Rex Sexton was born in Danville, Illinois in 1954. Both of his parents had served in the US Army during WWII--his mother playing saxophone and clarinet in the US Army band and his father as a B-17 and B-24 pilot. After spending his first eight years living on various military bases, his parents divorced and Rex and his siblings moved back to Danville. His mother later married a bridge contractor who provided summer work for Rex and his older brother for the next ten years.
After hearing The World Tomorrow program on the radio at age 14, Rex began taking the Plain Truth magazine and reading church publications. He applied for Ambassador College in Big Sandy at age seventeen before knowing that there was a church sponsoring the college. After graduating from the Big Sandy campus in 1976, he married Patricia Hardiman who had grown up on a farm in Eastern Washington.
The newlyweds moved to Pasco, Washington, where Rex was employed as an Estimator/Contract Negotiator at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation. He was ordained as an elder in 1979 and employed as a full-time minister in 1982. Rex earned a Certified Financial Planner certification in 1993 while living in Alaska. Patty is well known for her work assisting people with disabilities as a job developer and representative, which she has done on a professional level since 1992.
Since 1982 Rex and Patty have served churches in Oregon, Washington, and Alaska. They love the mountains, ocean, and recreational opportunities that the Northwest offers and have appreciated being able to stay in one region. They have always been active in working with youth in God's church--hosting activities, Bible Studies, and offering a place to stay for many young adults. Over the years they have served on staff at eight different summer camps, primarily instructing Water Skiing, Swimming, Life Skills, and Christian Living . Currently Rex is the Pastor of the Portland and The Dalles, Oregon congregations, and the director of the Northwest Teen Camp.
The Sexton's have three grown children and eleven grandchildren.