Dr. James Gardner's multi-year journey into the life and times of Jesus is only one facet to a multi-faceted life-long journey. In 2005 Dr. Gardner went to rescue animals in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Not content to go once, he went 3 separate times, and his work there has been described in the recent book Rescued by Linda and Allen Anderson and on the Muttshack website.

Since 2003 Dr. Gardner and his wife have maintained a 3000 acre rainforest along the Atlantic coast about 2 hours south of Salvador Brazil. Here they grow several endangered trees, including the Pau Brazil tree, the only tree whose wood is used to make high quality musical bows. Their efforts have resulted in the largest single collection of Pau Brazil trees in the world - a precious resource for future generations. You can view their efforts to preserve the rainforest by visiting The Gaia Way

In addition, Dr. Gardner continues as a supporting member of Breast Cancer Survivors, a California based group that provides financial assistance to people who are unable to pay their rent as a result of the onset of cancer and the problems associated with cancer treatment. Through his grant writing and fund raising efforts he has helped generate more than $1,000,000 that has been used to improve the quality of life of hundreds of families. You can view the activities of this very important organization at BC Survivors.

In his professional life, Dr. Gardner is the author of 4 books and more than 100 articles in major professional journals. He is a member of Psi Chi (National Honor Society) and a Fellow of the American Association on Mental Retardation and the Australian Psychological Society. Among his many awards and honors he was named a Top 100 innovator in the PC field by MicroTimes and was Outstanding Young Man by the Columbus Jaycees. Dr. Gardner served on the editorial boards of more than a dozen professional journals, including Computers in Human Services, Mental Retardation, Analysis and Intervention, Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, The Clinical Psychologist, and Professional Psychology.

A former University Professor and Department Chairman, Dr. Gardner has lived and worked in the United States, Australia, Africa, and Brazil. While he was in Africa, Dr. Gardner worked closely with the indigenous healers (a.k.a "isangoma" or more commonly "witchdoctors") and in his book, Jesus Who?, he relates his experiences there to many of the events and practices in the New Testament. During his 2+ year tenure in Africa Dr. Gardner organized a continent-wide conference on indigenous healing and his efforts at this level were part of the anti-Apartheid movement which resulted in substantial changes in the political situation in South Africa.

In addition to his work with the witchdoctors, Dr. Gardner introduced the first Black students into graduate training programs in South Africa. Among the many obstacles he had to overcome to accomplish this radical change, white-controlled internship settings refused to accept black students. As a result, Dr. Gardner volunteered to work one day per week at a remote blacks-only psychiatric hospital where he supervised his own students' work.

As a result of his innovative work in South Africa, the University of Zambia invited him to collaborate in their efforts to revitalize their own programs. On a visit to the University, Dr. Gardner was suspected of being a "spy" and was arrested. He spent 3 weeks in an African prison, where he was the only white person in a 1000-man facility.

In both Australia and in the United States, Dr. Gardner was active in the patient rights movement in the 60s and 70s. He provided expert testimony and research support to the Souder vs. Brennan lawsuit which revolutionized the care of high level patients, resulting in the release of hundreds of thousands of people who had been inappropriately kept in institutions and forced to work to support. He wrote two books about his work in this area - The Disposable People and Inside the Cuckoos' Nest.

At present, Dr. Gardner is putting the finishing touches on a new book, Mary Called Magdalene, an historical reconstruction of the life of Mary Magdalene. In addition, he is on the Board of Directors of his local homeowner's association and is the city leader of the South County Animal Shelter Coalition, a grass roots movement that seeks to build a local animal shelter. Their activities can be viewed at SoCoAnimalShelter.

Dr James Gardner

With rescue dogs at Muttshack facility in East New Orleans

Dr. Gardner's wife, Anne, and his dog Puffy, in their Atlantic Rainforest

Receiving an award from the Governor of Ohio

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