pursue his M.Div from Gordon-Cromwell Theological Seminary. After seminary, God has taken them to different churches to serve. Fortunately, God took them from the nor’easters and planted them in the hills and warmth of North Carolina at Forest Hill Church in Charlotte. At Forest Hill, Robert was Assistant Pastor of Membership and Assimilation for seven years. God surprised them with a move back to the snow of Massachusetts, where Robert served as Associate Pastor of Discipleship and Assimilation at First Congregational Church in Hamilton, MA. After 14 years of ministry there, Robert and Joy followed God’s call to First Presbyterian Church in Opelika, AL. At Opelika, Robert served as Associate Pastor and Interim Pastor, and focused on small group ministry, new members, Christian education, and pastoral care. Following their service in Opelika, Robert served as an Associate Pastor at Hilton Head Island Presbyterian Church, where he coordinated adult education, small group and men’s ministries, and new member assimilation.

An ordained pastor of the EPC, Robert has been in ministry since 1992. God has gifted Robert in shepherding and discipling people, and finding ways they can serve their local church. Robert counts Joy as a God-given companion in life and in ministry. He is passionate about people and building relationships with them, and is skilled in building small groups. Robert and Joy have two grown children, Jon (24) and Caris (20). Robert enjoys basketball, tennis, cycling, reading, and coffee. Robert and Joy currently reside in Villa Rica, GA, and are excited to join Gateway Church and call Findlay, OH their home!