About Gary Rucci
Gary Rucci has been serving in christian leadership since 1989. Together with his wife Nikki, also a credentialled minister, he has served in various portfolios in a few of Australia’s largest churches and alongside many influential pastors and not-for-profit leaders.
His first decade of leadership was dedicated to youth ministry which led to Executive roles with Youth Alive Victoria and Queensland including the pioneering of the Youth Alive Ministry School. In the second decade from 2000-2010, Gary transitioned from youth into associate and executive roles, where he developed a reputation for strategic thinking, leadership development, discipleship methodologies and mobilisation practices. After six months of revisioning, the Rucci family relocated to the UK in 2011.
For the next 5 years, Gary served as a member of the Assemblies of God (AOGGB) National Executive Team. Gary was primarily recruited for his strategic thinking and ability to re-engineer organisational structures and programs to achieve the best outcomes. This led to the creation of two major portfolios: Area Leader and Director of Mission.
As Area Leader, together with Nikki, they led a team of experienced pastors that provided oversight to 160 churches in the London and East Area. This involved supporting pastors, resolving issues, providing advice, mentoring leaders, transition planning, and church planting.
In 2012 following a series of thinktanks regarding AOG Mission practices, projects and partnerships, facilitated by Gary, he was appointed as Director of Mission. The emphasis and objective of the denominational role was totally overhauled from fundraising for projects and missionaries, to mobilising and supporting local churches in their mission. A team of 14 missionally-minded leaders was formed to provide insight, experience and resources to local churches to help them fulfil their God-given vision.

Known for his passionate communication and ability to equip and mobilise churches, Gary has travelled to and ministered in 55 nations, and together with Nikki, has led more than 500 people on short term missions into 12 nations. He has enjoyed fruitful partnerships with World Vision, Compassion, International Justice Mission, Empart, ACC World Missions, Christian Aid, Next Wave International, Next Level International, Proton Foundation, Global Council of Nations, and International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, to name just a few.
Upon returning from the UK in January 2016, Gary and Nikki have led Rivercity Family Church, which is part of the Acts Global Churches denomination, formerly known as Apostolic Churches Australia. The church has a few local missional and microchurch initiatives, and during the covid pandemic pivoted its Sunday service from an attractional model to a more communal, discipleship-focused, table church format.
Gary loves to network and collaborate with others across the Body of Christ. In recent years he has co-pioneered an inter-denominational Citywide Leaders Collective in Brisbane and co-leads a team focused on forming strategies to develop Kingdom initiatives for Southeast Queensland with the advent of the 2032 Olympics. He is involved with other organisations in various capacities including NAYBA Australia, New Thing Oceania, Micro Movements, and City to City Australia.
Gary and Nikki live in Brisbane and have three adult children and one grandchild.