Gary L. Mcintosh

Gary L. McIntosh
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Born	Gary Lynn McIntosh February 9, 1947 Colorado Springs, Colorado, U.S.
Nationality	American
Education	Rockmont College (BA), Western Seminary (MDiv), Fuller Theological Seminary (DMin, PhD)
Occupation	Professor, Author, Consultant, Pastor
Website	Church Growth Network

Gary Lynn McIntosh (born February 9, 1947) is an American professor, author, pastor, and church consultant. He is known for his work on church growth and pastoral leadership and has published extensively on strategies for church development, generational ministry, and organizational theory for congregations. He is a professor at Talbot School of Theology (Biola University) and founder of the Church Growth Network, providing consulting and training to churches in the United States and internationally.

Early life and education

Gary Lynn McIntosh was born on February 9, 1947, in Colorado Springs, Colorado, to William Vance McIntosh and Billie Colleen Thompson. He developed an early interest in music, participating in vocal programs throughout school and receiving the senior award for excellence in vocal music at William J. Palmer High School in 1965.

McIntosh attended Rockmont College (now Colorado Christian University) from 1965 to 1970, earning a B.A. in Biblical Studies. During college, he married Carol Ann Kurylow in 1968. After initially working in business, he pursued ministry, earning an M.Div. from Western Seminary (Portland, OR) in 1975. He later completed a D.Min. in Church Growth Studies (1982) and a Ph.D. in Intercultural Studies (2005) from Fuller Theological Seminary.

Career

Pastoral and consulting work

From 1976 to 1983, McIntosh served as a pastor in San Bernardino, California, applying early church growth principles. In 1983, he joined the Institute for American Church Growth as vice president of consulting services, overseeing evaluations of hundreds of churches and training church growth consultants.

In 1987, he founded the Church Growth Network (originally McIntosh Consulting), offering consulting, seminars, and workshops to churches in the U.S. and internationally, focusing on leadership training and strategic planning.

Academic career

McIntosh joined the Talbot School of Theology at Biola University in 1986. He served as director of the Doctor of Ministry program and continues to teach courses in church growth, pastoral leadership, and ministry management. He has co-led Doctor of Ministry cohorts on church growth and multiplication and has taught as an adjunct professor at more than twenty institutions.

He has published on topics including generational dynamics in churches, organizational theory for congregations, assimilation of new members, and the life and ministry of Donald A. McGavran.

Publications and influence

McIntosh has authored or coauthored over thirty books and manuals on church growth, pastoral leadership, and organizational development, including Finding Them, Keeping Them (1992), One Size Doesn’t Fit All (1999), and Donald A. McGavran: A Biography of the Twentieth Century’s Premier Missiologist (2015).

His work emphasizes practical strategies for evangelism, assimilation, generational ministry, and church leadership development. He has conducted over 800 seminars, workshops, consultations, and keynote presentations in countries including the United States, Canada, Australia, Israel, Japan, Korea, Thailand, Singapore, and the Philippines.

McIntosh’s publications have been reviewed and cited in independent sources such as the Great Commission Research Journal and Outreach Magazine, and his training of church leaders has influenced over 100 church denominations and associations worldwide.

Personal life

McIntosh married Carol Ann Kurylow in 1968. They have two sons, seven grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. He is an enrolled member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and a descendant of Scottish chiefs from Inverness, Scotland.

Selected awards

• Win Arn Lifetime Achievement Award, Great Commission Research Network (2016)
• Donald A. McGavran Award, American Society for Church Growth (1998, 2005)
• Outreach Magazine Book of the Year Award in Leadership for What Every Pastor Should Know (2014)

Selected works

Books

• McIntosh, Gary L., and Glen S. Martin. Finding Them, Keeping Them: Strategies for Evangelism and Assimilation. Broadman Press, 1992.
• McIntosh, Gary L. One Size Doesn’t Fit All: Bringing Out the Best in Any Size Church. Fleming H. Revell, 1999.
• McIntosh, Gary L., and Samuel Rima. Overcoming the Dark Side of Leadership. Baker Books, 1997.
• McIntosh, Gary L., and Charles Arn. What Every Pastor Should Know: 101 Indispensable Rules of Thumb for Leading Your Church. Baker Books, 2013.
• McIntosh, Gary L. Donald A. McGavran: A Biography of the Twentieth Century’s Premier Missiologist. Church Leader Insights, 2015.
• McIntosh, Gary L. Growing God’s Church: How People Are Actually Coming to Faith Today. Baker Books, 2016.
• McIntosh, Gary L., and Phil Stevenson. Building the Body: 12 Characteristics of a Fit Church. Baker Books, 2017.
• McIntosh, Gary L. The Ten Key Roles of a Pastor: Proven Practices for Balancing the Demands of Leading Your Church. Baker Publishing, 2021.
• McIntosh, Gary L. The Solo Pastor: Understanding and Overcoming the Challenges of Leading a Church Alone. Baker Publishing, 2023.

Selected articles

• McIntosh, Gary L. “My Pilgrimage in Church Growth.” Great Commission Research Journal, Spring 2023, Vol. 15, No. 1, pp. 125–141.
• Penfold, Gordon E. “Finding Them, Keeping Them — Strategies for Evangelism and Assimilation: A Review of the Books Written by Gary L. McIntosh.” Great Commission Research Journal, Spring 2023, Vol. 15, No. 1, pp. 99–123.
• Sprowl, Jonathan. “Church Without Walls: 3 Leaders Discuss the Hybrid Future of Ministry.” Outreach, Nov/Dec 2023, pp. 52–57.

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