Bishop Gary together with his wife, Pastor Wanda, are the Senior Pastors and founders of River of Life Church in Harley, Ontario, Canada. They have been happily married since 1988 and are the thankful parents of 2 daughters and 1 son, Bobby-Jo, Sarah and Joshua. They are now also the joyful grandparents of 2 grandsons, Isaac and Nathan, thanks to the grace of the Lord and of course Bobby-Jo and Oliver!

Joshua, Bishop Gary, Bobby-Jo, Pastor Wanda, Oliver, Sarah

Bishop and Pastor Wanda launched this ministry in 1992 having received the word of the Lord in a vision. Together they were Apostolically sent to do the work with their vision confirmed. They truly are a complimentary ministry team having one heart in their serving.

Gary Steven Brooks was born April 29, 1958 and was born again of the Spirit in May of 1975, received the call to the ministry in the spring of 1979 and is today a true shepherd after God’s own heart. He has served full time in the ministry since 1990. He shows forth, not only the great love of Christ, but also the integrity that holds fast to righteousness and the due order of the Spirit when others might compromise. His preaching is Christ centered, proclaiming the mystery of the gospel of the Kingdom of God, which is, Christ in you the hope of glory. Although he declares a clear Apostolic and Prophetic word proceeding from the mouth of the Lord, yet his heart in ministry is always toward the demonstration of the Spirit and the manifestation of our life in Christ, that our faith would be in the power of God and not the wisdom of men. He is God's gift among us and serves ROLC in the Spirit of Christ as our Apostle, as our Shepherd and Bishop.

Bishop Brooks is recognized as a mature man of God, by His peers, with an Apostolic mantle. He holds a Doctorate Degree in both Biblical Studies and in Theology through Justice Fellowship International College located in Raleigh, North Carolina. Dr. Gary S. Brooks is an ordained minister of the gospel and licensed to minister through CFCM (the Canadian Fellowship of Churches and Ministers). He is submitted for personal and ministerial accountability to his shepherd, Prophet Scott Stimson of Scott Stimson Ministries Intl. located in Oakridge, Tennessee. Bishop Gary’s experiential life in Christ to date is over 32 years. He is also the Apostolic Overseer of Boaz International Communion of Ministries.

Pastor Wanda is a pillar of strength to all who know her. The Lord moves in her mightily through the prophetic song as well as the prophetic word of the Lord. Her steadfastness, love, and righteous heart are always before us as a testimony and a Godly example of Christ in us. Keen spiritual discernment has made her a wise counselor in Christ. She serves and supports the church and her husband well, being yoked together with him in the Spirit and in the joint responsibility of being the servants of of the Lord in ROLC.