Meet Our Elders

Ed Gunselman

  Ed was born in West Virginia and is one of five siblings. His parents were both teachers from Tennessee and were life-long members of the Church of Christ. His father, who had been a Deacon and Elder for many years, had a passion for travel, so his family found themselves living in several wide-spread locations: West Virginia; Guatemala City, Guatemala; Edmond, Oklahoma; Murfreesboro, Tennessee (three times); and Ramallah, Palestine. This, combined with many smaller travel adventures and exposure to various missionaries in the field, planted in Ed a realization of the world-wide family of God’s followers. He was baptized at sixteen in the Jordan River at the Sea of Galilee in a small congregation of fifteen members (which included his family).  

Ed was the first in his family to move to the Pacific Northwest where he graduated with a Business degree from Columbia Christian College in Portland, Oregon. That’s where he met his wife, Reneé, who was an Education student from California. They married in 1984 and have four children and, to date, one grandchild.

Ed spent twenty years managing various paint stores which eventually brought his family to Corvallis, Oregon and Circle C of C in 1991. Currently, he works as a specialist handling special orders at Jerry’s Home Improvement in Eugene.

Ed became a Deacon at Circle in 1995 and then an Elder in 2021. He never had a plan to be a Church leader specifically, but has always held to the idea found in I Corinthians 12 regarding Church membership: Every member has different gifts, but none are greater than another. Every member is important and valuable to the whole. He believes that an Elder is not above or more important than any other member of the body, but rather is a servant to all. In addition, Ed believes that Circle is a part of the world-wide Body with many Christian brothers and sisters spread all over the globe, and it is vital for us to remain active both locally and globally, as we are gifted, in order to do our part in furthering His Kingdom. 

 

Rolland House

Rolland House grew up on an almond farm in Hughson, California. He is the son of George & Edna House and is the oldest of five children. Singing was a huge part of his family, and it continues to be one of the things which brings him joy. 

Rolland attended Columbia Christian College, in Portland, Oregon where he met his beautiful, Canadian wife (she’s writing this,) while doing a service mission to Salmon Arm, British Columbia. They married in 1993, and after he graduated with a degree in business, he went on to obtain a Doctor of Chiropractic degree from University of Western States. Rolland and Jennifer moved to Corvallis in 2001 to begin his Chiropractic practice and to raise their two children, Lindsay and George. 

Rolland and Jennifer have a heart for foreign missions and have served in Albania, Japan, Ghana, and Myanmar, as well supported many others. They love to encourage others in song, and have participated in many singing ministries including being members of the Portland Singing Christmas Tree and performing Christmas concerts in local prisons. Rolland began the Men of Iron ministry at Circle, and has strived to encourage and support men from the Willamette Valley through a yearly Men’s Day.  

Rolland loves God and with all of his heart and feels humbled to be in the role of shepherding His church.