John Ruhle

John is married to Katherine and they have three daughters Jessica, Tahlia and Ella.  The entire family enjoy keeping fit and Kath and the girls are also budding musicians. 

Following a life spent growing up on a mixed cropping farm on the Darling Downs John studied Agricultural Economics at UNE in Armidale and commenced work in rural banking with the NAB and also Suncorp. In mid 2002 John resigned from his role as a Rural Business Banking Manger and completed a Bachelor of Theology and the Uniting Church’s candidating program to be ordained as a Minister of the Word.   

John’s first placement out of College was as the Lay Education and Discipleship Facilitator with the Mid Lachlan Mission Area based at Forbes in central West NSW commencing in mid 2005.  The focus of this placement was on team ministry and the training and equipping of lay people to be fully active in using their gifts and abilities in ministry.

Following this placement in NSW John has been full time as the Minister at The Gap since January 2009.     John is enthusiastic about the strategic directions of The Gap Uniting Church and feels a sense of call to be involved in working in teams to help the entire congregation realise the goals of:

• growing our mission with The Gap Community;
• growing our mission and ministry with young people;
• growing our congregation ministry to young families; and
• growing the sense of belonging as a congregation.