Gayle Tucker Youth Annex

Arlington » It was December of 1963 when the Arlington Seventh-day Adventist Church first organized at St. Stephen’s United Methodist Church. Since then there have been a number of milestones. December 9, 2017, marked an especially meaningful one when the Gayle Tucker Youth Annex was officially opened.

On December 10, 2016, the groundbreaking ceremony started the process, with construction beginning in March 2017. The 20,000-square foot building was designed to serve as a place where children and youth will meet Jesus and grow in their relationship with Him. The annex will carry on Gayle Tucker’s legacy of love for children not just on Sabbath, but every day.

Gayle Tucker served the Arlington church as an associate pastor for 16 years. She was pastor of administration, music, and worship, with a special focus on children’s and women’s ministries. She was Faith For Today’s associate speaker and co-host of its “Lifestyle Magazine” television program when she died April 10, 2016, at her home in Dallas, Texas, less than a month after learning she had pancreatic cancer. She was 60.

The dedication speakers reminded attendees that this church has always been bringing children up in the love of Christ and it is our responsibility to empower them to make this their church. Following the sanctuary program, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held to officially open the annex. The ribbon cutters (below) included Tom Grove, Arlington Seventh-day Adventist Church Administrative Pastor; Carlos Craig, Texas Conference of Seventh-day Adventists President; Larry Moore, Southwestern Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists President; P. Kevin Wells, Arlington Church Senior Pastor; Mike Tucker, Gayle’s husband, former Arlington Church Pastor and current Faith For Today Director/Speaker; Allison Tucker, (Mike and Gayle’s daughter) Arlington Church Associate Pastor, Form Kids; Danny Cano, Arlington Church Associate Pastor, Underground; and A. Allan Martin, Arlington Church Teaching Pastor, Younger Generation Church.

We are grateful to God for His provisions during this project. We know He will lead us and help us care for the next generation as they develop into the leaders of today.

By Barbara Quaye

Photos by David Kuchurivskyy