Gordon Sparks

Gordon is from New Jersey. He was born in Hackensack, raised in Bloomingdale, and began to follow Jesus of Nazareth (a passionate, stumbling journey) at The Salvation Army in Paterson, where he also first received a call to service. He is the father of three thrilling people: Elisha, Emma, and Erin. And he is married to and accompanied through life by Maggy Almonte.

Gordon started his BA at Barrington College and graduated from Wheaton College (IL) with a major in Anthropology. His MDiv in urban ministry is from Asbury Seminary. He has also done coursework at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, Columbia Teachers College, Union Theological Seminary (NY), Fordham University, Drew University, and Southern New Hampshire University.

He has lived and worked in various diverse international and urban settings, doing a variety of jobs, including youth work, corrections education, social services, theological education and now pastor and administrator of the Hackensack Salvation Army. He has served on the board of The Salvation Army Ethics Centre (Canada), The Salvation Army International Theology Council and currently the Bergen County FEMA Board.

He began teaching at Pillar in 2015 and since then has taught and provided student support in various programs: Traditional, BLEND, ESL, LEAD, International, ARC tutor and Coordinator of the Office of Career and Calling.

Some other things that enrich Gordon’s life: animals, canoeing, conversation, cultures, exploring, gardening, hiking, hockey, imagining, languages, laughing, movies, reading, road trips, the shore, singing, soccer, theology, thinking, walking, the woods, and writing.