After getting a teaching degree from Columbia Bible College in 1992 Carey worked as the Jr. High Pastor at College Church in Wheaton, Illinois for several years before moving to Sydney, Australia to attend Moore Theological College/Seminary where he received a Master of Theology. In 1999, he and his family moved to Spokane, Washington to be part of a small church plant called Christ the Redeemer. He has now served at the church for the past 25 years as Youth Pastor, Family Pastor, and for the past 16 years as the Senior Pastor.