Brad Reiches is a Christian minister, author, speaker, and Parkinson’s advocate whose work brings together biblical faith, careful thinking, and the practical challenge of living with hope.

A former collegiate baseball pitcher, Brad played at the University of California, Berkeley, where he shared the 1982 George Wolfman Award for most improved player. In 1985, pitching for Cal State Hayward—now Cal State East Bay—he threw a no-hitter against UC Davis. Baseball became an enduring source of stories and reflection about preparation, disappointment, perseverance, and responsibility.

Over decades of pastoral and missionary service, Brad has taught Scripture, trained ministry workers, and served communities in the United States and abroad. His experiences in Papua New Guinea became the subject of Warriors in Your Midst, an account of faith and conflict amid tribal warfare. His other writings explore discipleship, suffering, and the relationship between belief and daily life.

Diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in July 2014, Brad now writes from the experience of living with a progressive illness. Through the Parkinson’s Puzzle Project, he is developing resources intended to bring hope, encouragement, and challenge to people with Parkinson’s and those who care for them. His emphasis is on examining the choices still available and taking practical steps toward living well.

Brad is also developing ThoughtHouse Publishing and Training Institute around the motto “To Think Is to Become.” Its three governing principles—Evidence Before Assertion, Accuracy Before Persuasion, and Humility Before Certainty—express his commitment to careful examination, truthful communication, and openness to correction.

Across these pursuits, Brad returns to a personal conviction: “The one thing Parkinson’s has no control over is who I choose to become while living with it.”

Brad and his wife, Karen, live in Northern California. They have two daughters and a granddaughter.

ParkyDog began with a simple idea: create a companion for people facing Parkinson’s and other difficult journeys.

Through stories, books, devotionals, encouragement, and a little bit of humor, ParkyDog was created to remind people that they are seen, they are not alone, and there is still hope.

But Brad also wanted that message of hope to reach children and families.

That led to ParkyPup, an upcoming outreach initiative designed to bring comfort and encouragement to children living with terminal diseases.

ParkyPup packages are being designed with children in mind, including things like a soft ParkyPup stuffed companion, coloring and activity books, inspirational stickers and keepsakes, comfort and sensory items, and encouraging messages for children and their caregivers.

The goal is simple: help children feel seen, loved, supported, and less alone.

Together, ParkyDog and ParkyPup are part of Brad’s larger vision to bring hope, encouragement, challenge, and knowledge to people and families navigating difficult circumstances.

Our Mission: To provide hope, encouragement, challenge, and knowledge to those facing Parkinson’s and other degenerative and incurable diseases.

Our Vision: To build an army of two million ParkyDog Overcomers.

Brad is also a mentor to missionaries and an Ambassador of Hope. His education and life experiences have taken him into ministry, leadership, teaching, and relationships with people from many different backgrounds.

Education

• Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
  University of California, Berkeley
• Master of Arts (M.A.)
  Simpson University, Redding, California
• Doctorate in International Christian Relations
  Vision International University, Ramona, California

Life in California

Brad lives in Roseville, California, with his wife, Karen. They have two daughters, Al and Jen, and one granddaughter, Vivi.