Christine W. (“Christy”) Greenwald was born in Syracuse, NY, the third of four children born to Ruth Shea and Edward John Willett. When she was 12, her family moved to Houghton, NY, where her father would teach economics at Houghton College for the next 26 years. She graduated from Fillmore Central School in Fillmore, NY, and moved to Valentuna, Sweden. She spent seven months there, helping to care for a missionary family’s four children. Christy returned to study at Houghton College for three years, then finished her bachelors of science in sociology as a graduate of Asbury University, Wilmore, KY, in 1974.
In 2011 Christy received her 5-year Course of Study certification at Candler School of Theology, Emory University, in Atlanta, GA, thus fulfilling her educational requirements as a licensed local pastor in the United Methodist Church. Over a 25-year period she was privileged to serve four wonderful churches in New York State and Georgia, working primarily as an assistant pastor and spiritual formation director. Studying and teaching the Bible, Christian doctrine and apologetics and helping Christ-followers to grow in their faith became the enduring passion of her life.
Prior to becoming a pastor, Christy spent 20 years as a free-lance writer, authoring human interest feature articles for area newspapers and inspirational articles for several religious periodicals. She also worked as an out-of-house proofreader, editor and ghostwriter for Fleming H. Revell and Chosen Books, imprints of Baker Book House in Grand Rapids, MI. In this capacity she read and worked on over 100 books of practical theology, which fed her growing thirst for spiritual knowledge and a deepened faith.
In 1980 Christy helped to establish a food pantry for 10 churches in three Western New York communities under the auspices of the Area Christian Action Council. Her 10 1/2 years administering the pantry was foundational to her later work as a pastor and spiritual director.
Christy has always seen her role as a wife and mother as her primary calling. Her husband, Gary, a graduate of Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, KY, is also a retired United Methodist clergyperson whose ministerial focus for nearly 30 years was Christian Education outdoors. As such, he directed two United Methodist year ’round camp and retreat facilities: Camp Findley, in Findley Lake, NY (1979-1997), and Camp Glisson in Dahlonega, GA (1997-2007). Being the camp director’s wife and helping to raise three children in a Christian camp atmosphere was an enormous blessing. It was also a huge challenge, which inspired Christy to write a column for camp director’s spouses for five years, published in The Christian Camp and Conference Journal.
After living in the historic, eclectic resort town of Dahlonega for 22 years, Christy and Gary relocated in 2020 to another historic town, Monroe, GA, east of Atlanta.
There Christy enjoys pursuing her loves of faith, family, writing and travel. She and Gary lead spiritual pilgrimages to Israel every two years, explore American and Canadian state and national parks at every opportunity, and enjoy connecting with their three children and their spouses, and seven grandchildren, as often as possible.