User:ClaudeReigns/Notes/Galen Wood

Galen Wood (born November 30, 1983) is a fundraiser and missionary for Great Commission Ministries and the former President of Gator Christian Life on the campus of the University of Florida. Hailing from Ashe County, North Carolina, Wood has served his movement internationally in Asia, Italy, Germany, and the Ukraine. He is the son of David and Loretta Wood.

Salvation and Scholarship
Wood professes a faith in Christ that dates back to Nov 17, 1996. After attending High School at Beaver Creek, he transferred to the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics in Durham, North Carolina, where he received his diploma in 2001. Matriculating at the University of Florida on a full scholarship, he began studying Political Science with minors in Economics and Asian Studies. He was recruited by Gator Christian Life when he first arrived on campus there. By 2004, Wood became the President of that organization, and began raising the $5,200 necessary for the East Asia mission trip, which he completed from May 26 to August 5 of that year. In addition, he supported the creation of a religious affairs cabinet within the UF Student Senate. Also while President of Gator Christian Life, he promoted the Mel Gibson film The Passion of the Christ by renting out a theater at Regal Gainesville Cinema 14 and screening a sneak preview.

Post Presidency
After his succession at Gator Christian Life, Wood ran unsuccessfully for Senator of the College of Liberal Arts as a member of the Impact Party. All five members of the Gator Party prevailed in the race. Wood later delivered arguments in a musical debate before the UF Student Senate, successfully raising financial support from Student Government for contemporary Christian music acts visiting campus including Engage, Blindside, and Skillet. Asked Wood, "Why do we have classical concerts when this type of music outsells classical two-to-one?" Though Wood had asked Student Government Productions chairman Joey Van de Bogart for $60,000, Wood did managed to secure $10,000 in funding from the Senate. Wood pledged that students at the event would not be evangelized, saying, "We're not trying to convert everybody. It's going to be a pretty rockin' concert. It's not going to be like a church service at all." On October 19, 2006, Wood appeared for the second time in the Mountain Times seeking support for his missions, this time for the purpose of reaching the "50,000 students at UF who need Christ."