Cathy received biblical and theological training from Fuller Theological Seminary and received an MA degree in theology. Cathy’s full-time ministry began as a campus staff member doing inter-denominational ministry for Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship with university students first at the University of Virginia and then at the Claremont Colleges in So. California. She has taught the Bible for a wide variety of age groups and in many different contexts: neighborhoods, churches, retreats and conferences and on university campuses. Cathy has led leadership training seminars for small groups and for leadership development in the church context. She has been the guest speaker at numerous retreats on topics ranging from the Message of James to Building Loving Relationships and Learning to Worship the Triune God. She and Gary have also served as co-speakers at retreats.

What Cathy says about her ministry:

What prompted me to go into the ministry?

Basically, I would say a call from God. That is, as I learned more about our triune God, I couldn’t imagine doing anything else other than helping others grow in their relationship with Him. Ministry became the thing I was (and still am) the most enthusiastic about.

What motivates me to write my Bible studies and teach?

Well, it’s a burning desire to reflect on, remember, enjoy, and grow to receive more and more of the great goodness of our heavenly Father through the Son and in the Holy Spirit. He is so very, very good and wants us to know and trust Him so that we can finally begin to be the people He created us to be. I want to communicate His good character so that others are able to grow in their ability to trust in Him more, to love Him more and to rest in Him more through all the various twists and turns that this life inevitably brings. I want people to see Him more clearly so they can rejoice in His complete and utter goodness and faithfulness.

Who has been most influential in my faith journey?

Two people have been the most instrumental in my faith. Gary, my husband, has had a huge impact on me. Much of what I now want to communicate about the goodness and wonder of God I learned from Gary. And Georgie Rodiger, a Christian psychologist in CA has had a deep influence as well. She takes God’s word and work in our lives very seriously and gave me real hope that I could grow to greater maturity and freedom here in this life.

What writings have been helpful?

In early years as a Christian I read a great deal of C.S. Lewis and George MacDonald. In more recent years, I have been reading several theologians who are fantastic. I find often in reading them, I am led to worship and praise of the triune God: Gary Deddo (of course), Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Thomas F. Torrance and (his brother) James B. Torrance, Karl Barth and Ray S. Anderson.

Gary received his initial and formal biblical and theological
training from Fuller Theological Seminary receiving a Master of Divinity degree. He served as a campus minister with Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship for 20 years before becoming senior editor at
Inter-Varsity Press. He continued his theological studies at Kings College of the University of Aberdeen, Scotland under the direction of Rev. Prof. James B. Torrance and was awarded a Ph.D.
degree in systematic theology. His doctoral research was revised and published as a book; Karl Barth’s Theology of Relations: Trinitarian, Christological and Human (Peter Lang, 1996 and republished in two volumes by Wipf and Stock Publishers, 2015).

Gary was ordained to his ministry with Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship by the PCUSA in the San Gabriel Presbytery of California. Following his years as a campus pastor to university students he served for thirteen years as senior editor of academic books at InterVarsity Press USA before moving to serve with Grace Communion International and Seminary. He is the founding president the  Thomas F. Torrance Theological Fellowship.

Gary has taught courses in theology for Fuller Theological Seminary, Wheaton College (IL), as well as for Grace Communion Seminary. He has been a teacher of adult Christian education classes, a speaker at numerous retreats, conferences and seminars in both the university and church contexts. He has
also been involved in leadership development of church elders and small group and Bible study leaders.

Dr. Deddo has written a number of journal articles and has contributed chapters in several theological works including the T&T Clark Handbook of Thomas F. Torrance (eds., Paul D. Molnar and Myk Habets, Bloomsbury Publishing, 2020). He and his wife, Cathy, co-authored a book on the writings of George MacDonald and a booklet, titled “God, the Bible and The Shack.”