Each Ashram has an Ashram Director, an Evangelist, and a Bible Teacher.
Ashram Director: Rev. Gary K Wheeler
Gary began attending Ashrams in Ohio, Kentucky, North Carolina and Kansas as a teenager with his family. As Director, he guides the daily events during the Ashram as well as the Board of Twelve leadership team during the rest of the year.
He is a pastor in the Global Methodist Church who has served churches in Kentucky, Georgia, and Ohio, and is currently serving Germantown Methodist Church in Germantown, Ohio. His hobbies include flying (he has his Private Pilot’s License), watching sports, computers, and music. He is also an author of Bible Study, Christian Fiction, even Christian Romance, and they are available on Amazon. See his website: www.garykwheeler.com.
Gary is married to Myra, who serves as the Registrar for the Ashram. She leads Women’s Bible Studies at Germantown Methodist Church. She is a social worker with Children’s Services, and loves to shop!
They have four adult aged sons: Marty, Kevin, Matt, and Greggie.
Gary is passionate about helping people growing in the relationship with God, and reaching out to people who are far from Him. His favorite passage of Scripture is Joshua 24:15 “But as for me and my family, we will serve the LORD.”
2026 Evangelist: John Phipps
Brother John returns to the Mountaineer Christian Ashram.
Brother John grew up rural Western Pennsylvania, and graduated from Grove City College with a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work. Before entering ministry, he served as a counselor in a group home for delinquent youth in Hermitage, PA.
After his call to ministry, he graduated from Asbury Theological Seminary. He has served numerous churches in Western Pennsylvania and also in Kentucky before retiring.
John has been Bible Study leader at numerous Ashram gatherings in Western Pennsylvania. He has a heart for missions within the local church, having traveled to South America and Romania.
Married to Anne Phipps since 1983, they have 3 grown children and 6 grandchildren.
2026 Bible Teacher: Cleveland Mason
Brother Cleveland returns once again to the Mountaineer Christian Ashram.
He grew up in Baltimore, Maryland, graduating fromTowson State University, as well as Eastern Theological Seminary.
He began his career working for the federal government, then felt called into the full-time ministry, serving churches in Baltimore and Washington, DC, before returning to Baltimore to serve as Senior Pastor of Perkins Square Baptist Church of Baltimore in1991. He provides leadership on many boards and agencies.
He is married to Florence Mason, and they are the parents of 2 sons and 2 daughters.
He is known for the phrase “Much Prayer, Much Power;
Little Prayer, Little Power; No Prayer, No Power!”