Each Ashram has an Ashram Director, an Evangelist, and a Bible Teacher.
Ashram Director: Gary 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 United Methodist pastor who has served churches in Kentucky, Georgia and Ohio, and is currently serving Germantown United Methodist Church in Germantown, Ohio. His other activities include chairing the Miami Valley District Location and Building Committee, as well as serving on the Miami Valley District Leadership and Finance Teams. He is a member of the United Methodist Foundation of West Ohio. He is a member of the Board of the West Ohio Wesleyan Covenant Association. He is very involved in the Greater Dayton Walk to Emmaus Community, where he is a Community Spiritual Director and serves on the Board. He is a member of the Faith-Based subcommittee with the Valley View Drug-Free Coalition. He is also a member of Dayton Pilots’ Club and serves on its Board of Trustees as the Treasurer. His hobbies include flying (he has his Private Pilot’s License), watching sports, computers, and music.
Gary has also completed his first book. “Hanging On In An Upside Down World” is about how to cope with the events in life that turn one’s world upside down. You know, no matter what is happening in a person’s life, Jesus has a way of taking us from our worst to our best. The book is now available through Amazon.
Gary is married to Myra, who serves as the Registrar for the Ashram. She leads Women’s Bible Studies at Germantown United Methodist Church. She is also very involved in the Greater Dayton Walk to Emmaus Community. 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.”
2021 Evangelist: Rev. Keith Sholl
Keith returns once again to the Mountaineer Christian Ashram.
He is a graduate of Fort Wayne Bible College in Fort Wayne, Indiana with a Bachelor of Arts in Missions
He has served on staff at churches in Columbus, OH and Cedarville, IN as well as interim pastor at several congregations. After serving as both Associate Pastor and Lead Pastor of First Alliance Church in Toledo, OH, Keith was named Pastor Emeritus in 2016.
Keith has taught and preached at numerous Ashrams, including ours, as he is truly a favorite. Married since 1967,
Keith and Dee have two grown sons.
His greatest joy is to awaken people to God’s truth through the preaching and teaching of God’s Word.
2021 Bible Teacher: Marjorie Black
New to our Ashram is Marjorie Black. With a Master’s Degree in English Education, she is a gifted Bible Teacher and leader in church music, missions, visitation, Lay Servant ministries, and ministry to women, children, youth, senior adults, and small group leader.
Marjorie participated in the 75th Anniversary of the United Christian Ashram in New Brunswick, Canada; and, she is the Bible Teacher for the 2017 Blue Lake Christian Ashram in Alabama.
She is married to Rev. Allen Black who currently serves as a United Methodist District Superintendent in the Tennessee Annual Conference. Together, they have served churches in Mississippi and Tennessee for the past 25 years.
Marjorie and Allen have 5 children and 18 grandchildren.
Her passion to help people of all ages understand and live the sacred scripture.