Gary Burd, son of the Rev. Lloyd and Freda Burd, was born in Anadarko, Oklahoma. When Gary was 12, his parents entered the ministry, serving as church planters, pastors, and builders.
At the age of 16, Gary dedicated his life to God's call. He, along with his brother and sister, Rocky and Paulette Carter, began holding revivals in Oklahoma, Kansas, and Texas.
That same year, following a youth camp in 1968, he and a small group wanted to find a way to stay connected and close to the Lord. In the front yard of Pastor Damon and Marilyn Burrows’ house, they organized a youth movement called LIA (Lifeliners in Action). Gary led the group for its first year, marking his first effort as a pioneer. LIA was later adopted as a national youth movement in the International Pentecostal Holiness Church (IPHC).
In 1968, he met the love of his life, Carolyn Young, and they were married on October 3, 1969. During their courtship, Gary preached revivals, and they wrote letters to each other, planning their future life in the ministry. They have three wonderful children—Robbie Burd, Sasha Reilly, and Matthew Burd—and are blessed with seven grandsons and one granddaughter.
In 1973, the Burds moved to Amarillo, Texas, to serve as worship leaders and youth ministers under the pastorate of the Rev. Robert Brown at the First Pentecostal Holiness Church, later renamed Christian Heritage Church. They served one year in Lubbock, Texas, then returned to Christian Heritage Church, where they ministered until 2014.
Their time at Christian Heritage Church was met with significant challenges. The building was set on fire by arsonists twice, once in 1985 and again in 1995. With the conviction that God does not retreat from a challenge, they remained in their community. Each time, the church grew and rebuilt, emerging stronger than before. In 1999, under their leadership, the church became an outreach-focused congregation as Gary and Carolyn yielded to the call of Matthew 25:31−46.
In 1994, Gary became Bishop of the Great Plains Conference, a position he held until 2014. With the goal of helping churches grow through community outreach, in his first year, he purchased an 8’ x 24’ enclosed trailer equipped with a pull-down stage, a sound system, and a grill for outdoor events.
Gary joined Evangelism USA in 1997, and under the leadership of Dr. Ronald Carpenter Sr., Mission: M25 was born in 2004. This ministry focuses on "the least of these"—or as author Eugene Peterson described them, "the overlooked and ignored."
Mission: M25 honed its purpose to reach the "Samaritans" of our culture: those who not only avoid church but are also angry or have been deeply wounded by it.
In 2005, the Lord gave the command to go out and keep your mouth shut and just be a light. Pastor Wes Alvarez presented this mandate to his church in Pensacola, FL, where a young man came up with the ‘patch’ for our vest, “BALNAM”(Be a Light, not a Mouth). While it was challenging for the church to grasp being trained on how to ‘witness’ or ‘preach’, there was a feeling that our heritage was abandoned. However, it wasn’t long until we realized this was the military chaplain's path. They, along with schoolteachers and counselors and other great ministers in the secular world, must live by this standard. We have found it very effective, not so much in getting ‘confessions’ but in watching lives truly turn around by the power of love, expressed in our listening.
Gary has ridden motorcycles for nearly 750,000 miles across 14 countries. This pioneering spirit has opened many doors to create new ministries under the Mission: M25 flag.
Ministry Initiatives
Free Camps: An annual camp where no one pays to attend. It is designed to break social, economic, and racial barriers, offering children ages 8-12 a new perspective on their destiny. Teenagers, mentored by adults, lead the camp.
Biker Ministry: Started Hard Core M/M in Amarillo. The Mission: M25 backpatch is now worn in many places as a symbol of biker ministry.
Native American Outreach:
-Participates in the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge to remember the "Trail of Tears."
-Annually gives away a horse, "The War Horse," at a pow-wow in Montana.
-Provides food and water to the Navajo people in Western New Mexico.
-Hosts a Free Camp on the reservation and now supports a full-time missionary in Montana.
Military Support:
-Since 2005, annually serves the "Run For The Wall" event by providing hydration, chaplains, and chase trucks for stranded riders.
-Collaborates with the Patriot Guard at military funerals to support fallen soldiers.
Israel Solidarity:
-Led a tour of 74 people and 30 motorcycles to Israel in 2011 to support the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF).
-From 2012-2015, participated in "Never Again Rides," where Christians and Jews rode together to show solidarity for Israel.
-Organized a 2017 "Ride For Solidarity" from London to Jerusalem to support the Maccabiah Games and promote Holocaust remembrance.
-Led a 2018 "Ride For Solidarity" from Santa Monica, CA, to Chicago, IL, on Route 66, ending at Ground Zero in New York City with prayers for victims of a synagogue bombing.
Pro-Life Initiatives:
-Since 2013, has ridden to Washington D.C. annually for the March for Life.
-Pioneered the "50CC Diaper Run," a coast-to-coast motorcycle ride in under 50 hours, collecting diapers, baby wipes, and funds for Royal Home Ministries and other pro-life agencies.
Four Corners Prayer Ride: In conjunction with a national prayer event, Mission M25 rode from the four furthest corners of the USA to Kansas, stopping every 150 miles to hold public prayer for the nation.
DRUSA Partnership: Mission M25 works alongside Disaster Relief USA (DRUSA) in response to national disasters, assisting with cleanup and home restoration after their feeding kitchens have served the community.
Chaplains of Hope: An Evangelism USA ministry that trains and releases men and women for community outreach without requiring a ministerial license. Holmes Bible College has accepted the program and will be in the 2025-2026 course catalog.
Currently, Gary and Carolyn have restored a vandalized property in Lawton, Oklahoma, to establish an outreach facility that will serve as the training center and headquarters for Mission: M25.
