Gideon Horner bio

Gideon Horner, 44, was born in Springfield, Missouri. His father, Marcus Horner, owned a sewing machine and vacuum cleaner repair shop, and his mother, Clara Horner, worked at home as a seamstress.

Gideon was conceived out of wedlock. As a result, their families and their church community ostracized Marcus and Clara, who married in a civil ceremony five months before Gideon was born.

Marcus and Clara remained steadfast in their faith and found a new church home at Cornerstone Baptist Church, where they were accepted and embraced. They named their son "Gideon" to represent the strength of their faith, love, and commitment.

While searching for permanent employment, Marcus took on odd jobs at Cornerstone Baptist Church. He found favor with a parishioner, Harold Smart, who hired Marcus to repair sewing machines and vacuum cleaners. Marcus and Harold developed a father-son relationship, and Marcus inherited the repair shop after Harold's death.

Gideon was the eldest of three boys. The Horner family was close-knit and freely showed their affection. Clara was particularly funny and loved to sing, often making up alternative lyrics to popular songs.

At the age of 16, Gideon accepted a leadership role in the youth ministry at Cornerstone Baptist Church, and by 17, he had decided to pursue a career in ministry. After high school, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree with a minor in Accounting from Missouri State University. He later graduated from Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, Mississippi, with a Master of Divinity degree.

During his last year in seminary, he and fellow student Savannah Chase began dating. After Savannah received her Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Counseling, the couple married and moved to Savannah's hometown of Oxford, Mississippi. Today, they have an 11-year-old son, Zach, and a nine-year-old daughter, Emma.

Immediately after moving to Oxford, Gideon was hired as Associate Pastor at Trinity Church on the fast track to becoming Senior Pastor upon Reverend James's already-scheduled retirement.

Gideon continued to build on the success of Reverend James's church, focusing on community outreach as well as developing a popular missional youth ministry.

Gideon regularly collaborates with other clergy members in Yoknapatawpha County to strengthen interdenominational and interfaith relationships within the community, including Pastor Wendell Martinson of the Fellowship of the Holy Spirit Church.

Since Cindy's husband was found murdered, Gideon has been counseling her and praying with her to help her deal with her loss.