NorthPointe Baptist Church pastor to retire

PERKINS TWP. — A longtime pastor will finish his career in the town where he started. NorthPointe Baptist Church pastor Wally Gilbert, 73, and his wife, Peggy, will retire from ministry June 21. Wally ends his career after 51 total years in ministry, including 30 years at NorthPointe. Wally secured his first job at Meadowbrook Baptist Church on Milan Road in Sandusky after graduating from Baptist Bible College in Springfield, Mo. Senior pastor Russell Dennis hired him to be an assistant pastor and youth director. In three years, the Gilberts grew the youth ministry through outings and activities, like ski and toboggan outings, youth camps and more. Several teens found God and a few went into ministry, Wally said. In 1972, the Gilberts moved to Indianapolis and moved onto churches in Indiana and Illinois. In 1990, Wally became the pastor of then-Sandusky Baptist Temple, on Milan Road, that would become NorthPointe Baptist Church. The current facility, at 3702 Hayes Ave., was completed in 2011. After Sunday, assistant pastor Jeremy Highlander will become the senior pastor. Wally's favorite memories include selling NorthPointe's former land on Milan Road to rebuild and seeing lives changed for Jesus. During his tenure at NorthPointe, Wally treasured getting to know his congregation. "The ministry is people," Wally said. "You have to deal with their losses and when they're celebrating." Wally, originally from Indianapolis, has loved living close to Lake Erie and visiting Cedar Point with his family. He still enjoys riding roller coasters. "If I ever move, it's going to be hard," he said. "I just love living here." Wally reminded current ministers to love God and people. "Remember, God is God, and nothing less. People are people and nothing more," he said. "That's kept me steady over the last 51 years." Reach reporter Caitlin Nearhood at nearhood@sanduskyregister.com and follow her on Twitter @CaitlinNearhood