Doug Gurgel

Elementary Director

meet doug

Although I was born near Hartford, Connecticut, most of my childhood was spent in Lake Mills, Wisconsin, a small town not far from Madison. 

I was blessed with parents who shared Jesus with me early on and, later, with a number of Christian teachers, whose influence deepened my relationship with Jesus.  

My faith became my own during middle school, as God led me to see my sins fully covered by Jesus’ sacrifice, my worth found in being His child, and my hours and days given to serve Him. 

The impact of my own teachers and a desire to share Jesus spurred me to 14 years of teaching and leading in Lutheran elementary schools in Nebraska and Wisconsin (in addition to four years of mission service in Bulgaria)—where my greatest joy was sharing Jesus with my students and watching the Spirit work in their lives.

Teaching also connected me with my wife, Ruth, now a teacher of music teachers at K-State. We were married in 2005 and have been blessed with two children, Mira and Levi—and one dog, Moose.

At Faith, I have been privileged to serve with the NextGen Team as Elementary Director since 2017, supporting our amazing volunteers and families as we partner to share Jesus with the kids of Faith and our community.

When not working at Faith, you may find me exploring God’s world with my family—hiking, biking, and camping—or rooting for my childhood favorites—Red Sox, Packers, and Badgers.