Craig Daily Press

Craig — When the call came, neither of them saw it coming.

Demetrious Glimidakis and Bryan McAnally graduated from Moffat County High School in 1993 and 1990, respectively.

The former was a self-professed rebel.

The latter wanted to make his mark in horror and suspense writing.

But years after they earned their high school diplomas, both men are pursuing careers in a place they hadn’t forseen.

That place: the church.

Glimidakis and McAnally are two of 10 MCHS alumni who have been nominated to the high school’s spring 2008 “Look at Me Now” program.

The program acknowledges high school alumni who have landed successful careers, met personal goals or made contributions to school, community and society, according to a news release from the high school.

Community members and other alumni nominate former graduates for the award.

McAnally’s career choice began coming clear while he still was in high school.

“I’ve always enjoyed the writing process,” he said, adding that he wrote continuously on his own time as a high school student.

“I thought I was going to be the next Stephen King,” he said.

After graduation, McAnally’s storyline took a turn he didn’t expect.

He initially decided to pursue a medical degree.

But, during his first semester at the University of Denver, McAnally encountered a hitch in his plan.

He hated biology, he said.

So, he changed his major from pre-med to writing and graduated from the University of Colorado with a Bachelor of Arts in 1995.

About the same time, Mc­­Anally also converted to Christianity. He went on to complete his master’s degree in religious education from the Texas-based Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1998.

McAnally’s primary work is serving as the minister of education and discipleship at the First Baptist Church in Grapevine, Texas, he said.

Becoming a Christian didn’t change McAnally’s interest in writing. Instead, it changed what he wrote about.

Now, instead of producing suspense and horror novels, he’s writing books about religion.

McAnally now lives in the Dallas/Ft. Worth region of Texas with his family. To date, he has three published works to his name: “The Servant Principle,” published in 1998, followed by “Men at Work” in 2004 and “Take a Closer Look” in 2007.

He’s currently working on two more books for the “Indispensable Guide to Practically Everything” series, he said, which are scheduled for publication next year. One volume deals with world religions while the other addresses heaven, hell and the afterlife.

Glimidakis’ story is a little different. He’s chosen to pursue a career in the church full time and had to travel across the nation to do it.

Last year, Glimidakis completed a seven-year education at the Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Massachusetts. The institution is the only Greek Orthodox seminary in the Western Hem­isphere, according to the school’s Web site.

There, Glimidakis first earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in 2004, followed by his Master of Divinity in 2007.

Seeking ordination as a Greek Orthodox priest wasn’t initially in Glimidakis’ plans, he said, adding that he grew up in the Saint John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Chruch in Craig.

“I rebelled a lot in high school,” he said.

It was during those high school years that his priest approached Glimidakis and said he should consider becoming a priest.

“I guess it kind of stuck with me,” he said. “He saw past everything and saw what was inside.”

After wrestling with the idea, he finally moved with his family to Massachusetts in 2000, where he completed his education.

Glimidakis, who is divorced, said he is waiting to remarry before taking his ordination.

He doesn’t yet know in what location church officials could place him once he is ordained.

But, Glimidakis is OK with that.

“It’s up to God where I go,” he said.

Bridget Manley can be reached at 875-1795 or bmanley@craigdailypress.com