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- Leary Gates on Tribute to Anna Gates on our 30th Anniversary: "Thanks Stephanie! Family hug.
" - Stephanie on Tribute to Anna Gates on our 30th Anniversary: "Awww…. I love this post! What I love even more,..."
- Leary Gates on Thought for the Day – Psalm 62:8 on Refuge: "Wow! I’ll bet it does after that. Thanks for..."
- Gary Fultz on Thought for the Day – Psalm 62:8 on Refuge: "My wife and I were with 3 other couples camping in..."
- Leary Gates on Thought for the Day – Psalm 27:10 on Father’s Day: "Hey Jeff, Thank you for all you are..."
My Posts on DadPad- Connecting With Your Kids Series: #4-Connecting the WWJD Way.
- No Waiting! Aisle One.
- The Allure of Beauty
- The Subordination of Terra Firma Man
- “Yes, you can.”
- Father’s Day Fast Forward: Top 10 Ways to Know Dad Loved You
- Father’s Day Memories-a series Pt 3: Lollipop Dad
- Is Pixar’s “Up” about giving up?
- It’s About Time to Talk
- Proverbial Envy
Blogs I Follow
- No events to show
- Presentation: Handling Turnovers
- Presentation: Calling “time-out”
- Presentation: When You’re Facing Third & Long
- Presentation: Giving Perspective
- Presentation: Imparting Vision
- Presentation: Access…Giving the Key to Your City
- Presentation: Inspiring a Challenge
- Presentation: Be Maturing
- Presentation: Be Proven
- Presentation: Be an Imitator
- Presentation: Be a Contender
- Presentation: Don’t Forget Your Change
- Presentation: Mastering Commitments
- Presentation: Mastering Emotions
- Presentation: Mastering Influence


Speaking of change
I began public speaking in high-school, after what I’m sure was a teacher’s lounge bet. Mr. Dionisio, a teacher from whom I had not taken a class, took me aside and challenged me to join his debate team. Stunned at his suggestion, I informed him that I was getting a “D” in Mrs. What’s-her-name’s speech class. His response gave me a clue that he had just taken a bet with her to turn around a lost cause. “We can fix that,” he assured me. And he did.
University of St. Thomas
Mr. Dionisio invested many hours in me as a young man; encouraging, coaching, stretching and, kicking my metaphorical rear. He was my personal Mr. Holland (and looked just like Richard Dreyfuss too). I am forever grateful for the impact he made on me. His words of encouragement and instruction pressed deeply in my heart.
Now, I stand before audiences today with one desire: to press deeply into their hearts the truths of scripture. In every message I strive to speak authentically out of my own experiences, transparently from my own struggles, and submissively to the authority and integrity of Scripture. Through my presentations, I seek to ignite a desire for change, providing practical next steps for those so willing.
While I have spoken to a number of business audiences, most of my public speaking is in ministry settings. This is primarily through two organizations: BoldPath Life Strategies and IronWorks. BoldPath is my home base ministry. Its mission is to help men rediscover the unique and thoroughly exciting call of God on their lives. IronWorks is a weekly Twin Cities gathering of men for encouragement and practical instruction from the Bible.
Learn more about these ministries by clicking on the links above or their logos to the right.