Distinguished Alumnus Gayla Congdon (’77, ’89), who founded Amor Ministries as an HIU student, entered eternity on Friday, February 7, surrounded by her dearest loved ones. 

As we mourn her passing, we acknowledge and celebrate Gayla’s indelible impact. Her deep desire to see people united to share God’s love has created a legacy of thousands of lives forever changed.  

Gayla and her husband, Scott Congdon, developed a passion to serve poor neighborhoods in Mexico while they were attending Pacific Christian College (now HIU). What began as two students’ passion to help the poor has grown into a dynamic and sustainable ministry that has made a significant difference in the lives of thousands. When the Congdons launched Amor in 1980, then-President Knofel Staton allowed the Congdons to launch and operate Amor from the PCC campus rent free for its first seven years.

For forty-five years, Amor Ministries’ purpose and focus has been to provide adequate housing in order to keep families together. In addition to building homes, volunteers and staff share the grace and love of Jesus by providing security, safety, and stability to families who would otherwise be without.

Since their humble beginnings in 1980, Amor has built more than 20,000 houses, planted and built 400+ churches, and had more than 400,000 participants join their organization on short-term mission trips. In rural Mexican pueblos, having a house provides safety, opens doors for children to go to school, and provides hope for families in unthinkable poverty.

Hers was a remarkable race, truly well-run. She ran for the prize of hearing her Savior welcome her into heaven with the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into My rest!”