Prineville, Ore. – A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to support Prineville pastor Gabe Bales, who is undergoing treatment for stage 4 colon cancer.
Bales, who, along with his wife Cherina, founded The Gathering church in 2022, was diagnosed earlier this year with adenocarcinoma that has spread to his abdomen and lymph nodes in his chest.
Known throughout the community for his energy, warmth, and faith, Bales has built both homes and hearts in Crook County, the fundraiser page notes, describing him as someone who “has never met a stranger, only friends he hasn’t gotten to know yet.”
“This man who has given so much of himself to others is facing the fight of his life,” wrote organizer Jarrod Brown on the fundraising page. “Time away from work, medical treatments, travel, and related expenses are starting to add up, on top of the emotional and physical battle they are already facing.”
Bales’ church, The Gathering, began as a small faith-based project in Prineville focused on a simple, scripture-centered approach. Since its founding, the congregation has grown to more than 300 attendees each Sunday, a reflection of the impact of Bales’ ministry.
In an update shared on October 1st, Bales expressed gratitude for the community’s support and said he was recovering from recent surgery and back on immunotherapy treatments. He added that a PET scan scheduled in six weeks will help determine how much the cancer has reduced.
“It’s a great time to grow in our faith and to trust God for His provision,” Bales wrote. “He has never failed us! I believe hard times and trials produce growth in us. Not easy, but necessary so we can fulfill the purposes God has called us to.”
The fundraiser encourages community members to contribute financially or through prayer and support as the Bales family focuses on healing and faith during this difficult season.
Donations can be made through the official GoFundMe page. A total of just over $73,000 has been raised from the community, nearing the total $80,000 goal.
Disclaimer: Western Media Group (Prineville Review) occasionally includes links to GoFundMe and other fundraising platforms in stories where they are relevant to the news. These links are provided solely as part of our reporting. We do not verify or guarantee the legitimacy of individual fundraising campaigns, and readers should use their own discretion before donating.
Mr. Alderman is an investigative journalist specializing in government transparency, non-profit accountability, consumer protection, and is a subject mater expert on Oregon’s public records and meetings laws. As a former U.S. Army Military Police Officer, he brings a disciplined investigative approach to his reporting that has frequently exposed ethics violations, financial mismanagement, and transparency failures by public officials and agencies.
