The Life of Gail Lynn Klepel
Gail (Barber) Klepel was born on Oct 21 1954 in China Town, Los Angeles where her parents, Dale and Wanda Barber, were starting a Chinese Church. When Gail was only a few months old a word of prophecy was given over her that she would be a missionary. At age 4 her parents were called as missionaries to Hong Kong where they served 3 years before transitioning to the Philippines for 8 years to start Chinese-speaking churches in those locations. Gail has many fond memories of growing up in the Philippines and accompanying her parents on visitation and outreach. The family moved back to Hong Kong for 2 years and then were transferred to Brussels, Belgium to help start ICI.
Gail attended high school on three continents – North America, Faith Academy in the Philippines, and Europe. After high school, Gail studied Music and Business Administration at Southern California College, Costa Mesa, CA, graduating in 1977. She also completed a M.S in Bible and Theology with a focus in Intercultural Studies from Southwestern Assemblies of God University in 2006 . She was working towards the completion of a Doctor of Applied Intercultural Studies with a focus on Relief, Aid and Development at Assemblies of God Theological Seminary, Springfield MO from 2008 to the present.
With a passion to serve both people and God, Gail first came to Thailand in 1979 as a 2-year volunteer with the Division of Foreign Missions of the Assemblies of God to work in the library and teach at the Thailand Assemblies of God Bible Institute in Bangkok. During this time, she also worked with the students helping to start Happy Land Church. She left Thailand in 1981 to receive ministerial ordination and missionary appointment, arriving back in Thailand in 1984 to continue working with Happy Land Church and the Bible School, and to further her studies of the Thai Language.
In 1989 Gail moved to Chonburi to start a church and teach at Christ For Thailand Institute in Sri Racha where she met missionary Dan Klepel. They decided to join their lives and ministries together and were married in the United States on Nov 3, 1990 returning to Thailand in 1992 with their first-born child, Andrew.
The Klepels spent 10 years serving as missionaries in Northeast Thailand, living first in Korat and later in Khon Kaen. Their second son, Samuel, was born in Korat in 1993. While they were in Khon Kaen, their daughter Katie was added to their family.
The Klepels moved to Chiang Mai in 2002 to continue their ministry of church planting and development not just in the North but throughout the nation. One place that has been particularly impacted by Gail’s ministry is in Tai Muang, Phang Nga, an area devastated by the tsunami of 2004. Gail made many trips there to minister to children left orphaned and to help start Liberty Church Phang Nga. Gail was known for her huge heart of compassion as well as being a gifted Bible teacher and mentor.
On December 10, 2016, this faithful servant of God went home to be with Jesus instantly from cardiac arrest. She will be greatly missed by her many friends, colleagues, and, most of all, by her beloved husband and family members.