Below is a revised excerpt from a recent article in the Nevada Appeal.
by Ronda Costa-Landers
Nevada Appeal - Saturday, March 4, 2006

After acting as associate pastor for 5 years with Calvary Chapel Carson City, Garry has followed a call to pastor in Dayton, Nevada.

The move weighed heavily on his heart, but Leist knew Christ wanted Him to teach His Word, so he headed east to begin services with Calvary Chapel Dayton Valley. The first service took place on February 5, 2006.

"To me, it's about the teaching," Leist said, "I've been with Calvary Chapel churches for 17 years. We only teach from within the Bible."

"Calvary Chapel has a process for its churches," Leist said, "We must first complete paperwork for affiliation then we will be able to call ourselves Calvary Chapel Dayton Valley around the end of March, 2006.

"It all goes back to God. If this is what He wants, it will happen. The Lord put Dayton on my heart."

The Dayton affiliate started as home Bible Studies in 2004, sponsored by Calvary Chapel Carson Valley.

Leist said he follows the verse by verse teaching of Calvary Chapel and relates it to the who, what and why of today's society.

"We are a people committed to prayer," he said. "What I want is to see the hope and happiness on the faces of the people."

"And we absolutely cater to the kids. They have a harder time with getting the wrong information throughout the week in school, on TV and from their peers. We are here to nurture and protect the children, raising them in the admonition of the Lord."

Leist said a partition is set up in the gymnasium with classrooms for the four youth ages set up in the hallway. and the nursery has its own special room.

Sunday school age groups are nursery (below 2 years of age), and ages 2 and 3, 4-6, 7-9, and 10-12. He said Principal Neil Freitas has been wonderfully accomodating to the needs of the new church.

"Why wouldn't it be like God to get His work done in Dayton? Where the Lord guides, He provides.

Leist, 44 has worked with the State of Nevada for 22 years, the first 13 with the Department of Corrections, and currently with Gaming Control as Employee Development Manager.

He is married to Stephanie. They have five children: Melissa, 22; Jason 19; Elizabeth, 15; Katherine, 10 and Christine, 8, and they continue to home-school the three youngest.

Leist was ordained in 2001 by Calvary Chapel in Carson City.

Calvary Chapel Dayton Valley meets at 10:00am Sunday mornings in the gymnasium at Dayton Intermediate School.