Gary Wingate grew up in Manhattan Beach, CA. He married his wife, Pia, in 1976. They have four adult children and one granddaughter.
He received his B.A. in Psychology from Southern California College in Costa Mesa, CA, his Master of Divinity from Fuller Theological Seminary, and his Master of Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling from Trinity College of Graduate Studies. He served as Pastor of Counseling at Trinity Lutheran Church in San Pedro, CA, and as Senior Pastor at Hope Community Church in Long Beach, CA. He is currently serving as Senior Pastor at Grace Church in Show Low, AZ.